Mary Elizabeth "Molly" Malinowski (nee Edwards) was born on April 5, 1926 in Bury, Lancashire, England. She met her husband Kazimar John "Kaz" Malinowski (1917-1977) at age 18, while at a dance while he was on leave. One week after meeting her husband-to-be, Molly was engaged. After a two-year engagement, Molly and Kaz were married. Kaz returned to Canada before Molly and set up their homestead in Saskatchewan. Molly set sail to Canada and arrived at her new home in Saskatchewan on August 1, 1945. The couple had three children: twins Kenneth and Christine and Barry. Kenneth died at birth. Molly and Kaz spent several years on the farm before relocating to Winnipeg (1954-1957) when Kaz re-enlisted in the Army. In 1957, the family was transferred to Germany, and later to Camp Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick. During this time, Molly joined the United Church. Kaz's final posting was to Shilo, MB, and the family moved to Brandon. In Brandon, Molly joined the U.C.W. She also bowled in the Five Pin Thursday afternoon league, volunteered for Meals on Wheels and at Prairie Oasis. She also loved to travel. Molly married Donald Charles Rollins (1920-2004) in 1987 or 1988. Molly Rollins (Malinowski) died on Aprill 22, 2011 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
Freda Josephine Sheridan (nee Miles) was born on January 31, 1913 in London, England. Raised in Blackham, Kent, she was educated as a nurse and spent time in the early years of World War II working at Seven Oakes Hospital, near Brighton. Freda met her husband, William Sheridan (1909-1983), a Canadian from Hamiota, MB, while visiting relatives. Bill and Freda were married in 1942 and Freda began the process of immigrating to Canada. Freda travelled to Canada with the last convoy of ships that sailed prior to the end of World War II in April 1945. She arrived in Hamiota after three weeks of travel, including 14 days of travel by sea. Bill arrived back in Canada four months after Freda, and the couple set up a homestead on a farm in the local area. The couple had four children: Terry, Michael, Carol and Kathy. The family left Hamiota in 1954, and moved to Brandon, MB. Freda was a member of the War Brides Group of Brandon and the Salvation Army Home League. Freda Sheridan died on April 23, 1998 in Brandon. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Molly Malinowski and Freda Sheridan about their experiences as war brides. In the interview the subjects discuss life in the United Kingdom before their marriages to Canadians. They also discuss social activities that the youth in Cumbridge and Bury partook in during the Second World War. The interview also covers the experience of being a War Bride and what it was like to immigrate to Canada in 1945 and what life was like in small towns on the Canadian Prairies at that time. Interviewer is Hazel Rose.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the records and The Brandon Sun. Description by Natalie Majcher (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy created 2021 (R. Hess)
Related Material
OH 228.She - an interview with Freda's husband William Sheridan called "Riding the 'rods'"
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William MacFarlane "Bill" Geiler was born on February 18, 1927 at Dauphin, MB. He came to live in Brandon when his father Felix formed Manitoba Motor Transit in September 1933. When his father passed away, Bill became President and General Manager of the company. He sold the business to Grey Goose Bus Line in 1969. Bill became a caretaker at Manitoba Public Insurance in 1978, retiring in 1992. Bill enjoyed, golfing, fishing and reading. He was a member of the United Commercial Travelers (UCT) and the Kinsmen Club. Bill married Jacqueline June Roberts (1929-2020) on February 7, 1949, and together they had three children: Phil, Linda and Nancy. William Geiler died on June 6, 2001 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with William Geiler about the history of Manitoba Motor Transit. The interviewer is Hazel Rose.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Geiler's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
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William George Vallender was born on December 16, 1892 in Gloucestershire, England. He arrived in Oak Lake, MB in June 1913, and began working on farms in the area. During the First World War he trained at Camp Hughes and served overseas with the 107th Battalion, "Glen Campbell's Timberwolves." William married Eidth Stoodley (1891-?) on September 12, 1918 at Horsley, Gloucestershire. The couple did not have children. Upon his discharge in 1919, the William and Edith returned to the Oak Lake area, where William continued as a farm hand until 1929, when he went to work for Adam Stewart as a mechanic. In 1936, he became the custodian for Oakwood School custodian. William was a member of Oak Lake Citizen's Band, the C.O.F. and a charter member of the Royal Canadian Legion #79. William Vallender died on March 9, 1987 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Oak Lake Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocasette tape containing an interview with William Vallender about his life in a farming community and military service. Interviewer is Phillis Cairns.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Oak Lake local history "Ox Trials to Blacktop" and Vallender's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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George William Hardwick was born on December 1, 1891 near Nesbitt, MB. Bill received his schooling locally, then continued in Brandon. In 1916, he joined the Army and served overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Upon his discharge in 1919, he returned to the family farm where he remained for most of his life. Bill did not marry. William Hardwick died on May 1, 1996 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Minnewawa Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an interview with William Hardwick about life at home and his experiences in World War One. Interviewer is Elsie Cory.
Notes
History/bio information from the records. Description by Christy Henry.
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William John Jordan was born on September 19, 1899 on SW 18-10-24 northwest of Oak Lake, MB. He was educated at Blair School. As a young man he farmed tor several years near Woodnorth, MB. Will married Cora Elizabeth Leech (1903-1990) on June 30, 1920 and together they had six children: Gladys, Muriel, Aubrey, Ralph, Faye and Garry. They also raised their nephew Harold. Will and Cora farmed, first at N 1/2 15-9-27, and then starting in June 1927, on the Jordan home farm. In later years, they spent their winters at Oak Lake. Following his retirement, Will lived in Oak Lake full time. Will was very active in the Oak Lake Seniors Group, enjoyed gardening and trips to the farm. William Jordan died on February 25, 1996 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Johnston Cemetery at Oak Lake, MB.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with William Jordan about farm life in the early 20th Century. Interviewer is Phillis Cairns.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Oak Lake local history "Ox Trails to Blacktop," the Find A Grave website and obituaries for William and Cora Jordan. Description by Christy Henry.
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William John Montgomery was born on March 5, 1903 in Elkhorn, MB. He was educated at McAlonen School. Bill married Elsie Sarah Elizabeth Leslie (1905-1998) in 1932, and together they had two sons, John Douglas and William Garry. The couple lived and farmed on section 24-11-28, until retiring to Elkhorn in 1974. Bill served as president of the Elkhorn fair and also as a municpal councillor. William Montgomery died in early 1989. He is buried at Elkhorn Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with William Montgomery about homsteading, pioneer life and the railroads. Interviewer is Elmer Armstrong.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the Find A Grave website. Description by Christy Henry.
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Kendric Hambly Williams was born on November 16, 1900 on Section 14-3-27 W in the RM of Arthur. The family moved to Melita in 1906. Kendric attended Peninsula School and then school in Melita before the family returned to their farm in 1915. Kendric began farming full-time with his father John in 1917. When his father died in 1931, he continue to operate the farm for his mother, but due to condition in the Depression the Manitoba Farm Loans foreclosed on the property; he conintued to rent the land unti l1937, when we started to repurchase. He moved to Melita in 1954, and rented the farm, before selling the farm to Bill Tilbury and Corny Klassen. During this period he also worked as an inspector under the Prairie Farm Assistance Program. In retirement he volunteered a great deal of his time to the Antler River Historical Museum. He never married. Kendric Williams died on December 25, 1986 in Melita, MB. He is buried at Melita Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Kendric Williams about growing up in southwestern Manitoba. Interviewer is WJL Kilkenny.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the Melita local history "Our First Century." Description by Christy Henry. The records list Williams' first name as Kenneth. The local history entry, which was written by Williams, lists his full name as Kendric Hambly Williams.
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