大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the Peoples War website by GMR Action Desk on behalf of Norman Westhead and has been added to the site with his permission.

I joined up at the end of the war in 1945. I was a mechanic in the army. I did my training at Squiresgate in Blackpool which is now Pontins! I was in Blackpool for VE Day and took part in the celebration march. I was stationed in Germany after the war in Hannover in January 1946. The city had been bombed- there were ruins everywhere- we were repairing cranes and bulldozers. There didn鈥檛 seem to be any bitterness towards us from the German people- I think they were glad the war was over and that they had survived. They were very thankful that we had got there before the Russians- they were very fearful of the Russians and expected retribution if they arrived first. We used to be able to go off base for drinks with the lads. Everybody was glad the war was over and there had been times - particularly in 1940 when we wondered if we would survive. I felt keen to do my duty - I volunteered - and going to Germany was doing my bit. I was married back in England in 1951- and even then rationing was still going- but we managed to have a honeymoon- 3 days in Blackpool. - and it was definitely preferable to square-bashing! But me wife never forgave me for taking her on the Big Dipper!

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