Violet May Gifford

Vi made her life in Woods Hole starting with her arrival in February 1945. She and Jimmy raised their two children, Anne and Greg, here. Vi worked locally at the Bank, the MBL with Dr. Martha Baylor and the Fishery Labs. She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at the Church of Messiah, a Girl Scout Leader and a Gray Lady, similar to a nurse's aid, at the Otis Base. For many years she volunteered as the bookkeeper for the Church Exchange. Vi describes herself as a homebody but is always happy to welcome friends at her door. Vi and Jimmy celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on March 29, 2014!

In the words of her granddaughter, Ashley Morris:

My grandma was born in Gourock, Scotland. She lived there with her parents and three brothers and many other extended family members until she was a young woman of 22.

My grandma met an American sailor who was stationed in Scotland during World War II. His name was James Gifford and he was from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He had bright red hair and grandma said he was really handsome. Anyway, they got married in March 29, of 1944 and this was the beginning of the new "Mrs. Gifford's" adventure.

June 1944 was the last day my grandparents saw each other for quite some time. This date was very important. It was called "D Day" and it was when 176,000 allied troops landed at several Normandy beaches under the command of General Eisenhower whose forces took over Cherbourg, France. This is a city of northwest France on the English Channel. My Grandpa now was given orders to leave and go to a war in Guam. This meant he had to cross the Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, Grandma was going to leave her beautiful Scotland all by herself and go to America to start a new life with her new husband who would come home after the war. Of course, there was always the chance that he might get killed in the war. Many families lost loved ones at this time. So, in February 1945, Grandma boarded a ship called the Ille De France. This was the last ship leaving the Clyde River during the war and it carried wounded troops and military personnel. The ship took a circuitous route across the Atlantic Ocean because there were enemy submarines chasing them and they were all alone at sea. Normally, in times of war, cruise ships would travel with a convoy or at least an escort boat for protection. So it was very scary for my grandma and everyone aboard. They had very strict rules on the ship. Everyone had to be in their rooms with the port holes closed at five each night. This was so the enemy subs would not see the lights on the ship and torpedo them. There were British and American officers on board making sure that all the passengers obeyed these rules. It was a rough passage across a very big sea and lots of people were seasick including my grandmother because you see, she was pregnant with my mom and was feeling very ill even before she got on the ship.

Finally, the ship steamed into New York Harbor safely and a new life for my grandma began. Although she missed her family very much, she soon adapted to her surroundings in Woods Hole on Cape Cod. There was more food to eat in this country because there wasn't a war going on. At home people had rationing or coupon books that you had to pass in to get different foods or items that were scarce during a war. For instance, you had one coupon a month for just one egg a month. Milk was also hard to get. Times were tough in Scotland. There were air-raids all the time. This was when an incredibly loud siren would blast, day or night, to warn people that enemy planes were coming to bomb their neighborhood and everyone had to run to special shelters for protection from possible death and destruction. So my grandma was feeling guilty that her life was peaceful but that her poor family back home was still going through awful times. In many ways the Cape was similar to Scotland because it was on the water and the weather was very much the same. Fortunately, my grandma did not have to learn a new language so she could make new friends easier and quicker.

It turns out that grandma was the very first war bride to arrive on Cape Cod. Later on many wives would come to settle with their new families in this area and all over America.

Well, my grandpa came home to Woods Hole safe and sound and everyone was happy. My mom was born and World War II ended. Eventually my grandma became an American citizen. She still misses her beautiful homeland but says that her heart is here with her children and her grandchildren. I am so glad grandpa was stationed in Scotland and met and married "Violet May". My grandma still has a neat Scottish brogue and I like to listen to her stories about Scotland. I'm proud of my Scottish heritage and I love my "wee" grandma like crazy.