Newfoundland War Brides

Betty and Peter built and operated a garage,service station and car dealership on Bell Island. When the mines began closing down in 1959 they moved to Moncton, New Brunswick. They returned to NL in 1972 where Mom began working for the Federal Dept. of Statistics then Veteran Affairs until 1984 when they both retired and once again left NL and lived their final years in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia.
Betty's name was matched with the S.S. Burgeo ships passenger's list. Both the name and place of settlement matched.
March 17,1946

Betty Rees

Born: August 9, 1922
Maiden Name:
From: Jersey, Channel Islands, UK
Occupation: Signals/Teleprinter, one of the first women
to be trained in this area of the RAF during WWII.
Husbands Name: Peter Rees
Date of Marriage: January 1942
Date of Departure: Liverpool, England, March 17,1946
Ships Name: SS Scythia
Date/Port Arrived in Canada: Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
March 22, 1946
Ship to Newfoundland: Mrs. Rees and child, "SS Burgeo"
Port of Arrival: St. John's
Date Arrived in NL: Tuesday, March 26, 1946
Settled in: Bell Island, Conception Bay
Children: 6 , Marylyn, Synthia, Valentina, Roxanne,
Peter, Terry

South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater, N.S, 19 June 1999. Born August 9, 1922 in London, England, to Rosie and John Speedy, both deceased. She immigrated to Bell Island, NF in 1946 as a war bride, after service in the RAF during WWII. She relocated with late husband Peter (1919-1998) to Moncton, NB in 1959, returning to St. John`s, NF in 1972, where she was employed first with Statistics Canada, next with the Dept. of Veteran Affairs until retirement in 1984, at which time they resettled in West Chester Village, NS. She will always be remembered for her wit, caring, kindness and understanding and leaves many wonderful friendships and memories with those whose lives she touched. Will always be remembered and sadly missed by daughters: Marylyn (Emberley), Ottawa, Synthia (Schofield), Halifax, Valentina (Oakley), Blockhouse, Roxanne, Victoria; sons: Peter, Moncton, Terry, Toronto; twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. At her request cremation has taken place. Donations to the Canadian Diabetic Association or South Shore Regional Hospital. She and her family request, in lieu of visitation, that you perform a kindness or visit someone in need. Funeral arrangements to be made by family. June 22, 1999