A daughter relives her mother's wartime Isle of Man memories after 80 years
A daughter has retraced her mother's wartime footsteps on the Isle of Man, nearly 80 years after she served there. Christine Smith, inspired by letters from her mother Kathleen Oates, visited key locations from the 1940s with her own daughter Juliette in tow.
Kathleen Oates was stationed on the Isle of Man between 1944 and 1946, where she wrote detailed letters home about life at Ronaldsway. Her accounts later became the basis for a series of columns by her daughter, Christine Smith.
During their trip, Christine and Juliette explored landmarks tied to Kathleen's past. They rode the horse-drawn tram in Douglas, sampled local Queenies, and visited King William's College, where Kathleen had once attended chapel services. The pair also stopped by the Manx Aviation Museum, meeting director Ivor Ramsden and viewing Second World War exhibits that echoed Kathleen's experiences.
The journey held deeper connections too. At Oxford, Christine met Carol Dorsman, a former student of The Queen's College who had studied there decades after Kathleen. Dorsman, one of the first women at the college, shared her own memories of the Isle of Man, having discussed it with Kathleen years earlier. Ghosts of Kathleen's past seemed to linger everywhere—from Port Erin's beach to the old hotels and pubs she once frequented.
The trip brought Kathleen Oates's wartime stories to life for her daughter and granddaughter. Their visit also highlighted enduring ties between the Isle of Man's history and those who lived it. Local residents welcomed them warmly, reinforcing the island's reputation for hospitality.
