Nineteen-year-old American teenager Leo ‘Moose’ Sangiolo arrived in Springtown Camp in April 1943 from his native Hanson, Massachusetts. He told me of his fond memories he had of his time in the camp. “We had many parties for the local children on Thanksgiving Day. Fourth of July and at Christmas time. We introduced them to the delicacies of Hershey chocolate, candy , ice-cream, and their first taste of Coca-Cola. The smile on their wee faces sure warmed our hearts”
Robert L. Reiss will always remember his nine-teenth birthday, for on that day 4 April 1943 in arrived in Springtown Camp and was assigned to Hut 214. Bob gave me some of his private collection of photographs taken during his stay in Springtown. He to fondly remembers the many children’s parties that they hosted for the Derry orphaned children
Sero Startoni, a young eighteen -year-old gunners’ mate from Pennsylvania left New York pier No. 92 on 15 November 1943 on his way to Springtown Camp. He recalls it took his ship seven long days sailings unescorted across the Atlantic to reach its destination at Glasgow. From there he boarded a train which took them to a boat that sailed to Derry
On arriving in the camp, he was issued with a Springfield rifle and one hundred rounds of ammunition and assigned to a hut occupied by gunners, gunners’ mates, seamen, torpedo men and torpedo men’s mates.
Sero recalls I remembered it was around March 1944 when worked intensified. We were working twelve-hour shifts round the clock loading ship after ship with 20mm, 40mm and .50calibre machine guns. With so much happening we knew D -Day was not far off.
“Anormal day in Springtown Camp was up at dawn, chow, [breakfast], bussed to the shipyard, loading trucks with ammunition and artillery pieces taken from the dumps that were beside the huts and stored underground. Dinner, then back to work again before being bussed back to Springtown.
We always looked forward to visiting town while in Derry as the local bars were great and people were very friendly. Before returning from Derry, we always had to bring fresh loaves of bread back with us for our buddies. Everyone loved the fresh bread baked in Derry.
The Derry girls were very attractive but the notion of bringing one back to the camp was a non-starter, as the Marines patrolled the camp twenty-fours -a-day. And a spider wouldn’t have got past them.”
U.S Personnel
The Americans arriving in Derry
The majority of the American forces arrived in Derry in early 1942.
The Yanks are here! The word went around Derry like wildfire, to the great excitement of the local people. Arguably, more so to the young ladies, however, it is debatable if the young men welcomed them with the same amount of enthusiasm, for obvious reasons. Young men in classy uniforms with cultured accents from every state in the US represented serious competition for the young Derry men. Oh boy the Derry girls used this competition to their advantage, to keep the Derry men mustard keen and on their toes. No more "I will see you about" from the Derry lads. That attitude was no longer acceptable. It was now " Can I meet you tomorrow night again" from the local lads, now well and truly moved out of their comfort zone. "Sure we will see how things go" was the standard reply from the Local girls, with their newfound confidence now sky-high. A seismic change in the power of romance now firmly shifted in favour of the young local Ladies.
The young American lad often affectionately known as a 'Yank' to the locals, had the benefit of having a plentiful supply of delicacies, like the mouth-watering Hershey chocolate, tasty chewing gum, 'Camel' cigarettes, Coca Cola and they were not short of a 'few bob' either.
The young Americans were a big hit with the young ladies everywhere.
It was a difficult period for the Local 'Clark Gables' to contend with, so inevitably the odd fight broke out if a 'Yank' was paying too much attention to a girlfriend or vise-versa.
In the circumstances it was very obvious that many relationships were sure to flourish, and they did. It was no surprise that many young American took local girls for their wives. Every newspaper carried the story of the GI brides. It was big news locally when the day came for the GI Bride's ship 'Marine Raven' to sail down the river Foyle and out of Derry in September 1944, bound for the US.
The ship moved away from Derry with crowds waving goodbye from the quayside and to the sound of music from a navy band, the final tuned played was 'Auld Lang Syne'
Some on the GI Brides who left on the Marine Haven
The US servicemen were also a big hit with the children of Derry, as they were hosts to many childrens parties on Thanksgiving day and at Christmas time. Many local children tasted Coca Cola for the first in the Soda Fountain at Springtown Camp and other Camps. They were collected in Derry by US trucks and taken out to the camp, where they were taken to the main hall and treated to all sorts of American delicacies. After eating Hershey chocolate, Ice cream, different types of cake, all sorts of sweets and of course Coca Cola. The children enjoyed playing many games and afterwards were taken by truck back in to Derry again.
Frank Rose and Paul Brady with Local children at Springtown Camp who attended a party.
During the US presence in Derry it is very important not to understate how valuable the US were to Derry as a City. Not only did they add to the local economy by employing many local people, it also meant the City had almost full male employment for the first time in its history. This gave a real feel good factor to almost every family. That in itself, was priceless, as it gave people hope and put a spring in their step, in those difficult times. The locals were employed in constructing the different camps and other facilities need by the Americans.
When the US personnel left Springtown Camp for the last time on Monday 12 November 1945 it may have been the end of their association with the camp, but their affair with Derry was to continue for many more years at their Base in the Waterside.
Through the years the 'American Base' as it was known to locals, regularly organised dances and parties in their hall, with Derry bands playing there on a weekly basis. The young ladies flocked to their dances and as happened down the years, relationships flourished, and many young American lads met their wives at these functions.
Some locals at one of the dances in the American base in the sixties
However in the late 1950's these Base functions, with a local 4 or 5 piece bands playing, were met with some serious competition, as a new Irish phenomenon, the Showbands, burst onto the dance hall scene and changed the entertainment industry all over Ireland forever.
The showbands were lively and played upbeat music, and to the delight of the dancers stood up on stage while playing their instruments and moved in dance style to the beat of their music. Gone forever was the sit down, bow tied stiff upper lip type orchestras with their music stands strategically placed across the stage, and with front men as static as the Statue of Liberty. The Johnny Quigley All-Star showband from Derry, were one of, if not, the best in the country. They were now pulling in record crowds everywhere they played. The young Ladies went in their droves to hear the Showbands, and sure as night follows day, the Young men followed the girls, the Americans included.
The Johnny Quigley All-Star Showband
At the same time as Bill Haley was Rocking around the Clock with his Comets in the US, and Elvis Presley's pelvic movements on stage was driving both the young teenagers and the older settled generation berserk, albeit, with different emotions, the Yanks were jitterbugging in every dance hall within a twenty mile radius of Derry, to the sound of the Showbands.
The young men and girls travelled everywhere to hear the showband sound and dance to their lively sets. They came by every available means of travel, in Buses, small cars with three in the front and five in the back, on bicycles, and even by tractors, and if they couldn't avail of any means of transport they just hitched a lift. Dance halls sprang up in every City, Town, and Village in Ireland, all done brisk business. The American's followed this new dance craze, which was in most of the main 'ballrooms'. In Derry there was The Criterion aka the 'Crit', the Corinthian, the Embassy, the Cameo/Stardust, the Memorial Hall aka The 'Mem' and just over in County Donegal, Borderland in Muff, The Plaza Buncrana, and The Fiesta in Letterkenny. The 'Yanks' were enjoying life so much in Ireland some called Derry their second home.
Chart topper Helen Shapiro wows the crowd at the Corinthian Ballroom.
There were many Sailors from different nations, Portugal, Canada, and the UK, in Derry at times, but it's fair to say, the Americans were the most popular with Derry folk, by a country Mile! With this in mind, it
was no surprise why so many Derry girls took American lads for their husbands, and followed them to their different postings all over the world. Many a fight broke out in or around the dance halls with Navy men from all the countries who were here. Most it was not over a particular girl, but just out of sheer frustration by the local 'James Dean' who may not have been as popular as he once was as now the competition had gone up a notch. Rightly or wrongly the Portuguese sailors had the reputation as being the toughest to overcome in a fight or brawl. It is also fair to say, that some locals were just out for trouble with any sailors, and for no particular reason, other than they were foreign sailors. It is also fair to say that on occasions, they regretted getting involved after taking a beating at the hands of a sailor, just a case of picking on the wrong man. That happened often enough, to encourage the local hard men to be more selective with sailors, before embarking in a bout of fistycuffs. Another factor in fights with sailors declining in popularity, was the fact that the local girls were not at all impressed with local lads fighting with young men from different countries, who were just out for a nights entertainment through dancing.
Derry was once described as the swingingest town in Ireland, as the sailors from different parts of the world, made the city centre a colourful sight, as they casually walked around the town centre. The many street newspaper sellers would recall all the different accents of the colourful sailors, who created such a great jovial, carnival atmosphere. Every Weekend was different, with new sailors coming on to the streets of Derry, on off-shore leave. They were all in a happy mood and out to enjoy themselves in a City they have never been to before. They were loaded with money after being at sea for months and now it was play time for them, and they were generous with tips if they bought a newspaper from us. They just bought a newspaper from us to get information as to where the dances were on. It was as if the street newspaper sellers were the boys to get the information from. We were the unofficial tourist department.
There was a few sailors who met girls and had a whirlwind romance and they were so besotted, they couldn't force themselves to leave them and their ship sailed without them. Whatever happened to them after that, is a mystery.
I researched and tracked down some of these Derry Girls, who left their jobs, friends and followed their hearts. Their stories are fascinating and they can be read in the US personnel section. Derry people were and are enthralled by the stories of Derry girls who married 'Yanks' and were stationed in the most romantic places like Hawaii, California, Texas, and every other state in America. Their life's journey fascinates, and people who knew them or were work pals,or dancing pals of them, love hearing about them and how are they doing.....It is a 'Derry thing' we just like to hear they are ok and doing well. It was as many people of a certain age, say, 'a great time to be young.'
Like everything in life, nothing lasts forever, it was a sad day for Derry and the many people who worked in the 'American Base' and became close friends with everyone who served there when it closed. Not only did they lose a job they loved, they lost a way of life which they had for years. Barmen, Cooks, everyone who worked there the closure was a life changing event for them. Now they are left with the memories of joy but tinged with sadness, as they look back on many happy years and lovely friendships, all lost to 'progress'.
The American base closed on Friday 30th September 1977 ending a 35 year relationship with Derry.
The U.S Navcommsta Derry Alumni Association still to this day, hold their Derry Re-union every four years in our City.
The Derry girls who followed their Hearts
Sadie Gallagher
I had just finished two hours of overtime in the shirt factory with Joan Clark, and we decided to go in to Coyle's fish and chip shop on Carlisle Road. On checking how much money we had between us we found out we just about had enough to get a bag of chips and a bottle of Coke between us.
The man who took our order just smiled when we said oh and two straws, please! We just shrugged our shoulders and smiled back at him. Well, it is a Wednesday, always the worst day in the week for our finances. We both sat down in the stalls and giggled at what we just ordered. When he brought down our order he gave us one massive bag of chips and the two straws with the bottle of Coke, we thanked him for his generosity. "No bother he said" smiling, "just keep me a dance at Borderland some night", with that he returned to the back of the counter. As we were eating our chips, laced with salt and vinegar, these three big yanks came in and sat in the stall facing us. One of them got up and came over to our stall and said "Hi there, I'm Stan Rogers from Georgia in the United States" He was tall, tanned and very handsome and I said "Hi too you, I'm Sadie Gallagher from Bridge Street " and Joan and I started laughing. "Do you mind if I sit down beside you both" I pointed to the seat, and yes, sit down. Then his two friends joined and sat beside him, and facing us. After talking to them for over an hour, we got up to go and they asked us would we come to the pictures with them tomorrow night, we looked at each other and said ok why not? We met them the following night and we had a good time, they were very kind, good mannered and very considerate. I liked him and went out with him steady after that night, after about four months he proposed to me.
I told him I would need to think about it, and we continued to go out together for about another year.
My mother loved Stan as he was so gentle and well mannered, but my father like all Derry fathers I suppose, would have preferred I went out with a Derry man.
One particular occasion we were going through one of our wee tiffs and we broke up for a while, I was coming out of work from the Abercorn Factory and he was waiting for me with a big bunch of flowers. He handed them to me and said "Look, let's stop this silly argument here and now, I want to marry you as soon as possible." We chatted for a while and decided to set a date and get married.
We got married in the Long Tower Church and lived in Derry for a while, where we had our first child. Stan was then posted back to America where we had our second child a few years later. Stan had completed several other foreign tours of duty and this night he came home and said to me, brace yourself I have been posted again this time several miles away. I just looked at him and breathed a sigh " Ok where to this time Stan" fearing the worst after a pause he looked at me and said to a place called Derry in Ireland.
I roared Yee Haa and done a quick Irish jig around the floor. It was like a dream come true, we were going home!
Sadie and Stan on their wedding day
Belle Mc Colgan
In April 1963 Bob Redmond was a young man serving in the US Navy in Newport, Rhode Island. Born in New York City, this twenty-year-old was about to get quite a shock as he was about to be told he was to be transferred to Derry. Bob though excited at the thought of going to Ireland knew absolutely nothing about Derry. Little did he know it would be the place where he would meet his wife- Belle McColgan.
Bob said 'Coming from the Big Apple, I thought Derry was quaint, the people were very friendly and we were treated very well everywhere we went. Complete strangers would say hello when passing you on the street- now, that's something that would never happen in New York City.'
I thought I was a sharp dresser back then, with my cutting - edge American sharkskin suit with its velvet collar and cuffs, but Belle thought different. Belle, originally from Artisan Street in the close-knit Rosemount area of Derry recalled 'I told him I didn't like his suit and that he looked like a rowdy Yank dressed as a Teddy Boy.' In my own inimitable way, I told him if he wanted a new suit then he would have to pay a visit to Burton's on Ferryquay Street, and get measured for a proper one, Your not in New York now, this is Derry and you need to dress accordingly. Obediently, Bob took my advice and the very next day off to Burton's he went to get outfitted like a refined Derryman.
When he did this, I must admit, I was suitable impressed and I decided there and then this is the man I want to date, he was the man for me. But not just yet! I had a small problem to sort out: I was supposed to go on a date with his superior. I had to break the news to him first before I could go on a date with Bob.
This I did straight away and since my first date with Bob, which was way back in 1963, we have been side by side ever since. 'I remember the first night I set eyes on him. I was working at that time as a beautician and hairdresser and was visiting a client, Peggy Gallagher, at her husband's pub, Ken's Den at the top of Carlisle Road. Peggy was quite busy working behind the bar and she asks me to carry a round of drinks down to a table. Bob was there with his friend, also from the American base, who was going out with Peggy's sister Cathy. Bob ask Cathy to introduce us and she did. He then as me for a date and we went for a meal the following night- after I finished with his superior- to a Chinese restaurant on Shipquay Street. After the meal, we went to the Strand cinema to see the midnight matinee.
A couple of weeks later, Bob arrived to collect me for a date in his new suit. He was wearing a three-piece black wool suit with scarlet lining!. When I saw him, I just shook my head and threw my arms in the air, thinking to myself that this young man needs a bit more work. To make matters worse, his two mates had the same identical tailor-made suits. After a bit more prompting, I finally got him sorted out and we were as happy as Larry after that.
'About eighteen months later, on the 26 August 1965, we were married in St. Eugene's Cathedral by Father Edward Daly. At first, we lived in a flat at Magazine Street. The following year, Bob was transferred to Newport, Rhode Island. That was the beginning of our world travels. He was then transferred to Bainbridge in Maryland, then to Mare Island and Treasure Island in California. Next were based in the beautiful Pacific island of Hawaii where we lived for ten glorious years.
Our last overseas posting was in Puerto Rico. By then, Bob was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and we were transferred back to Charleston, South Carolina, where we eventually settled. Bob may have come to Derry for me, but then I had to follow him halfway round the world,' laughs Belle.
Belle admits arriving in America was a culture shock and she missed Derry terribly for a long time.
'I cried every day and longed for my family, my friends and my lovely neighbours from Rosemount. And when Bob was at sea for months on end it was lonely and that was the worst time. But when my two daughters were born they kept me busy, all my time was taken up caring for them. And then you had the other sailors wives to keep you company and they were all so friendly. Fortunately, there were always a few Derry girls living everywhere we were assigned. Even though I never knew them when I was living in Derry, we soon became close and we are now life long friends. Margaret Glenn from Lone Moor Road lives very close to us as does Dinah Nash from Rosemount. We are also close friends with Margaret Boyle and her husband with whom we still maintain contact and visit in their homes whenever we can. Margaret is from Tyrconnell Street in the Bogside and has been in America for a long time.'
Belle reminisced about her dancing days and going with her friend Annie McDaid to the Crit in Foyle Street when they were only fourteen. We loved dancing and danced three or four nights a week, Corinthian one night the Embassy the next then like everyone else we dance in Borderland at Muff. We loved Johnny Quigley's band they were our favourites closely followed by The Royal Showband and Clipper Carlton in those never to be forgotten Showband Days.
Belle has two beautiful daughters and at the time of writing has three lovely grandchildren. They live a comfortable life in a picturesque suburb of Charleston, South Carolina. However as far as Belle is concerned Derry is, and will always be, home for her.
Belle and Bob on their wedding Day
Margaret Boyle
Belle's husband Bob was a close pal of David Bland who was also stationed in the American base in Derry in the early 1960s. David also met and fell in love with a local girl, Margaret Boyle from Tyrconnell Street in the heart of Derry's famous Bogside. Both couples socialised together in Derry before they married, and they are still close friends to this day, just as they were way back in 1963.
On leaving school I followed my sister and went to work in the City Shirt Factory. I went to all the dances with Clare Bridge and Helen Kelly who also lived in the Bogside. We loved dancing to the Irish showbands and we frequented all the main dance halls, Borderland, the Corinthian, the Embassy and the Guildhall. All the dance halls had their own special atmosphere, but Borderland was our favourite. Which showband was playing where dictated where we went, The Royal Showband from Waterford with Brendan Bowyer was our favourite. We worked hard from eight am to 6 pm five days a week and we just lived for the weekends. It was while dancing in the Corinthian that I met my husband David Bland from Chestertown, Maryland. Dave had known my sister Lola for quite a while before I met him. My sister just happened to be there and Dave was talking to her and saw me on the dance floor. He asked my sister did she know me, she said I should do, she is my sister. He asked me to dance and we got on great together, so he asked to see me again and I agreed, and we started going out steady. We would go dancing or to the pictures or just go up to Ken's Den for a quiet drink.
We received a shock to our systems, when Dave was posted to Washington DC and he left Derry in October 1964, I followed him on 28 December to his family home in Maryland. We married in Dave's hometown of Chestertown, Maryland, in April 1965. Unfortunately, my family was unable to attend our wedding because of the distance and the cost of travel. We started married life in Washington DC where Dave was stationed. I travelled thousands of miles following Dave to his many postings: to Midway Island, San Diego, Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, to name but a few.
'I broke my heart at the start and cried daily if I heard a song on the radio that would remind me of Derry, I would just burst into tears. Often, when Dave was at work and the children were at school, I would sit down close my eyes and pretend I was walking over Rossville Street, down William Street and into Waterloo Place and up the town. I was home-sick from the day I left our wee terraced home in Tyrconnell Street. Dave enthused 'Before I met Margaret, I would go to all the dances with my mates, or up to the Diamond Bar or the Rocking Chair for a drink. A visit to Fiorentini's fish-and-chip shop was a must as I loved their food, other places went to were the Savoy or the Sailors 'Rest'. I asked Dave as to his thoughts why they were so popular with the girls. 'I suppose we were viewed as a novelty and offered better opportunities for the local girls. I grew up in a small town with a population of around five thousand people and the same happened there. On the outskirts there was an army base with about one hundred and fifty soldiers stationed there.
Their only chance of female company was with the local girls. The girls loved the attention, but the local guys didn't appreciate the invasion and at times showed it with the odd fight breaking out.' We have been back in Derry several times and everytime I catch the first glimpse of my home town, the floodgates of tears open. I was blessed to have had such wonderful friends and neighbours in our wee street, and I still get butterflies when I remember our magical dance hall days. Life has been good to me, here in America, but Like my good friend Belle always says, nowhere, can ever take the place of Derry in our hearts or minds.
Margaret and Dave have four sons and grandchildren, and now live in blissful retirement, just a few miles from Orlando, Florida.
Margaret and Dave pictured at their home
Dave, Margaret, Bob and Belle in Ken's Den 1963
Ginger Doherty
Susan Doherty - or as she prefers to be called, 'Ginger' Doherty from Creggan was another young girl who fell for the charm of an American Navy man who was stationed in Derry. I asked Ginger how she meet her husband and she looked at me and after a short pause she said 'Right ok this is the story, I was dancing with my friend Charlotte Fitzpatrick and there was this fellow I knew who sold the 'Ireland Saturday Night' newspaper at the Guildhall. - I better explain this, in the days back then newspaper sellers were permitted to sell newspapers, in the dance halls. So he was selling his newspaper and he came over to me and said 'that Yank over there in the corner wants to dance with me.
I looked at him puzzled and told him if he wants to dance with me tell him to come over and ask me himself. Well as chance had it we didn't dance that night as a minute later a fellow ask me to dance and I went out to dance with him. The place was jam packed so we didn't see each other again that night. the following week i went to the Embassy with friends and we were sitting at a table in the balcony, when I noticed the Yank coming towards us, he asked me if I was Ann and I told no I wasn't. He didn't seem to believe me and ask was I sure, I looked at him and said 'Do you not think I know my own name?' He walked away and he left my mind again. Coincidentally my sister was getting married to a Yank a couple of weeks later and I was her bridesmaid.
My sister told me a fellow called Gerry Hansen was best man, the name meant nothing to me. You can guess the surprise I got when I found out it was 'The Yank' He actually brought a girl to the wedding with him , but he stuck to my side the whole day. I told him to go back to his girlfriend but he refused saying 'No it's my duty to be by my side as I was bridesmaid. That night he asked me out and I told him to get lost he had a girlfriend. He finished with her and then asked me out again and I agreed. We were regulars at the Corinthian and the Embassy and a few months later he proposed to me.My father refused to let me get married, as he wanted me to marry a Derryman. The fact that Gerry was a lot older than me didn't impress my father either.I pleaded with my mother to ask my father to let me get married. After many discussions with my mother about the merits of me marrying an American navy man, my father finally gave us his blessings. Gerry and my father later became very good friends.We got married in St. Mary's church Creggan in July 1962.
Three days after our wedding Gerry was posted to Philadelphia, and I did not join him until October. That was the worst times, I was feeling lonely and homesick because I knew nobody there, and to be honest I didn't like the place at all. Still it has fond memories in a way, as it was where my two sons were born.
Throughout Gerry's thirty year US Navy career we travelled the world. My sons started their school days at the Holy Child School in Creggan; my two sons graduated in Iceland, and my daughter graduated in the Philippines. One of my sons lives in New York and the other lives in New Mexico and my daughter lives in California. And it all started with a glance across the floor at a dance in the Embassy Ballroom.
Despite her worldwide travels, Ginger is now back home in Derry. Looking at me she said " I have seen the sun go down in many far - off romantic places, but I wouldn't trade Derry for any of the places I have been to. There is definitely no place like home.'
Ginger and Gerry
Breege Mc Laughlin
On Thursday 20 August 1959, one of those young cultured American sailors was visiting Derry for the first time and, unknown to himself, was about to meet his partner for life that night.
He was onboard the USS Dealey which sailed up the River Foyle and docked at the quay after a long trip from Newport, Rhode Island. Onboard was twenty year old Dave McConnell, a young sailor from Ohio.
He remembers he was looking forward to the off-shore leave and the fact that it was a month-long leave in an English speaking port made it all the better. 'I was excited as I walked down gangway of my ship with my mates on this, our first night in Derry. Little did I know it would change the rest of my life forever.
At the same time as Dave was making his way into the town centre, three young teenage girls, Breege McLaughlin, Ann Sweeney and Sadie Porter, three neighbours of yours truly, were catching the 9.10 pm bus from Springtown Camp on their way to a dance in the Criterion Ballroom. Dave takes up the story.
The first night in town, we left our ship with much excitement; we walked on the Strand Road and strolled on towards Foyle Street. My first reaction to being on the streets of Derry was how happy and cheerful the people were, smiling faces everywhere and so friendly, and their brogue was just lovely. The first bar we saw was the Oregon Bar, and we decided to go in and taste their beer.
To our surprise, the beer was warm, as they had no ice in it. After a few more drinks we left and walked down Foyle Street, where we heard music coming from the upstairs of a building. We were curious about where the music was coming from and some people walking past told us it was a dance hall called the Crit. We decided to go in and see what it was like. We climbed the stairs and paid our admission money and stepped into the dance hall proper. The place was packed with people dancing all over the floor. We stood there for a while and just observed the dancers, who were jitterbugging like nobody's business.
After a little while, we decided to dip our toe in the water, so to speak. We had seen these two girls dancing on their own, so my mate and I went over to them and asked if we could please have this dance. And they said, "sure, why not."
During the dance we exchanged pleasantries, I found out her name was Breege and I told her my name
and a little bit about myself. We hit it off straight away and we danced the whole night together after that. After the last dance and I asked her could I leave her home? She agreed.
'We chatted as we walked from the dance hall down the Strand Road and then turned left up the Rock Road. At the top of the Rock Road, Breege told me, "This is where your train stops." It was as far as I was allowed to go with her. She walked with her friends Ann Sweeney and Sadie Porter on towards her home on their own, but before she left me we agreed to meet the next day outside Littlewoods. It was only later that I found out she lived in Springtown Camp. And it was out of bounds for us.
We met as planned the next day at Littlewood's corner and went for a walk around the town. The following night, we went to the cinema. During my month's stay in Derry, we went to several dances in the Crit and once we travelled to the Plaza in Buncrana and really enjoyed that.
When my ship left Derry for London on Sunday 20 September 1959, it was with a lonely heart that I stood on deck and waved goodbye to Breege standing on Derry Quay. We agreed to write to each other and we did so twice a week for three long years. I had invited Breege over to visit me in America many times and eventually she agreed to come. So on Wednesday 30 May 1962, I finally saw her smiling face once more as she stepped off the plane. It had been three long years since we parted and I was determined to make sure we would never be parted again. Just over two months later on 6 August 1962, we were married in Toronto, Ohio. We have one son and we lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
We always looked forward to visiting Derry as often as we could, as it was always home as far as Breege was concerned. While in Derry we always made a point of going to look at the Crit building where we first set eyes on each other. Sadly my world fell apart when Breege took ill and passed away a couple of years ago. I was blessed to have her as my wife for so many very happy years, and I cherished the day I first set foot in Derry, where I met Breege.
David and Breege on their wedding day on August 6th 1962
in St. Francis Church, Toronto, Ohio
