To complete an extraordinary year, in September 1943 Ruby Loftus married John Green, a lance-corporal in the 11th Hussars, from Hammersmith. The wedding took place at St John's Church, Maindee, Newport.

Dame Laura Knight presented Ruby with a portrait drawing as a wedding gift. The two would remain in contact for decades after the war.

After the war, Green turned down the offer of a Government-sponsored engineering course at college. Her brother-in-law, Bill Green, writing from Canada told Ruby and John that there were more opportunities over there than in post-war Britain.

On this advice the couple decided to emigrate to Canada.

The Greens settled in Kelowna, British Columbia, in March 1948. The Okanagan Valley favoured fruit-growing and vineyards and the Greens began their new life working in Bill Green's orchards. They moved to nearby Winfield on 9th June 1948.

After the war, Dame Laura Knight returned to the Malvern area and along with her husband Harold rented a studio in Colwall from 1947-1961.

Ruby Green visited England with her husband in May 1962. In addtion to visiting relatives in Newport, the Greens reunited with Dame Laura at the Imperial War Museum in London to view the painting again.

Dame Laura Knight died in July 1970 aged 93.

Green suffered from multiple sclerosis for many years. In 2004, one year after the passing of her husband, Ruby died in Kelowna.

Her image became a symbol of endeavour from the day it was painted. It is an enduring image of the wartime home front, recognised all over the world.