大象传媒

This story is submitted by a volunteer on behalf of Radio Action Desk at City of Bristol College.

Having met at a dance in 1942 when Reg was on leave from the Navy you both entered into a friendship. This resulted in getting engaged on Betty's 21st Birthday.(1943) Romance continued by correspondence. Difficulties of censorship caused concern. Betty often tried to fill in the missing words. After Reg was injured in Malta and returned to hospital in the UK at Sherbourne he was unexpectedly given seven days leave. During this leave the marriage was arranged. Betty gave seven clothing coupons for her wedding dress, borrowed a veil from a friend. Reg had a new uniform bought from his contributions to Bernards Naval Outfitters in Chatham. Married on saturday, Reg was drafted to Scotland and left on the wednesday. Betty had no idea where Reg was going. Reg had no idea until the ship turned right at the top of Ireland and went to the USA. It was three months before Betty received a letter to confirm that Reg had actually been attached to the Americans for service in the Pacific. It was eighteen months before Reg returned home. After two weeks leave Reg was posted to Hamburg the war with Germany having finished when Reg was returning from the Pacific. Betty was allowed to follow to Hamburg 6 months later. Reg have been married 61 years now even after such an initial traumatic and distant relationship.

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