Reunion in Southampton : War Brides Meet Again Near White Cliffs of Dover

A contingent of the 70,000 GI war brides who sailed to the United States 40 years ago to be with their husbands and sweethearts returned home this weekend to jitterbug, sing and reminisce.

About 300 women who fell for American servicemen in Britain during World War II arrived in Southampton, the port from which most of them sailed in 1946, for a four-day reunion.

About 150 husbands and other relatives also tagged along.

The reunion started with a reception dinner Thursday that featured World War II fare: Spam and chips and dancing to such 1940s tunes as Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade.”

‘So Exciting’

Marguerite Couch, once of north London and now from Redmond, Wash., was back in England for the first time in 40 years.

“It is so exciting,” she said, her husband, Albert, at her side. “I haven’t taken it all in yet.”

The reunion drew war brides from 26 states.

Some GI brides recalled that when their ships pulled away from England after the war, a band was playing “The White Cliffs of Dover” and people were shouting from the shore “You’ll be sorry” and “You’ll be back.”

As the reunion gained steam, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra provided the Big Band sound of the ‘40s for jitterbugging on the Guildhall dance floor, originally opened on the eve of World War II.

On Sunday, a mass was scheduled at bomb-scarred St. Mary’s Church to give thanks for the safe return of the GI brides.