Written by During World War II, thousands of Canadian servicemen were stationed in Europe, as part of the Allied forces. Many of these soldiers met and fell in love with local women. The term “war bride” was described as women who married servicemen during wartime and relocated to their husbands’ home countries after the war. Following the end of World War II in 1945, around 48,000 war brides and 22,000 children traveled to Canada to join their husbands.
Margaret King Love McAllister was born on November 27th, 1921. Margaret was raised in an orphanage in Glasgow, Scotland from a very young age. She had a brother named Peter, who was raised in a separate orphanage. After leaving the orphanage she worked as a domestic, cleaning houses. The original intent was for her to be a nun but she was said to be too spirited.
Margaret met Sgt. Llyod Hurley of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders while he was posted in England and Scotland during World War II. They ended up getting married without permission on January 6th, 1945. Sgt. Hurley had a furlough and went to Scotland to see Marg, while he was there, they married. When Lloyd Hurley returned to camp, he asked his friend Colin Nelson where the army Padre (military chaplain) was. Colin said, “what do you need the Padre for?” Sgt. Hurley responded, “I got married while in Scotland and now I need to get permission.”
Once the war was over Marg Hurley moved to Nova Scotia arriving at Pier 21, Halifax in September 1946.
Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum 