Call out for wartime brides to help tell Derry’s story at DNA Museum

The Tower Museum in Derry has issued an appeal to find a wedding dress worn by a local wartime bride to help tell the story of the city’s vital role in the Second World War.

The 1940s era dress will go on display at the new DNA: Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic Museum, in Ebrington Square, which will feature a new gallery exploring Derry’s pivotal role during the conflict, when the city operated as a vital Allied Naval Base.

As the westernmost port in the United Kingdom, Derry played a crucial part in the Battle of the Atlantic, serving as a key escort and refuelling base for Allied naval and air forces protecting transatlantic convoys. The arrival of thousands of American service personnel transformed daily life in the city and led to many enduring wartime romances.

At the heart of the new display will be the personal stories of local women who met and married during this time, many to US servicemen, leading to new lives across the Atlantic. To help bring these stories to life, the museum is seeking new artefacts from the era, including a dress worn in the 1940s in Derry or the surrounding area.

Curators are particularly interested in:

• Wedding dresses worn during the 1940s in Derry and the North West
• Dresses belonging to local GI brides who later travelled to America
• Stories of wartime courtships, long-distance love, and marriages shaped by the arrival of US troops

This new exhibition will celebrate the remarkable love stories that connected Derry to the wider world during the 1940s and ensure they are preserved as part of the city’s living heritage. Even dresses that are delicate or incomplete may be suitable, as the story behind the garment is just as significant as the item itself.

Roisin Doherty, Curator at the Tower Museum, said: “During the Second World War, Derry became a gateway between North America and Europe. The presence of US troops brought profound change to the city, including friendships, marriages and life-changing journeys.

“We know many families across the North West have treasured stories of mothers, grandmothers and aunts who married at this time of heightened emotion against the backdrop of a global conflict. I would encourage anyone who may have a 1940s wedding dress tucked away in an attic or wardrobe to get in touch. Even if the dress has seen better days, its story could help us share an important chapter of our city’s history with future generations.”

Anyone who thinks they may have a suitable dress or story to contribute can get in touch with Roisin Doherty at roisin.doherty@derrystrabane.com.