Story: English

Children of war brides, 1947

Children of war brides, 1947

War provided reasons for migration to New Zealand from England. After the First World War a number of English war brides and former English soldiers were given free passages. After the Second World War more war brides came. Some of them came out with their Kiwi husbands, leaving their children behind. This photo shows five of these children who came out from England two years later, in 1947, to join their English mothers. They are dressed up for the ‘crossing the line’ ceremony.

Using this item

Private collection, Winifred Mary Kershaw

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Terry Hearn, 'English - 20th-century migration', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/1904/children-of-war-brides-1947 (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Terry Hearn, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2015