大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Claire White of 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf of Fred Hardie and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was stationed in Wrexham when VE Day was announced. We were called out on parade in the morning and the CO declared that we could have the next 72 hours off but that we couldn't leave camp until lunchtime. My two friends and I were impatient to get away, so we escaped through a hole in the camp wire and hitch-hiked to London. George (Queen's Regiment) and Denis (East Surreys) were Londoners and took me, a Godon Highlander, under their wing.

An RAF officer driving a Lagonda car gave us a lift. We drove right up the main street of Mill Hill in London and both pavements were solid with people celebrating. When we arrived in the centre of London George and I went to his sister's house in Ealing. When we arrived they were just heading out, so she made us a quick meal and we went round to the local pub. As soon as we walked through the door our berets disappeared and we got pints shoved in our hand. The pub was packed and our glasses were never empty all night. At closing time our berets were returned to our heads!

The atmosphere in London was wonderful. People were singing, dancing, drinking and going wild! I doubt that I'll ever experience that electric atmosphere again. If you were in uniform you could do no wrong.

We hitch-hiked back to Wrexham when the celebrations ended. I was then transferred to Worthing to Number 3 Commando. George and Denis were sent to the Far East.

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