Mosquito net wedding dress : 360 Object 1941-1945.

Format:

Book

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Summary:

Description: 2011.034.001 Clothing, Dress, Wedding. Mosquito net wedding dress worn by Polly Ann Billington at her marriage to George Roulhac in North Africa on 2 Oct 1943, while they were both stationed with the 21st General Hospital. Mosquito Netting Wedding Dress & Veil Polly Ann Billington & George Roulhac When Polly Billington left her hometown of Nashville to visit Washington D. C. in Dec 1941, she did not mention to her parents that she was not planning on returning. Polly found a job with the American Red Cross, and after a few months working stateside her detachment boarded the SS Mariposa and sailed to England. As fate would have it, an acquaintance of Polly's, Dr. George Roulhac, was also on board the ship. The two went on a date in Birmingham. In a letter home, Polly recounted the evening, noting that it was memorable mainly because of the mandatory blackouts throughout England which made everyday errands and transportation markedly more difficult. George, however, was soon transferred elsewhere. In early 1943, Polly's detachment was transferred from England to North Africa where, once again, fate intervened. George was already in Algeria serving as a neurosurgeon with the 21st General Hospital. Mere weeks later, Polly wrote to her family, 'This next will no doubt come as a bit of a shock to all of you' but I hope you approve of George Roulhac because I certainly am fond of him and hope someday, when and if this is all over, to marry him. He wants to get married over here but I didn't think you would like that too much.' Polly received a transfer from the 26th to the 21st General Hospital to remain close to George, who almost immediately wrote to her parents asking for their blessing to propose to Polly. Although the pair initially wanted to wait until back in the states to marry due to stringent Army protocol regarding spouses, the couple just couldn't wait! George wrote Polly's mother explaining, 'We have decided to put in for permission to get married. The war will probably be over before it even goes through' It seems the army does everything within its power to discourage matrimony. However, they will have to make things a great deal worse to ever discourage me, because I know when I am really well off.' Three months later, the couple finally received permission to marry and set the date for 2 Oct 194 Joyce wrote home, 'I am so excited I can har Saturday doesn't hurry up and come I don't believe I will live through it. I am so silly, I can't eat, sleep or work; all I want to do is dream.' Polly enlisted the aid of a French seamstress to assemble a makeshift wedding dress and matching veil from surplus mosquito netting used in the hospital. The bride was given away by the hospital's commanding officer, Dr. Lee Cady, who recorded in his diary that Polly's mosquito netting dress, 'with the other floral and palm frond decorations made it all appear much like a beautiful marriage ceremony would be back home.' A beautiful outdoor reception followed, and the couple honeymooned in Fes, Morocco. Polly and George were married for more than forty years and raised five daughters together; 2011.034.002 Headwear, Veil. Bridal veil of mosquito netting worn by Polly Ann Billington.

Notes:

Description based on online resource (viewed on June 12, 2019).

Clothing, Dress, Wedding;Net.