My Wartime Wedding in Sheffield

This story was submitted to the people’s War site by Norman Wigley of the BBC Radio Sheffield Action Desk on behalf of Mrs Mary James, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was married during the war. I had to save seven clothing coupons to get my wedding dress. Someone lent me two bridesmaid’s dresses which had been bought before the war. They belonged to the sister of someone I worked with. I was working in the cutlery industry during the war for Mappin and Webb. My job was to clean cutlery before it went for plating.

My husband was in the Army and we got married during his seven days' leave. Our honeymoon was spent staying in Sheffield before he returned to the war. During our honeymoon I took him to the pictures and he fell asleep and started snoring – we were asked to leave! Everyone helped with things we needed for the wedding. I swapped a pair of black shoes I had with someone at work for a pair of white ones to wear on the day.

We were married at St. Cecilia’s Church, Parson Cross, Sheffield. A relative of my husband made the wedding cake for us, but it was awful. I lived with my mum during the war and our first baby was born during the war while staying at my mum’s.

I got my own council house after the war when my husband came back home. He survived
the war with no injuries but he did have to have all his teeth out and didn’t get false teeth until after the war!

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