Fonds consists of approximately 150 letters and documents from the end of the Second World War. It is primarily correspondence between Dutch War Bride Emilia Andriessen and Dennis Alsop, the Canadian soldier she married.
The correspondence begins shortly after they met in 1944. At this time Dennis was stationed in the Netherlands serving as a sergeant in the Canadian Intelligence Corps. After their marriage in November of 1945, Dennis returned to London, Ontario as part of the demobilization of the Canadian troops, arriving in Canada at the end of January 1946. Emilia did not travel to Canada until late August 1946. During their separation Emilia frequently wrote to Dennis. The letters deal with personal and romantic subjects as well as discussing the end of the war and how it affected their everyday lives and the lives of their family and friends.
Emilia's letters to Dennis are written in English with some Dutch expressions and pet names. They discuss topics including the end of the war and VE Day celebrations in 's-Hertogenbosch; concerns for her family in the Dutch East Indies, who were interned by the Japanese, and her eventual reunion with them; her studies to become a dentist, and worries about exams; Emilia's interactions with the Canadian Wives Bureau while arranging her travel to Canada; as well as her apprehensions about immigrating to Canada, including housing and employment for both herself and Dennis.
This fonds also includes a few letters from Dennis to Emilia from the same time period. As well as correspondence and documents related to their wedding on 14 November 1945, and telegrams regarding Emilia's travel to Canada in August of 1946. There is also correspondence from a variety of friends and family including Dennis' parents, Emilia's brother-in-law, a Canadian soldier named Bill, and Emilia's land-lady Miss Maandag.
This fonds also includes photographs and various notes from this time period, including several photographs from Emilia and Dennis' wedding; photographs of the Andriessen family in the Dutch East Indies before the war; Christmas letters from "St. Nicholas" and a card from the Sergeant's Mess in 1945; as well as a Dutch certificate giving permission for Dennis Alsop to work in the Hilversum district with supervision, presumably as part of his duties during the war.
