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Patricia Bridgen Farley was a Wren (Womens Royal Naval Service) stationed at Portkil, Near Kilcreggan, Scotland during World War II, living in a house affectionately known to the group of Wrens that were based there as 'The Barn'. The Wrens came to be known as the 'Barnites'.
After my wedding, a Reception was held at the Waldorf Hotel in London. Daddy had brought back a dozen bottles of Australian champagne, and we certainly did justice to them and many other wines.
I can't remember the meal but do recall the wedding cake. It looked perfect, white icing and decorations. Alas, it was only a cardboard imitation. When the waiter lifted it up, there was a plain fruitcake on a plate. Sugar and egg rationing prevented me from having the traditional slice of gooey wedding cake!
Somehow John, my husband, and I managed to get away from the festive crowd and take a taxi to the station. The American Red Cross had reserved a weekend honeymoon for us in Kent at a little bed and breakfast.
Memories of that time include the lovely food, so different from Portkil or Harwich (My new naval base). I ate up the bacon, the eggs, and anything else put on my plate. There were only a few other couples staying at the inn, and they took a great interest in us.
We stayed there until Wednesday, July 18. Once back in London, John called the Army headquarters and discovered he had some more leave. We were so happy. I went back to the Waldorf to change into uniform again, cheaper that way to travel! We took the train up to Manchester and had another happy weekend with my family.
John and my father played golf one day, and he was also taken to Ferranti's to see where his father-in-law's corporate offices were. He even had to endure looking at old cine films of us, when I was about 12 and up.
John went back to Europe on the Monday, and I packed once more and left for my base in Harwich on July 25th. It seemed a dream that we were married but we both prayed that we'd be together before very long.
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