大象传媒

My Great Aunt, Ishbel MacLean moved from Leurbost on the Western Isles to Oban during the war to live with her sister Kate and her family. While in Oban she met a young RAAF officer called Ron MacKellor. He was one of numerous Australians who joined up. Ron had been trained in Canada and then was posted to the UK. He flew from various bases. In order to give pilots a break they were sent to Oban. A local hotel had been commendeered. Ron and Ishbel met in Oban. The town at the time was really busy with navel and air force officers. In 1944, when Ishbel was 22 and Ron was 24 they married. My Grandfather came up from Glasgow to give his sister away. It was too difficult for her father and mother to get down from the Western Isles for the wedding. A year later, Ishbel had a daughter Pam.

At the end of the war, Ron was repatriated by the RAAF and Ishbel officially became a war bride. She was allocated a passage on the Athlone Castle. It sailed in 1946 via South Africa for Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. As Ishbel was heading for Sydney, she had to disembark in Melbourne and catch a train up to Sydney. The war brides were placed on the train and left to their own devices. Ishbel was met at Central Station, Sydney by Ron when she arrived in Sydney. Travelling as a 24 year old with a young baby was difficult, especially when you were travelling so far from home. She left expecting to never see her family again. Her two older sisters had left for the states before the war and she was heading for the other side of the world. Ishbel has had a good life in Australia and still keeps in touch with other war brides. They have an annual gathering on Anzac day in Sydney. At 81 and 83 respectively, she and Ron are still full of the joys of life. They have raised 3 children, have 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Ishbel returned home for her one and only visit in 1979, but now my generation keep turning up on her dooorstep.

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