BRIDES OF MANY NATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3325, 5 December 1917, Page 61

BRIDES OF MANY NATION

ANZACS MARRY ABROAD. Discussing the question of Australian soldiers marrying abroad, Staff-sergeant P. S. Smith, Melbourne, thinks that an overwhelming majority are in favour of waiting until they return home before contemplating marriage. In Egypt, however," he writes, "there were several marriages. To my knowledge, there were Greek brides, Italian brides, and French brides. I also heard of a case of an Australian there contracting marriage with an Armenian lady. In the army one must be contented with whatever orders he receives. Numbers of Australians stationed in Egypt were desirous of remaining there. Of course, there were various reasons for their desiring this. On the other hand, men who would havo given all the wealth they possessed to be allowed to proceed to France or England were compelled to remain behind in Cairo, Alexandria, or Canal zone. "During his stay in Cairo a New South Wales man became attached to a lady friend. He had fully made up his mind on the matter of marrying, but ho was ordered to proceed to England, and thence to Franco, so the marriage was abruptly postponed. At a ohanoe meeting in Franco I inquired of his wife's health, and to my surprise he responded that he was fortunately ordered to England just as the marriage was about to tako place. 'Fortunately !' That word ran through my brain. Unconsciously I asked, 'Why, fortunately?' 'Well, you see,' he said, T had been away from heme for some considerable time, and probably I forgot the real state of tilings. When in England, the English girls reminded me more or less of our Australian 'bints' ('girls' in Arabic). My advice is: Wait until you return to Australia." "Here is another matrimonial incident — this time in France, and the interested persons were a Canadian sergeant and a French girl. The facts surrounding this case were more or less romantic He was of a rather striking personality, intelligent, and broadminded. For some months he was in the firing line. _-As a matter of fact, ho remained there until he was practically war-weary, when he was sent to Jho records office at the base. While at the base he chummed up with a French artist. For some months they were affectionately attached. He w r as then ordered to London for duty. Although there was apparently no groat regret in the separation, there was more in it than appeared on the surface. He had taken up his work in the London office, when one afternoon he noticed a theatrical poster advertising an artist—the name was that by which he knew his friend in France. That night ho attended the theatre, and there was no doubt as to who the artist was. A rendezvous was arranged for after the entertainment, and the outcome, after two more months, was—marriage. Vive l'Entonte Cordiale."