LOVE ON THE QUEEN MARY
A former war bride recalls the thrill of coming to America on the Queen Mary
The 80th anniversary of the Queen Mary on Sept. 26, 2014, is a celebration of more than a ship. It
’ s a celebration of the many lives she changed
—
like that of war bride
June Allen, who sailed to America in 1946 in room M-101.
“
I believe in fate,
”
says Allen, of Anderson, Indiana.
“
When you go through war, you have to believe in fate.
”
It was fate that saved her life when a movie theater she was in was bombed during a
German air raid. It was fate that brought her into the arms of U.S. Army MP Arnie Boots at a local dance and saw them marry in May, 1944. And it was fate that kept Boots alive, earning three Bronze Stars.
It was more than fate, however, that reunited this love-struck couple after the war. It was
Britain
’ s most famous ship, the Queen Mary.
During the war, the Queen Mary was converted into the Allies
’
largest and fastest troop ship
–
able to carry more than 16,000 troops at a time. Nicknamed the
“
Grey Ghost
”
for her wartime paint job, she delivered more than 810,000 troops into battle.
After the war, she carried many of them home; then made an additional 13 voyages to carry some 20,000 of their war brides and children to join them.
On the first of those trips came June Allen, who spent her nights aboard the Queen
Mary staring up at the stars and dreaming of her new life in America.
“
We had a daily newspaper called
‘
Wives Aweigh,
’’
she says.
“
And they had stories in there about every state in the United States. They told us different stories about the brides on board the ship.
”
Newspaper photographers snapped their pictures as they entered New York Harbor, and buses drove them to a nearby armory to reunite with their GI husbands.
Allen laughs recalling the moment she saw her husband again for the first time in two years:
“
I nearly didn
’ t recognize him!
”
But loves conquers all. She and Boots were married 37 years and raised three children before he passed away in 1981. Today she has 4 grandchildren and 9 greatgrandchildren
—
none of whom would be here without the Queen Mary.

“
The Queen Mary will always live in my heart,
”
she says.
“
It always will be part of my life. I love you, Queen Mary.
“
The 80th anniversary of the Queen Mary is a celebration of more than a ship. It
’ s a celebration of the many lives she changed
—
like that of war bride June Allen.
About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco d
é cor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary features award-winning restaurants, historical attractions, numerous special event salons and 346 staterooms.
Media Contact:
Johanna Felix
Freeman McCue Public Relations for The Queen Mary j.felix@freemanmccue.com
860-655-4221
# # #