For those of you who have been following, here is the last installment in the stories my Grandma has been sending me about her experiences in the 30's and 40's (see the others here and here). This one also happens to be my favourite, about the American presence during the War (Americans troops came to Melbourne for a period during the War to help deter and defend from possible invasion). We learned about the Australian War Brides at Uni, and also the wartime serial killer, very creepy! Also, it's interesting to learn what an effect the American presence in Melbourne had on the history of my home city. The above photos are of my Grandma and friends during the period in service in Borneo. I hope to have a photo of her beautiful Wedding gown to share with you soon too!I remember vividly the time when the American soldiers arrived in Melbourne. First of all because of a serial murder case which occurred soon after their arrival: three Melbourne women were strangled, and an American soldier was suspected and later apprehended as the murderer. the headlines in the media screamed 'MELBOURNE'S BROWNOUT STRANGLER'
(read about it here) and women were advised not to walk out at night alone. The brownout meant that about half of the street lights were off, and people were not allowed to show light from their windows. I was working in Lonsdale St at the time and always had to have a companion on my walk to the station. It was quite an eerie experience (and a bit exciting) walking through the dim city with the possibilitiy that one of the American soldiers you brushed against or passed could be the 'BROWNOUT STRANGLER'. My father would always be waiting at the tram stop or the local station to see me safely home.
Of course for the local young women, whose husbands and boyfriends were away at the war, the Americans were an exciting opportunity to have fun, go out to dances and picture shows, and receive presents of nylons (not available in Australia at the time) chocolates and flowers. The Yanks seemed to be much more polite than the Aussies, and their uniforms with collar and tie were much more glamourous. Many people invited them into their homes, and of course some romances blossomed into marriage. Several shiploads of war brides left Australia in 1946, and several war brides returned to Australia before too long. But quite a number of marriages did survive.
When members of the AIF returned to Melbourne on leave there was considerable rivalry between them and the Americans. The Aussies did not have access to the goodies the Yanks were able to obtain from their PX canteens, and of course many found their girlfriend had taken up with a Yank. Some girls did behave outrageously, throwing themselves at the visitors. I think this was partly because we had all been brought up on a diet of Hollywood films, and here were the embodiments of those handsome screen idols.
I do think that the presence of the Americans in Melbourne during the war had a profound effect on Melbourne and its culture. Melbourne was a very conservative city up to this time. The city virtuallly closed down from Saturday midday. The shops were closed, hotels from 6 pm and theatres were open only on Saturday nights -never on Sunday. With thousands of American servicemen to be entertained the city was forced to allow them to open on Sundays, also bars restuarants etc. Many people invited the Americans into their homes and so a cultural exchange took place -we learned that they were just people, like us, who spoke the same language,and I think many Americans learned for the first time that Australia existed and where it was.
It was not really the economic climate that affected our clothing so much, but the rationing. We were issued with clothing coupons and this allowed us to buy only so many dresses, underwear etc. Material was also rationed so it became the practice to buy tablecloths or curtain materials(which weren't rationed) and make them into dresses, bathers etc. I'll send a photo of Marj (Grandma's sister) and myself or two-piece bathers (very daring) made out of table cloths. Some girls were lucky enough to know American airmen who obtained used parachutes for them - they became beautiful silk for wedding dresses.
Of course we still altered and renovated our clothes -except that being in the army I had no need for civilian clothes. Nevertheless when I was going out on a date I often borrowed one of Marj's dresses with, or without her knowledge. During the time I was away in Borneo an aunt of mine who had been interned by the Japanese in Hong Kong was repatriated to Melbourne. She had no clothes except remnants she had worn in the camp. So Mum gave her the contents of my wardrobe -no wonder I had to borrow from Marj. In those days we had a "best dress", clothes to be worn to work, and cast offs or old clothes for around the house. No slacks or jeans but mostly skirts and blouses, or suits. You always had an overcoat -no parkas in those days. Women's magazines were full of hints on how to change dresses to make them look different. Bands of contrasting material round the hem, different belts etc.
Marj made and designed my wedding dress. It was made of cream satin, inside out so it had a muted sheen, not too shiny. I of course had some money by this time -my army pay, and later from a job as a stenographer, so I had two or three dresses made by a dressmaker to take on my honeymoon. Of course you collected a trousseau in those days, and I had all these hugely impractical satin scanties and petticoats which I don't think I ever wore after the honeymoon. Thank God for cotton tails!
