TWO WAR BRIDES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25553, 5 June 1944, Page 6

TWO WAR BRIDES

STOWAWAYS ON SHIP ARRIVAL IN UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, May 27. United States immigration authorities have released on parole two Sydney brides of American servicemen who reached San Francisco as stowaways the other day, and were liable to be charged with illegal entry. A decision on their case will be reached by the Attorney-general’s Office, which ordered their release. One of the husbands, who interceded with the immigration authorities, was given the impression that they would not be dealt with too harshly. He explained that they had thought they would receive clearances for entry on the nonquota basis on which numbers of Australian’ wives had already arrived in America.

The two brides are: Mrs Margaret Blair, formerly Miss Margaret Mary McCreadie, of Ashfield, wife of Captain Frederick Blair, a United States Air Force bombardier; and Mrs Ola Calderala, formerly Miss Ola Margaret Byrnes, of Kensington, wife of Sergeant Frank Calderala. Both the husbands are now in the United States, after serving in the South-west Pacific. Judge A. F. St. Sure, addressing the brides after their release, said: “ I hope you young women realise the trouble to which you have put the United States. Of course, I realise your desire to see your husbands, but the United States is very busy without having to worry about young women stowing away.” < Mrs Calderala, in an interview, said: “We were treated royally after our discovery. The captain of the ship gave us his cabin for the remainder of the 26-day voyage.” Mrs Blair said she expected a baby in October. “We wanted the baby to be born in the United States,” she added. “ It’s going to be a girl. “Tell Australian girls who have applied to come to the United States not to try stbwing away in ships. The isolation ward in which we hid ourselves was a nightmare. It w.as dark.”