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This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Marie on behalf of John and has been added to the site with his permission. John fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

I lived with my mother and sister in London throughout the Second World War. We were bombed out three times, and I was machine gunned four times by German aircraft and I was blown up by a bomb.

I was 8 years of age when our head mistress called all the school together at 3pm on Monday 7th May 1945 at Duncombe Road School in Islington. She informed everyone that when we went home we must inform our parents or guardians to listen very carefully to the radio that night because there would be a special message for everyone broadcast. She then said that the school would be closed the following day, and the next day - everyone was to have a holiday. There was a deafening cheer by all!

When my sister and I got home, the very first thing we told our mother was that we were going to have a two day holiday. Then as an afterthought we said that mummy must listen to the radio that night for a special message. After tea, my sister and I went out for about half an hour telling other children what we wanted to do during these 2 wonderful days of holiday.

At 7.30pm my mother was listening to the news on the radio with Mr Churchill. He spoke such words as the hostilities ended etc. Then suddenly my mother gave out a loud scream and began jumping up and down shouting “the War’s over, we’ve won!” My sister looked at me, I looked at her and we both grinned thinking it’s good fun and we joined her dancing around the kitchen. “It’s over my darlings. No more fear, no more bombs”. She kissed and hugged each of us.

There was a knock on our door, it was Mr Penny who lived opposite us - “have you heard Rosie?” (that was my mother’s nickname) “yes” she said “it’s wonderful.” Then all of us began to cry. “Tomorrow Rosie, get your glad rags on” (There were two well known sayings we learned from our American cousins : get your glad rags on - best clothes - and got any gum chum?) “because we’re going to Buckingham Palace to see the King!” “what about the children?” said Mother “they’re coming as well because all of us have suffered dearly”

So on Tuesday 8th May 1945 at 11.30am my mother, sister, Mr & Mrs Penny and myself left home and made our way through devastated and destroyed buildings to the Archway Underground station. Everyone was singing and shouting to every person they met. Eventually we arrived at Leicester Square underground station - all that my sister and I could see was thousands and thousands of legs everywhere. Everyone was pushed towards Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace and at last we came to the railings of the Palace and I was lifted up so that I could stand on the stone wall below the railings.

We all started to shout “we want George. We want George”, i.e. the King. Eventually the French doors at the palace opened and out onto the balcony came the two princesses followed by Mr Churchill, then the Queen and finally the King appeared. I cheered, clapped, shouted and then I began to cry and cry. Why I did I just do not know. But I had seen the King. Throughout the day there were crowds and crowds and everyone was so happy.

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