Letters, two telegrams and a postcard written by Marcia 'Marcie' Doyle to her mother upon arrival in the USA, 1946 - Part 2

13^th April
My Dearest Mother,
Well this is our
third day at sea, tomorrow
we reach Suva, so I'll post
this letter there. So far the rumor
is that we won't be allowed
ashore as a result of the first
lot of brides' behaviour, we
are still hoping we can get
off and spend a few hours
there as I believe its a very
beautiful place   So far I
haven't been Sea-sick but a
couple of times I wasn't far 
off it. Most of the girls have
been ill Some have gone
without meals for days. I've
been forcing myself to eat
and going to exercise classes
so I think that has stopped me

- 2 -

from being really ill.  My cabin 

mate has been awfully sick

for the first two days she couldn't

keep anything down.  she has

been practically living along

side the rail. Everyone is

amazed that I have escaped 

so eazily, cos I haven't missed

a meal yet and there is

very few with that record.

Trust me not to miss out on

food though. I think I'll be

right now for the rest of the

way cos after the first two days

everyone is supposed to be

alright. Lets hope so anyway.
Right now I am sitting on the

top deck in a deck chair

writing on my knee the writing

room is full  I think everyone

must be sending letters off

at Suva to morrow.  Well Mum

- 3 -

the conditions on board are

first class, we have red 

cross women to entertain us

all the time if you don't feel

like relaxing there is some

organized sport, lecture etc

all the time.  We have movies

every night.  I've been each

night one session starts at
7PM another 9 PM. I always 

go to the first, then after the
show there is usually a quiz

session, fashion lecture,

make up lecture, "meet your 

neighbours"  just everything

you can think of -  it gave 

you a chance of meeting the

girls going near to you and

also tells you what to expect

in each State.  At the red 

cross itself , everything is

- 4 -

given away free, things

like toys for the babies, books, 

games, knitting wool, needles 

napkins for the babies, modess
writing paper pencils everything

that is necessary is free, and

things like cosmetics chocolates

etc. can be bought at cheap

prices from the canteen. I went

to a quiz session the night

before last and won a

packet of "candy".  It was

really fun and the red

cross girls make everything

as bright as they can.  Soon

we are having a review, some

woman entertainer is travelling

with us and she is going to

organize some sort of musical 

- 5 -

any bride who wants to

participate can, but I think

I'll strickly be a spectator.

Right now at one end of the

deck some are playing table

tennis at the other deck coits 

and the wireless is going full

blast so there's no chance of

being dull.  The sea is about 

ordinary, its not too rough
but the boat rocks just like

a cradle  I'm just starting to

get used to working in with

the swaying, I just let myself

go with the ship and I find

it helps a lot,  I'll be a

full - blooded sailor by the

time I get to America.  There

is another rumor going around
(over)

- 6 - 

that there is a dock - strike

threatening at San Francisco

and we might pull in at 

New York,  in a way I hope

we do, it wouldn't be nearly

so far that way if I have

to go by train, only about a

day where as from Frisco its

about four. I beleive at

whatever place we land

we will be put on the trains

right away and won't be

accomodate anywhere, this

too is cos of previous "brides". It

appears that some had

such a good time in port that

PR03809

- 7 -

they didn't want to go on to

their husbands.  A few always

spoil it for everyone else, but

still I'd just as soon go right 

on, it only prolongs the

journey, hanging around.
If I don't stay in Frisco I'll

try to get someone else to

send you a cable but if

you don't get one within the

next two weeks don't worry 

cos if I can't sent a cable

from Frisco I'll send one

as soon as I reach Indiana.

Enough about myself for

now, how is everyone over

there.  I do hope you haven't

had any asthma turns and

are keeping in perfect health

PR03809

- 8 -
Don't you be doing too much

work either and please take

the best care of yourself won't

you.  I can't realize even yet

that I'm going so far away

both my cabin mates and

myself cried ourselves to

sleep the first night, but

that doesn't do any good

though does it, even now we

have decided there's no

place like home and we

wish the ship would turn 

about, and go back again

I don't want you to worry

about me Mum  I'll be

alright and I'll always be

thinking of you and everyone

back there.  Maybe we will
see each other sooner than

PR03809

- 9 -

we think as I said before

if at all possible we will

try to get you over for a trip

if we make good, and I'm

certain Arthur will do alright.

How's Valmai,  I suppose 

Eddy is down with her now

as this is Saturday, give 

them both by love, and

Basil, I hope he is in good

health  give him by love 

too, Mum.  I guess Alf is way

for the weekend remember 

me to him. [[Dada?]] should

be home by this, give him

my love.  Gosh I don't seem

to be making much sence

in this letter but heck if you

could hear the noise thats going

PR03809

10
on you'd understand.  I was going

to send a parcel from Suva with

Cigarettes etc but I believe the

customs duty is very heavy, more than
the things are worth so I thought

I wouldn't bother, if we go ashore

though I'll try to get a little souvenir

for you. I don't think there will

be much duty on that.

Well mother dear, I'll say

bye for now I'll write again

before I arrive and post the

letter in Frisco.  The best of

everything to you and all at

home, and do look after

yourself wont you and write

me as soon as you can.

Always Your loving

daughter

Marcia

x x x  x x x x

PR03809

Mrs. A. Drew,
Carberry St.
Grange,
Brisbane, Q'ld.
Australia