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"This story was submitted to the site by the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Peoples War Team in the East Midlands with Doreen Pearces permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

My mum had eleven sons and three daughters. She had eight sons in the forces and I (her daughter) was in the forces too, her other three sons were conscripted at the end. I am so proud of my Mum — how she coped, how she kept going when she must have been so scared for her children. Sadly she did lose one son on the D-day landings but she still kept going.

When the war was declared at an end and it was VE Day she was really emotional because she knew at long last that all her children in the forces would be coming home.

I was in Nottingham but not with my mum on VE day. I was with the Naffy and after finishing saving the men I went onto slab square for the celebrations. After the fun and elation in the market place I went back home. She was still incredibly emotional and had almost collapsed with the relief. It had been a lot for her having so many sons fighting, one had been a POW and another had served in Burma — often the news wasn’t very good. Today she could relax, safe in the knowledge that she’d have them back under he care soon.

I am so proud of how she continued through those war years — she loved each and everyone of her children greatly and equally.

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