emergency

Fergal and Maureen's Wedding Could it be? I have redacted the surnames to protect the couple. The marriage between Fergal McXxxx, of Ardmalin, Donegal, and Maureen O'Xxxxx , eldest daughter of Sir.Cookie O'Xxxxx, of Swords, Co. Dublin, took place on Thursday, the 29th of February 1997, in the pretty parish church of the Star of the Sea, Malin Head, Clonca, Co Donegal. The service was performed by the Rev. Richard M. Lloyd, M.A., assisted by Canon Marconi and the Rev. J. Spooner. The bride, who was given away by her father Sir Cookie O'Xxxxx, was attired in a gown of Louisine satin, the skirt being trimmed with bandigued frills of accordion-pleated chiffon. Mr Lawrence French (Adelphi Quay, Waterford) was the best man and Miss Carol Spears (Kildare Street, Dublin) the Chief Bridesmaid. A Mr O'Dea ably assisted by the young Mr Poole took a few snaps of the happy couple on the day. The wedding was followed by an enormous reception at the The Seaview Tavern to which all the residents of the Townland of Ardmalin were invited. The loving and happily married couple are still living nearby with their three children Niall, John and Mogey and their stuffed dog NeLI !!!! :)

Jeez,wheres me hankie.

That doesn't really count as a photo taken during the "Emergency" Carol...

oaktree_brian_1976 Honestly, you're sooooo picky! It shows a structure erected during the Emergency - doing my best here... :D

DannyM8 You're a complete Looper! And I'm saying that affectionately. Arrived back from a day at me conference so rushed that it wasn't until I got to Sir Cookie O'Xxxxx that I realised you hadn't actually uncovered a complete family history just from two grafittied words on a wall in Malin Head... :D As blackpoolbeach would say: "I'm off for a long lie down in a darkened room!"

Major Helen Ryan, founder and commandant of the Women's National Emergency Legion, formed m 1938, and how assisting the forces in various areas arrived in Cairns on an official visit yesterday. She spent a busy afternoon testing women's transport drivers who are anxious to assist in the war effort. Any woman interested in this form of service should communicate with Major Helen Ryan at Motor Transport Corps in Lake-street, Cairns. The service is voluntary, but allowances are made to workers who are not sent out of their own district unless they wish to transfer. Major Helen Ryan at present is in charge of the W.N.E.L. transport corps and clerical workers attached to the U.S. forces in North Queensland. She is the wife of Dr. William D. Ryan, of Brisbane and has spent the last five years preparing and training women for war work. She stated that she was thrilled to see how wholeheartedly the women of the North had responded to the call to assist in this national emergency. There could be no failure when the woman were so staunchly helping the men at the front. Source: Cairns Post 20 Feb 1943, P. 4 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42378834?browse=ndp%3A...

July 1940 in Brisbane alone there were six different organisations providing women with war-related training, the largest of which was the Queensland-based Women's National Emergency Legion. The federal government and military did not initially support women being trained to serve in the armed forces, however, and these organisations were not taken seriously by the general public. Many of these women were trained to undertake skilled work in traditionally male occupations in order to free servicemen for operational service. Women were also encouraged to work in industry and volunteer for air raid precautions duties or clubs for Australian and Allied servicemen. The female branches of the military were disbanded after the war. Source: www.wikiwand.com/en/Australian_women_during_World_War_II