The Courier reported the plight of Mrs Erison, from Leamington, in August.

Since then, it has been covered by Canada's biggest broadcaster - and led to a change of heart which could have implications for thousands like her.

The story of exile, betrayal and hope centres on Mrs Erison's husband, John.

He was born in Canada; like the children of 45,000 other warbrides, his mother married a Canadian serviceman during the Second World War, returning to live with him in Canada.

But under a law passed in 1947 he lost all rights to call himself a Canadian - because he left for Britain before his 24th birthday.

He was not alone. Feeling robbed of their nationality, many other 'lost Canadians' campaigned for decades for a change in the law.

They finally won in April this year, when the Canadian government announced it would grant them citizenship.

But the news came too late for Mr Erison, whose kidneys failed, after a battle he had won with cancer, as he was preparing to return to his beloved homeland. He died in July, aged 64 - the first such exile to pass away since the long-awaited Bill C37 became law.

Yet the story has now taken a happier turn. Mr Erison's widow, Dawn, has been granted a temporary residents' permit (TRP) - the first step towards full citizenship. She is now getting ready to begin a new life in Ontario - and feels her husband's pride in going home.

She said: "John would have been delighted. His whole being was rooted in Canada, and it was his dearest wish we would return."

Mr Erison lived off Tachbrook Road, Leamington, most recently. He worked for the Post Office for 33 years and attended Radford Road Church.

The couple attempted to settle back in Canada in 2003 - but lost a protracted emigration battle, and were forced to leave in March last year.

Campaigner Don Chapman described the 1947 Act as "the biggest identification theft ever", and railed against the "screwy ways" it sold citizens short. Up to 250,000 people’s citizenship may have been affected by the act, though many have since settled elsewhere may not be aware of it.

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