大象传媒

VE DAY

The date was the 7th of May 1945. Rumours were rife that the war in Europe is over, but we had to wait for the official announcement on the radio from the ministry of information later that day. My friend Marion and I had worked in Boyd鈥檚 munitions factory for about three years. We were both nineteen years old. My mother, sister May and baby nephew Jack were all on holiday in Rothesay at the time. Now, Marion and I knew Rothesay well, it had a lovely dance hall, large and almost new, The Pavilion.

We were allowed home from work early that day, and as arranged Marion came home with me. We sat close to the wireless waiting for the latest news. It had been rumoured that there was likely to be a holiday declared for the next day. We had packed a few things and intended to go to Rothesay later, IF the holiday was declared. Finally the announcement came through, the Germans had surrendered and Mr Churchill would speak tomorrow, the 8th, this was to be VE day Well, what joy!! And as an added bonus the next TWO days would be holidays. Marion and I hurried to get the train, then the steamer from Ardrossan to Rothesay. When we arrived we could hardly believe our eyes. Rothsay was covered in red white and blue. Flags and bunting were everywhere and all the statues on the promenade were covered with flags, some even wore soldiers and sailors hats, and the streets were full of people dancing and singing. Quite a contrast to the days of war. My dear sister May met us at the pier; with baby Jack in the pram waving a small flag someone had given him. May鈥檚 husband was in Germany serving in the army. My mother had gone home, to be with my father on this great occasion. He was a veteran of the First World War and they looked forward to celebrating, this time together.

The dance at the Pavilion that night did not disappoint. Army barracks surrounded Rothesay and many naval ships were anchored nearby. Most of the servicemen had been given leave and most of them headed for the dance hall. No standing waiting for a dance partner that night, and, as a special treat for those times, the dance went on until the heady midnight hour.

There was quite rightly a lot of joy at this time, however, sadness too. It was a time to remember all those who had been lost during this terrible war. I lost two lovely cousins, Sammy Affleck killed at El Alimain and Tommy Lindsay killed when his ship hit a mine on the way to the D-Day landings.

So VE day was a mixture of joy and sadness. Everyone of my generation will tell you where he or she was that day; we had never seen anything like it. Marion and I knew that soon we would be out of work. Boyd鈥檚 would go back to their peacetime work of making looms. But we accepted with good grace that the men returning from the war deserved their jobs back after all they had done for us.

I have submitted this on behalf of my mother, Helen Woodburn, nee Affleck

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