In the light of recent events in the USA, it is interesting to note that,
following World War II, when British war brides prepared to follow their G.I.
husbands to America, they were treated with the utmost barbarity. Before they
left Britain they were taken to an American army base where they were subjected
to various intrusive medical investigations to ensure that they were not
suffering from venereal disease. Once they had been vetted, they were packed
into ships with very few comforts and, it was widely alleged that many babies
died of dysentery en route. On their arrival they were deloused and subjected to
another medical examination before being allowed to join their husbands. For
some, worse was to follow, but, as this Pathe newsreel shows, others finally found happiness:
The band Squeeze wrote a song about the same subject in 1981:
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