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Sometimes termed \u2018The Diaper Run\u2019 due to the large number of babies on-board, the S.S. Argentina set sail from Southampton to New York City on 26th January, 1946 - transporting 456 \u2018War Brides\u2019 and their 170 children from Britain to the USA.\nEach was permitted to bring 200lb of luggage, and faced an uncertain future on arrival in the States - some reuniting with their one true love; others finding themselves shacked up with in-laws who resented their existence.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how this historic crossing triggered a change in U.S. immigration policy; examine the appeal of clean-cut American servicemen to working-class British women; and recall the much-forgotten additional passenger - \u2018the War Groom\u2019...\nFurther Reading:\n\n\u2018Coming To America: The War Brides Act of 1945\u2019 (The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, 2020):\xa0https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/war-brides-act-1945\n\n\n\u2018War Brides - America\u2019 (WWII magazine): http://www.americainwwii.com/articles/war-brides/\xa0\n\n\u2018G.I. Brides Sail\u2019 (Path\xe9 News, 1946) - YouTube:\xa0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wiUotiD9HI\n\n\n\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#40s #War #US #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices