WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER...

Michael was on a ten day leave from his duties while serving in the Battle of the Atlantic. His ship was in dry dock for repairs that would take approximately 60 days. They had been at sea for an entire year. So, this short break was a welcome gift from the drudgery of war. When he entered the Royal Navy in April 1940 the plan was that they would marry during his first leave. The timing could not have been better. CC wanted to be married on her birthday - November 19. War, and all the hell and horrific events that it brought, was not about to deliver a dark cloud on this very special day. The wedding, and a long life together that would span many decades was about to begin. A life filled with success, failure, children, a great career, and at times some real heartache. But in the end, grateful, and purposeful lives with fond memories. A marriage and lives, well and fully lived. They truly were soul mates. So, we look back to the beginning... Where the story begins... The wedding day. November 19, 1941. Michael Matthew Magee and Catherine Colleen Kelly grew up together in the Irish neighborhood of Folkestone known as Little Dublin. They were both twenty-one years old. As kids they attended Stella Maris Roman Catholic Elementary School in the Parish of Our Lady, Help of Christians. They fell in love in high school and now they were at the altar of the Parish Church that has been at the center of their life since being baptized as babies. The Mass and marriage ceremony were being performed by their good friend Father Francis O'Rourke. The O'Rourke family lived in Little Dublin as well and were good friends. Father Francis, better known as Franny, was a few years older and recently ordained. When he was growing up, he was very much a part of the games and mischief that boys will do. But there was never any question where his future would take him. From his days as an altar boy it was clear that one day, he would become a Roman Catholic priest. Never any doubt. Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the Parish Hall. A combination of lively Irish and English music provided the background for a wonderful evening. Young girls dancing the Irish jig. The Irish tenors of the church choir singing all the favorites such as When Irish Eyes are Smiling. The plan was to spend the night at CC's home and then a short honeymoon in London . Up early they had a hearty breakfast prepared by CC's mother, and then the entire family were escorted to the train station. The 0:04 am Silver Liner pulled into the Folkestone Station right on time. They entered their compartment in the first-class section compliments of family members. The two-hour trip to the Charing Cross station would give Michael the chance to reflect not only the events of the past 24 hours, but on his family and how this Irish family from County Cork ended up in Folkeston, England on the English Channel. CC was excited and busy reading the many cards that they received from their friends and neighbors. Both of them were well liked and respected in their community. Michael glanced over at her and smiled. It was obvious that she was engrossed and lost in her thoughts. He noticed a tear on her cheek. He squeezed her hand, settled back in his seat, closed his eyes, and listened to the rhythm of the train on the tracks and reflected on his ancestors. He heard the story many times from his parents and grandparents. They would go into great detail how they found their way to this beautiful seaside community tucked below the world-famous White Cliffs of Dover and the beaches of the English Channel. Michael believed there was an order to the universe. It was not simply a big blue ball spinning aimlessly through space. Life unfolds as part of God's plan. As his thoughts came together, he could see clearly, how two major events involving England and Ireland came together in the 1840's. The Irish Potato Famine and the building of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. The English and the Irish - two extremely unlikely partners. The Irish Potato Famine was a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration from the mid 1840's and lasted into the 1850's. It was given this title due to the fact approximately one-third of the population depended on this cheap crop for numerous reasons. In the Irish language it is referred to as Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger) or Drochshaol (the Bad Life.) During the famine one million people died and another million emigrated from Ireland to places all over the world. A decrease in population of twenty-five percent. This was all attributed to a disease tot he potato crop. The common use of the word "famine" is not exactly right. Indeed, the potato crop did fail; but Ireland was still producing and exporting more than enough grain to feed the country. The famine combined with a number of other factors such as land acquisitions, absentee landlords, and the penal laws is considered by many as a form of genocide. The famine is, without question, the most dramatic event in the history of this great country. It had a major and permanent impact on culture, political, and demographics of the island nation... The relationship between Ireland and Great Britain became more strained - if that was possible. Many believed that this period in history led to the fight for independence from the United Kingdom. People had to make decisions to save their family. Emigration seemed to be the answer. Once that decision was made the question was where to go. A key factor in making the decision was of course money. Finances always factored into any decision for these people of extremely modest income. Word of building the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway reached the shores of Ireland. An exodus across the Irish Sea to Wales and Great Britain was a much greater possibility than trying to cross the Atlantic Ocean halfway around the world to Canada and America. The Irish people loved their country and did not want to leave; but survival was on everyone's mind. There was reason other than money that made the possibility of crossing the Atlantic Ocean a risky venture. Death. Malnutrition and disease were a real possibility. Mortality rates of thirty percent were common aboard the so-called "coffin ships". The belief was that if they could make it to the east coast of England, the European Continent was but a twenty-six-mile ferry ride to the French town of Calais. All of Europe would then be in their reach. They were indeed strong people that had vision. They were willing to take any risk if it meant the possibility of a better life for the future generations of their families. The Industrial Revolution was expanding from Great Britain to Continental Europe. Technology was purchased from British engineers and entrepreneurs were moving to the Continent to search for new opportunities. It only followed that as the engineers and entrepreneurs created new products and methods, they were going to need workers. Lots of workers. Workers that could hone their skills and good pay jobs in a number of industries. The Ruhr Valley was referred to as a "Miniature England" because of its similarities to the Industrial sections of England. Belgium was the first country on the continent to move into the Industrial Revolution. Beginning in the 1830s numberous ventures comprising blast furnaces and rolling mills were built in the coal mining regions around Liege and Charleroi. The driving force behind this movement was an ambitious and visionary Englishman by the name of John Cockerill. His factories integrated all stages of production from engineering to the supply of raw materials. Needless to say these operations needed workers. Workers with a variety of skills that were willing to take part of this great experiment.