大象传媒

In either late '44 or early '45 I had volunteered to go over to France, but nothing came of this until after VE Day. Then I heard from the Foreign Office asking if I would be interested in going to Germany to be part of the Army of Occupation, ie. The Control Commission for Germany. I attended an interview in London and eventually moved there, working in a flat behind Victoria Station and having a billet in Highbury.

Shortly after the August Bank Holiday weekend and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, VJ Day was declared. That morning I was told to go to the Foreign Office for various reasons. I then had to return to Highbury to pack the remainder of my belongings and return to the FO where I was to sleep the night. The following morning I was due on an early flight from Northolt Aerodrome.

The Underground was swarming with people. After struggling to get on a train, I eventually reached Highbury and my billet. All the girls there were going mad with excitment and they persuaded me to go out with them to celebrate. The only drink in the pub was Curcao, of which I drank several and have never touched since.

By early evening I had managed a bath, washed my hair and packed my few belongings. My trunk was to go on ahead of me. Then came the tedious bus journey back into a London going absolutely crazy with happiness and joy after almost six years of one of the worst wars in history. All the traffic was travelling at snail's pace and if I remember rightly, no traffic at all was allowed into the busiest central part of the city. So when we reached Speakers' Corner, I had to de-bus with my luggage and find my way to the Foreign Office.

A very handsome young man who had been on my bus helped me off and asked where I was going. He escourted me all the way to the Foreign Office. Our journey on foot from Hyde Park Corner to Marble Arch was hilarious as all the way along Park Lane we were dodging in and out and under throngs of people dancing in a crocodile line. The boy held my hand all the way for fear of losing me in the crowds. Upon arrival at my destination the young man asked me to go out with him to celebrate the peace, but foolishly I declined. He was tall, handsome and very intelligent and I have often regretted not accepting his invitation. Instead I spent the night in the FO with a few other girls who, like myself, were travelling over to Europe in the early hours.

We all slept in one room, about eight of us. I say slept but it was also impossible for the noise of the crowds in the streets, including the people calling for the King and Queen to come out on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. I was eventuall able to use one of the telephones to say goodbye to my parents; this was around 4am. Just as dawn was breaking, we girls went out in the streets to have breakfast at the nearest Lyons Corner House. Our journey took us over Trafalgar Square, where the merrymaking was just about concluding. It was amusing to find men and women asleep on the lions, or anywhere else they could drop off.

At Northolt I was weighed with my hand luggage and put onto a Dakota aircraft bound for Germany. I was the only girl on that 'plane, carrying 16 very young officers, two of whom were violently sick most of the flight. A Canadian took it upon himself to look after me and I must say that I was very grateful for his conversation and help. Thank goodness I was not sick, as it could have been most embarrassing.

Upon arrival at Bad Oeynhausen I was met by car and taken to a billet with other girls.
The house was huge and must have been owned by some wealthy people before the occupation. The memories of my few days here are not very vivid as upon my arrival everyone was still celebrating VJ Day. Of course I was included, having an extremely bad head the following day.

I didn't seem to do much work during my short time in the British Zone, but during that time the Brigadier (a simply lovely man named Kenchington) spoke to me and said that he was sending me onto Berlin to join the Headquarters of the Prisoner of War and Displaced Persons Division in Kaiserdam. What a thrill when before we landed in Berlin, the pilot asked me to go forward into the cockpit and get a real aerial view of this once wonderful city, now laying in absolute ruins.

I was again met by a driver and asked would I like to travel in a car or a jeep. I chose the latter, never having experienced a ride in such a vehicle before. The day was hot and sunny. I shall never forget that drive to Berlin with the ruined buildings, debris everywhere, and the smell of death which still hung heavily in the air. Although relatively young, I was quite upset and disturbed at what I saw and shall never forget it.

(PK)

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.