Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young presents war bride, Jean Fells, with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at her constituency office earlier this month. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Imagine, as a young person, leaving your home, your family and the only way of life you know and starting over in a far-away land.
This was a reality for war bride Jean Fells, who recently received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, presented to her by Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young. Fell’s family members made it out to the presentation as well.
“Every province got these medals to give out to special people like you. It also recognizes Saskatchewan citizens of all ages and from all walks of life, who have made contributions to our country, our province, and particularly to their community,” said Young, before making the presentation on Feb. 14.
It is the last of its kind to be given out in Saskatchewan, since they were issued by Queen Elizabeth II in Feb. 2022 in honour of the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.
“This medal that I’m going to present to you today recognizes what you, personally, have done to make Saskatchewan a better place for all of us,” said Young.
Fells, now 96, fell in love with a Canadian man named Bob Fells during the Second World War. He worked for the Canadian Army as a military engineer.
“I was sitting on Bob’s knee in the kitchen, and he said don’t you think it’s time we got married? That was his proposal,” said Fells.
“There were lots of love letters,” she said, adding they didn’t have phones to keep in contact like we do now.
One of the letters, she recalls, came for Bob from his father back in Grivin, Sask.
“His dad had written to him and said there was some land that was going to become vacant. He said it was a half section, and it was a pretty good price,” said Fells.
The couple was married on Nov. 3, 1945, in Yorkshire County in the U.K. where Jean had grown up. She said it was a small congregation of about 12 people since only her immediate family could be there.
“I bought material, and I designed my own wedding outfit,” she recalled.
“After we married, we spent our honeymoon in London. It was my first time in London.”
They were able to spend about a month together in England before they boarded separate ships for Canada.
Fells says she feels fortunate she didn’t have to make that trip with any children as many of the other over 48,000 war brides did.
After reuniting in Regina, Jean and Bob made the trek out to the family homestead just outside of Girvin, Sask. where some visitors were waiting for them.
“Mom and dad (Bob’s parents) had invited another war bride and her husband, and that war bride, Vi and George Findlay, became like our family because neither I nor Vi had family here. We became very close,” said Fells.
The family home had no electricity or running water when they moved in, and they would often heat rocks to put under the mattresses for warmth.
Despite these inconveniences, the young couple raised three children on that farm, and always took time to help in the community.
“We raised them on the farm and they went to school in Girvin, and then eventually into Davidson,” said Fells.
“We had a wonderful life. We retired from the farm in 1993 and moved to Saskatoon.”
Bob has since passed away, but Jean still has many fond memories of him and their life together. She currently resides in Lloyd at the Pioneer Lodge.
