The Second World War was a time of major upheaval for families with children in Britain. Over a million Children were evacuated from towns and cities and had to adjust to separation from family and friends. Many of those who stayed endured bombing raids and were injured or made homeless. Fortunately, the Paddison family had moved to a safer area prior to immigrating to Canada.

During World War many children were evacuated from England in a large-scale operation called "Operation Pied Piper," where they were transported by train from urban areas to the countryside to live with foster families, mainly to protect them from  bombing raids by the German Luftwaffe; this was a governpotentialment-organized initiative to ensure the safety of young citizens during the war.

Key points about the evacuation:

After the War the DUCHESS OF BEDFORD was employed in repatriating troops, service wives and children to Canada, and she arrived at the Fairfield Yard at Govan to be reconditioned in 1947. She was renamed EMPRESS OF FRANCE  (although the original intention was to rename her EMPRESS OF INDIA),
 
Her accommodation was rebuilt to carry a total of 400 passengers in first class and 300 in tourist class.

In the 19th century, the Port of Quebec was one of the most important in the world. It played a major role in the development of both the city and Canada. In 1863, more than 1,600 ships went through the port, transporting almost 25,000 sailors.

Our parents made plans to immigrate to Canada at the end of WW2, after abandoning their plans to immigrate to New Zealand due to immigration quota closure.

Fleetwood is a coastal town in the Borough of Wyre in Lancashire, England. In 1947 John and Kathleen decided to move with their children from this war-torn area and decided to immigrate to New Zealand. That move didn't work out because of a quota closure for new immigrants.

Before immigrating to Canada, the Paddison family lived in Fleetwood England.  During that period most of the area had been bombed and were moved into a temporary called "Prefabs" (government housing)

Our parents made plans to immigrate to Canada at the end of WW2, after abandoning their plans to immigrate to New Zealand due to immigration quota closure. Fleetwood is a coastal town
in the Borough of Wyre in Lancashire, England. In 1947 John and Kathleen decided to move with their children from this war-torn area and decided to immigrate to New Zealand. That move didn't work out because of a quota closure for new immigrants.

It was a difficult decision and would require not going together as a family unit. They were difficult times. It was a dilemma for the family.

John the father left in 1948 to find work and a home to get established before others in the family could join him.

The plan was for Mother, son and daughters to follow later when able. At the last minute, it was discovered that Susan -5 (after a required medical exam) had been diagnosed with a heart problem and was denied entry to Canada.

This presented a dilemma for the family. The sisters would not be able to travel with their mother and brother. Ocean Liner tickets were purchased, all house hold items had been sold and we were ready to travel.

It has been many years since 1950 and most on the Emerald of France Ocean Liner are no longer with us, but we would be pleased if others who were (or knew someone) on that trip would respond by completing the email form on the blog.  Contact Us and we might add any related stories to our blog. (More continued)

This is a True Story about the little girls traveling alone on the Empress of France Ocean Liner Circa winter 1950.

Answering an ad placed by their mother in the local British Newspaper asking for someone to accompany their daughters, on the trip.

Two retired schoolteachers were hired to chapperone the two little girls, Diane the older sister would help to take care of her younger sister. As it were, the School teachers became sea sick and  for the entire trip stayed in their cabin unable to attend to the girls and the girls had the run of the ship.

The girls were immigrating to Canada to reunite with their parents and brother, The Paddison family had decided to immigrate to Canada. They had experienced the terror of Buzz Bombs sent by the Nazis in the 1940's.

This blog is based on 7-year-old Diane's memory of the events leading up to and after the trip and 5-year-old sister Susan remembers singing, dancing, (ála "Good Ship Lollipop").and buying ice cream from passenger tips given to them while on board.

RMS Empress of France was an ocean liner built in 1928 by John Brown at Clydebank, Scotland for the Canadian Pacific Steamships and launched as SS Duchess of Bedford in 1928. She was renamed Empress of France in 1947.