Many families were split apart by the World Wars. The authors of one of these heartbreaking tales are Bill Stewart and Beryl Johnson. After being torn apart for eighty years, the siblings have finally been reunited.

After the SS Iron Crown was attacked in June 1942, some 100 kilometers off Victoria’s south coast, during the Second World War, Bill Stewart and Beryl Johnson found themselves unexpectedly orphans.

38 people on board perished in the shipwreck. ‘I had lost both my parents, which was painful. Bill Stewart remembers the occasion, ‘I was 11 years old at the time.’

Many families were split apart by the World Wars. One of the kids was already at an orphanage because their father was at sea and their mother had already passed away years earlier.

When the children’s father’s death was confirmed, they were declared orphans, and Bill was placed in an Adelaide boys home while his sister was adopted.

Since no information about the other had been shared, it was thought that orphans should make a “clean break” from any surviving family members, including siblings.

Bill Stewart, 91, still feels sad when he remembers saying farewell. The two of us embraced one another and sobbed uncontrollably. I never saw Beryl again after being instructed to leave the room, the man claims.

Her brother had relocated to Sydney to start over while Beryl stayed in Adelaide. But he never lost sight of her.

‘The two of us were looking for one another, but the orphanage was of no assistance. Every year, I would return to Adelaide in search of Beryl.’

Beryl had similar problems.

Years of searching failed to yield any information regarding Bill’s whereabouts or whereabouts.

In my head, I always imagined one day we would find one another, but I gave up and started to think maybe he’s dead,’ Beryl said.

But all changed in April 2019 when the SS Iron Crown’s wreckage was discovered by the Hobart-based CSIRO research vessel Investigator. For the 38 people who had descendants, a memorial service was held.

According to Emily Jateff from the Australian National Maritime Museum, ‘more than 50 members of the Iron Crown’s crew attended the memorial ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on Merchant Navy Day.’

Kylie Watson, a distant relative of Bill’s who had gone to the memorial, was put in touch with him. Watson was also a novice at finding missing family members.

She started hunting for Beryl right away, even looking through old newspaper clippings for any signs of her.

She had concluded from all of her investigation that Beryl was still in Adelaide. So they published notices in the neighborhood papers requesting that anyone who may know Beryl Johnson, formerly known as Beryl Stewart, come forward.

The same Sunday, my granddaughter informed me that she had excellent news about Beryl: she was alive and would contact me in ten minutes.

Beryl recalled, ‘I cried when I heard Billy was alive.’ ‘I never expected to hear that voice again; it was incredible. My life, which used to be filled with longing and wanting, has now returned, she continued.

Last year, Bill finally made it to Adelaide to see his sister. However, they have been calling each other every day since they were reunited.

When they first met, Beryl recalled, ‘I couldn’t get into Bill’s arms fast enough; we just hugged one another and couldn’t let each other go.’

She continued, ‘I love him very much, and it’s been a miracle to me that we rediscovered one another after almost 80 years.’

Later, Bill recalled how, upon finally meeting his little sister, he took her in his arms, sobbed a little, and promised her, ‘No one’s taking you from me again.’

Both of the siblings are currently rediscovering a new purpose in life. Beryl stated, ‘I just don’t want it to ever end now that Bill is back in my life.

Every day at eight in the morning, they make sure to phone one another, and they also arrange to spend significant holidays like Christmas together.

As long as we are able, I hope we can stay in love and support of one another, Beryl stated.