During the war, amidst the horrors of conflict, a love story unfolded. More about the naval family that came together during the Battle of the Atlantic is revealed by Ottawa Yes.
The Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of World War II, lasting from 1939 to 1945. Allied naval and air forces fought over 100 convoy battles and more than 1,000 separate engagements against enemy submarines and surface vessels.
The Royal Canadian Navy played a decisive role in shifting the tide of the battle, ultimately becoming one of the world’s strongest naval forces by the war’s end. Alone and alongside its allies, Canada destroyed 33 enemy submarines and 42 surface ships.
Amidst the war and military service, a love story emerged, forming a family whose story deserves to be told.
A Naval Signalers’ Family
J.B. Anstruther and L.M. Reed Anstruther were naval signalers. They donned the Royal Navy uniform to serve their country. Their paths crossed for the first time at a naval repair base on the His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS).
J.B. Anstruther served as a signaler in the Royal Navy. He recalled his service on board HMCS Nanaimo, where he and his crew participated in search-and-rescue operations. While his fellow sailors searched one part of the shipwreck, he checked another section and managed to find the sole survivor.
His biography also recounts his work at HMCS Shelburne, where he guarded a surrendered enemy submarine in the war’s final days.
L.M. Reed, on the other hand, worked as a cipher clerk in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service before being stationed at HMCS Shelburne. She rarely spoke about her military service, a trait common among many women who served during the war. However, she took great pride in her service and her contribution to her country.
Life After the War
Following the war, J.B. Anstruther joined the local volunteer fire department. Like many veterans, he sought to adjust to civilian life.
He recalled that during his military service, he developed the unique and valuable skill of being able to sleep anywhere. This ability served him well during his fire department shifts, where he had to catch brief moments of rest between emergency calls.
Life for veterans was challenging as they had to cope with physical and psychological trauma while reintegrating into civilian society.
L.M. Reed Anstruther enjoyed attending reunions with her former comrades-in-arms. These gatherings allowed them to reminisce about their shared experiences and the support they provided each other. Their daughter often accompanied her mother to these events.
One Example of Many
One can only imagine the challenges, fears, and dangers these signalers endured during their service together. Perhaps these shared experiences helped them find solace and love in one another.
Thus, the story of J.B. Anstruther and L.M. Reed Anstruther is just one of many examples of how war can bring people together. Their story serves as a testament that even in the darkest of times, there is always room for strong connections and true love.
Many wartime couples, despite falling in love during the war, were unable to sustain their relationships post-war. The reasons included distance, financial difficulties, bureaucratic obstacles, deep psychological scars, shifting priorities, and unmet expectations. However, those couples who managed to maintain their relationships and build lives together after the war stand as examples of the resilience of the human spirit, the strength of love, and the ability to overcome adversity.
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