MISSING BRIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 5

MISSING BRIDE.

Soldiers’ Brief Reunion After 3 Years. BITTER-SWEET DAY. I he bitter-sweet call which the troopship Dorsetshire made at Southampton for one day on February '27 was so tinged with sadness that 500 Northerners speeding through the night towards their homes on Tyneside wondered whether it had been worth while. On board the troopship were 900 officers and men of the Ist Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who spent the day with their wives, sweethearts and friends. After throe years in the West Indies they had six hours of tender happiness in the biting north wind that swept the clocks there. Two Brides Left Behind. While mothers and fathers wept openly In the great reunion two members cf the battalion, Sergeant W. Graham, of Newcastle, and Lance-Cor-poral Edward Scott, of Anthorpe, near Doncaster, were married in Southampton. They had been given special leave tc. land on the Sunday night, and immediately after the ceremonv next day they returned to the troopship. The brides were left behind when the Dorsetshire sailed promptly at three o’clock in the afternoon. A third man. Fusilier M. Digney, s Pent the night and morning searching frantically for his intended bride. Eventually he gave up hope of being married, and acted as best man at LanceCorporal Scott’s wedding. “I had hoped,” he explained when seen after the ceremony, “to be married to-day at Southampton to Miss Mabel Edwards, of Hexthorpe, near Doncaster. To mv surprise, I cannot find her. We have known each other for years, and although Mabel is only 18, *1 thought her parents thoroughly approved of the wedding. Mabel lias * written to me regularly, and I was under the impression that she had made all arrangements for the wedding.” Guardian’s Consent Refused. The explanation of Fusilier Digney’s vain wait was provided by Miss Mabel

Edwards and her guardian, Mr. E. Newton, of Salisbury F,oad, Hexthorpe, Doncaster. Mr. Newton said: “I would not give aiy consent, as I considered Mabel far too young to marry a young man of whom she had seen little and from whom she would soon be separated. The young Qian has been rather too previous.” Miss Edwards, a dark, vivacious girl Alio is employed as a cashier in a Don:aster cafe, said: “I deemed some days igo that it would not be wise to marry it present, especially as my guardian would not give his consent. I sent a message to my fiance to that effect, and I ?annot understand why he did not receive it.” “Heartbreaking—But Sweet.” Miss Mildred Marlev, of Newcastle. A’lio was married to Sergeant Graham, jpitoniised the feelings of the Tyneside pilgrims when, with tears in her eyes, «he said: “It was heartbreaking, but it was sweet.” Mrs. Graham said that she hopes to fojn her husband in Egypt in April. A War Office technicality prevented Mrs. jJraham sailing with her husband that lay. “The authorities,” she explained, “said .'hat unless I was a married woman when :he troopship arrived I could not sail in ier. How could I be when my bridegroom was in the ship?” During the six hours the Fusiliers lad with their relatives silent groups were to be seen standing in the wind*wept sheds on the quayside. Others faced the bitter wind on the bleak dock -oads, walking silently, carrying babies. When the time came for good-bye and the troopship’s siren sounded its long, warning blast, there were hurried embraces, stifled sobs and tears that the men were not ashamed to let run freely down tiie ; r sun-tannr-i clic^Vq. (Picture on this page.)