Doris Kendall Whalen and Jacqueline

Doris Whalen, nee Kendell, arrived in early Spring of 1946 with her baby daughter, Jacqueline, at the Port of Halifax aboard the Scythia. She had only a few hours notice to leave her home of Birkenhead, England, as someone else scheduled to leave had become ill and she was asked to be ready as soon as possible. This meant that she was not able to give much notice to family and friends. This also meant that she did not have too much time to get too nervous about leaving. Doris was very fortunate to arrive at the port where she would be met by family and not have to travel on alone as some women and children had too. She was met at Pier 21 by her husband John (Jack) Whalen and his family.

She met John (Jack), when she was serving in the ATS as a Tracker on an Anti-Aircraft Battery (Ack-Ack), he was serving with the Canadian Army. Doris lived in Nova Scotia 43 years until her death in December, 1989. She had wanted to attend the War Brides Reunion in Halifax very much, but she was undergoing chemotherapy at the time and was very disappointed not to be able to attend. Doris was able to return home to Birkenhead a few times before her death. Her daughter Jacqueline now resides in Colombus, Ohio, USA. She has another daughter, Betty, living in Halifax County and a son, Tony (deceased). Her husband still resides at Hatchet Lake in the family home. A brick was purchased on the Wall of Honor at Pier 21 in Doris' memory.

Memorabilia:

There is a photo of Doris Kendell Whalen and daughter, Jacqueline in the book - Pier 21: The Gateway that Changed Canada - by Trudy Duivenvoodren Mitic and J.P. LeBlanc, on page 90, bottom pictures. She is the only mother holding a baby up to her face in the second row. Baby is wearing a white sweater and blanket. The photo was taken aboard the ship Scythia. The picture is in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.