In 1942, Watford, England, Technician Fifth Grade Raymond LaTour of the U.S. Army repaired the typewriter of Lance Corporal Iris Spencer of the British Auxiliary Territorial Service. They began dating around Christmas of that year.
On December 11, 1943, Raymond and Iris were married in the Church of the Sacred Heart Kilburn, London.
Le Havre 1945 – Sergeant Raymond Latour
Septermber 1945 Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) Raymond LaTour and wife Iris with their daughter Marie Elaine who was born in Hampstead on Christmas Day, 1944.
Grace Spencer with her daughter Iris and granddaughter Elaine at home on Westbere Road, Hampstead, 1945.
In November 1945, Raymond returned home to await the arrival of Iris and Elaine in March 1945.
“War Brides Act” of December 28, 1945. It would authorize the admission of Iris and Elaine to the U.S. three months later.
March 1946 – The Latour family's connection to the Queen Mary begins.
On March 11, 1946 Iris and Elaine left England from Southhampton on the Queen Mary along with hundreds of other British War Brides and their children.
1946 passport photo of Iris Spencer Latour. Iris used the same British passport for her two Queen Mary crossings, once in each direction.
1946-03-12 Letter from Iris Spencer :Latour to her mother Grace Millichip Spencer, posted from the Queen Mary before its departure from Southhampton.
1946-03-12 R.M.S. Queen Mary Seating Card
1946-03-14–19 Letter from Iris Spencer Latour to her mother covering conditions during the seven-day crossing.
"Big-wigs" – Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Garrod, Britain’s Delegate to the United Nations Security Council and Lady Garrod. Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Permanent Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Lady Cadogan. The Marquess and Marchioness of Linlithgow, headed for South America. (New York Times, March 19, 1946, p. 3)
As referenced on the previous page, Winston Churchill did indeed return home to England on March 21 on the Queen Mary, after a nine-week visit to this country. (New York Times, March 20, 1946, p. 6)
On March 18, 1946 Iris and Elaine arrived in New York City.
October 1947 – Grace Spencer visits her daughter and son-in-law in Louisiana, reaquainting with her first granddaughter and getting to know her second granddaughter born earlier that year..
August 1948 Granny (Grace Spencer) prepares to return home, but not before photos with her three granddaughters, the youngest of whom was born in that spring during her visit.
1948-09-01 Grace Spencer embarks for home aboard the Queen Mary
1948-09-06 Grace arrives at Southampton.
1950-08-20 Grace Spencer sent a postcard to her eldest granddaughter.
1951-05-28 Iris and her three daughters set out to spend the summer with
1951-05-31 The Latours set sail for England abour the M.V. Georgic.
Summer 1951 – Three Latour sisters spend the summer with their grandmother in England.
Summer 1951 – Outing in the English Countryside with Olga and Sidney Speyer (Grace's nephew), Granny (Grace Spence), and Iris with her three daughters.
1951-08-30 Embarkation on the Queen Mary at Southampton.
Children's Tea aboard the Queen Mary.
Iris, Elaine and Catherine enjoy Children's Tea abord Queen Mary.
Iris dines with her three daughters on the Queen Mary.
Catherine
1951-09-03 Farewell Dinner menu from the Queen Mary.
1951-09-04 Arrival at New York City.
1987-06-06 Iris and her daughters spend a nostalgic weekend aboard the Queen Mary which is now permanently docked in Long Beach, California.
Entrance to te Queen Elizabeth Suite.
Iris and her daughters dine together once again aboard the Queen Mary.
Logo of the Queen Mary 2
2007-07-06 Elaine sets out for England on the Queen Mary 2.
Elaine and her good friend Linda dine in style aboard the Queen Mary 2.
Elaine poses by the "War Brides" exhibit on the Queen Mary 2 that harkens back to her first trip on Queen Mary in 1946 with her mother.
