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Below is an unedited extract of my father's 1945 diary, right at the end of World War Two. He was 15 at the time and in his last year at school. I find the contrast between the world events and everyday reality really fascinating.

Tuesday 1st May.

School routine as usual. Dad in an awkward situation over a wardrobe that Mr Burnard has bid for; which Mum thinks is a terrible piece of furniture and which Dad says he will buy. Fine but dull and cold. Food ‘bombing’ continued. No special peace announcement but Churchill thinks it may come this week and VE-Day instructions have been issued. Munich captured. British and American bridgeheads link up. Troops in Italy joined with Tito’s men. San Francisco Conference a week old.

Wednesday 2nd May

The UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER of the troops under the Commander-in-Chief in ITALY. This was signed on Sunday and came into force noon G.M.T. today. Includes troops in southern Austria but not Trieste. Dad went to usual allotment meeting. Food ‘bombing’ continued. Bright but cold with wind. Germans announce HITLER DIED yesterday either in Berlin fighting or through illness. Ribbentrop replaced. Doernitz new Fuehrer. Laval and Rumsted captured. Landings made south of Rangoon.

Thursday 3rd May

Played cricket in rain and hail. However, match had to be abandoned. Usual lot of prep. Heavy rain and hail at intervals; cold and windy. Hamburg surrendered. BERLIN completely occupied by Russians. Trieste occupied by New Zealanders. 200’00 troops captured in last 36 hours. Rangoon, capital of Burma entered by 14th Army. Last communiqué from Mediterranean HQ issued today. Hitler and Goebbels reported as having committed suicide.

Friday 4th May

Mum and I went upstairs to sleep for the first time since 1940 at least, last night. I took over Geoff’s bed for now. Mum bought flag for peace celebrations. Food ‘bombing’ continued. Fine but cold. German troops in Holland, Denmark and North Germany to surrender from 8.0am tomorrow to Field-Marshal Montgomery. Prague declared a hospital city. Admiral of German Fleet surrendered. Rangoon captured. Large air attacks on fleeing ships from Kiel. Jets in action.

Saturday 5th May

Our first day at returning back to normal life. Dad and I took down table shelter and moved book-case back downstairs. Dad started taking black-out fittings down and putting up proper curtains. Got out our flags for VE-Day. Rain all day; warmer. Food bombing continued. Another German Army Group surrendered, this time in Central Germany, effective from noon tomorrow. Russia admits arrest of ‘lost’ Polish delegates. Albion beat Aldershot 5-0 at Goldstone but didn’t see it. End of War Report of B.B.C. tonight.

Sunday 6th May

Went for walk with Dad along the front to West Street. This evening went down to allotment and then to Southwich and back on our bikes. Rain and misty good part of day; warmer. Food bombing continued. VE-Day officially expected before Thursday next. Prague partially freed by patriots. Pilzen captured. San Francisco amendments printed there today. B.B.C. left off giving name of Newsreader on Friday.

Monday 7th May

An announcement today said Mr. Churchill will make a special VE-Day speech tomorrow at 3p.m. simultaneously with Stalin and President Truman. Tomorrow and Wednesday are to be public holidays. We finished school 3.10 this afternoon on the strength of a German report of their own surrender. We go back on Thursday. Fine and hot but cloudy and misty. Food bombing continued. Fighting in Prague still going on. Breslan captured after a 3 month siege by Russians. Prepared flags to hang out tomorrow.

Tuesday 8th May

VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY. Mr Churchill officially announced the unconditional surrender of the German forces at 3 this afternoon. The paper was signed yesterday at 2.41 a. m. (French-time) and confirmed in Berlin today. This takes effect from 1 minute after midnight tonight. Fine with thunder showers; very warm. ‘Food’-bombing continued. Dresden captured by Russians. Put out a good show of flags (Dad and I) after Dad went into office for 2 hrs this morning. Toured neighbouring towns in afternoon and evening.

Wednesday 9th May

Rolled up the map of Europe and finished marking our advances in Italy. Today another public holiday. Weather stopped any out-doors engagements for us. Food bombing not continued. Rain showers with strong wind and depressing heat. Surrender document signed in Berlin by the chiefs or their deputies. Fighting and bombing at mid-day at Prague defied agreement. French western ports surrendered. Mr. Churchill said ‘our dear Channel Islands’ were to be freed yesterday. A number of regulations relaxed today.

Thursday 10th May

Played for 1st XI against Kent. We lost by 3 runs. Personal score — 2 not out. Windsor beat York by 5 runs. 2 close matches. Miss Bigley took over the head position in the library from Mr. Bell. First report of new engine on our part of the SR. No Food bombing. Fine most of day but heavy. Channel Islands and Dunkirk surrendered also first U-boats. U-249 the very first. Prince Eugen and Nuremberg also taken over by Navy at Copenhagen. Weather reported issued again, since Tuesday. Yesterday used binoculars for the first time since sometime before D-day.

Friday 11th May

Usual school routine. Yesterday Mr. Chisholm held a thanks-giving day service in the school assembly. Enquired about civil service work of Mr. Bartlett. All kinds of bombing seem to have ended. Fine and warm with slight breeze. 9 U-boats already surrendered. Danger considered over, so no black-out for anybody (including us) tonight. Prague quieter. Regulations relaxed on Wednesday include 18B. There are 84 altogether. 25 were revised. Seen Lancasters coming back from Continent all day.

Saturday 12th May

Read papers for Geoff in morning. Went into Brighton this afternoon, had tea and watched cricket in Preston Park. After supper Dad and I walked along front to see first light-up of pre-war standard since 1939. Had to walk to Peace Statue to reach them. No buses, so had to walk home again. Fine with thundery heat-wave. 12 U-boats captured so far. Another delay in capture of E-boats from Rotterdam. Royal Proclamation re. Channel Islands.

Sunday 13th May

Mr. Churchill spoke at 9.0 p.m. tonight about his 5 years of Office. Mum and I went to Church this morning to St. Leonard’s Thanksgiving Service. Had first glimpse of the New Merchant Navy ‘class’ engines. More Lancasters and Fortresses coming home over our house mostly with ex-prisoners-of-war.

Monday 14th May

On Saturday all 3 school teams beat Lewes County School in their matches. 1st XI won by 101 runs. Miss Griffith’s absent so had to do Geography work on our own. Fine but windy and cooler. 19 U-boats surrendered so far. Trieste dispute between Allies and Tito reaching a critical stage. Australians in Borneo lost contact with Japs. Biggest air attack on Japan, on the scale o f the recent raids on Germany, carried out. More planes from Germany came over today.

Tuesday 15th May

An ordinary school day today. We had no stumps so played hit or miss during the dinner hour today. Merchant Navy class engine not seen today but Mum saw it yesterday. Mr Waddington saw it last Tuesday. Had general letter from Geoff with a bit specially for me also a letter for Dad. In my piece he wants plans of Dakota and Liberator. Fine with wind; quite warm. 39 U-Boats now captured. Big 3 meeting soon.

Wednesday 16th May

Heard hooters today as yesterday; first and second times since before the war. Stopped after school to do more library card-writing-up with Kettle. Saw V-Bell postal cancellation for first time but it was first used on 8th May (VE-Day). Fine, with warm and sunny afternoon. Mr. Bevin spoke on Labour needs in House of Commons. ¾ million to be demobbed this year starting June 18th. Mr Atlee home from San Francisco; Mr Eden coming.

Thursday 17th May

Played again for 1st XI in cricket today. Faced 1 ball; got 0 not out. Again played long-stop but today didn’t let any byes be scored. 9 were scored last week by Kent. Windsor beat us by about five wickets. York easily beat Kent. Unable to get plans for Geoff. Allotment (Vale Road) looks good except for my piece. Delivered letter to Mr Hiskory from Mr Bates. Fine with a heat wave. King received Parliament’s Victory Adresses. High-water times in papers, yesterday.

Friday 18th May

Bussed to school, and, after school, went to London Road for Geoff’s aeroplane plans. No luck there. However, got one of a Liberator at Bradshaw’s of Western Road. Also had hair-cut at Strongs. Had tea at 6.30 p.m. 2 planks of wood missing from fence overlooking Brighton Railway Sheds, so took a lot of numbers. Mr Waddington says 21C 101, Modified Merchant Navy Class, busted boiler twice on trials. Heat wave continued. More war medals announced.

Saturday 19th May

Went to Petworth for the day. Had nice dinner at ‘4 + 20 Blackbirds’. Went into the church then spent afternoon in walking round the gardens of Petworth House owned by Lord Beconfield and opened for Queen’s Nurses. Had tea at the same shop, very nice. Walked round town and caught bus home at 7.0p.m. Got prints from old film ‘Beechlands’ and Ken and Mary and VE-decorations. Fine, sunny at intervals. Trieste argument increasing.

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