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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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In London on VE Day

by shropshirelibraries

Contributed by听
shropshirelibraries
People in story:听
Mary Smith
Location of story:听
Birmingham and London
Background to story:听
Civilian Force
Article ID:听
A3256869
Contributed on:听
11 November 2004

In 1943, I was eligible to be called up for war service. I didn't want to go into the three armed services, or industry, teaching or the Land Army, so decided to train as a nurse. I started in the training school of the Birmingham Accident Hospital.
1944 was a difficult year. We were preparing for D-Day and probable war casualties. We were not allowed to have "nights-off" and only took one day off a week. The casualties finally arrived from August onwards.
1945 was slightly easier. I happened to have "off-duty" at the beginning of May - one night and one day. Quite unexpectedly, it fell on V.E. Day - 8th May.
I had planned to meet my friend (who worked at Bletchley Park) in London; so we met as planned and had our sandwiches in St.James's Park. We then walked to Whitehall, where the crowds were gathering - all very good-natured and happy! Then to our delight, Churchill came out on the balcony (of the Foreigh Office?) and spoke to the crowds - a thrilling moment and much cheering. Afterwards the crowds dispersed and we walked towards Buckingham Palace. Apparently, Churchill drove past us, standing up in a large vehicle.
At the palace, we saw the royal family on the balcony - again, there was much cheering and pleasure.
We returned to Bletchley that evening, myself to a small hotel and my friend to the hostel where she was billeted. We didn't continue celebrating, as my brother had been killed four months earlier in W.Europe and I didn't feel like more celebrations.
I also remember V.J. Day - 6th August. I was sitting on a soldier's bed in the hospital (strictly forbidden by Matron!), puzzling over the Hiroshima bomb - not realising what had happened and how the world would be changed by such an earth-shattering event. Life would never be the same again. It seemed a good event initially, but later I began to realise the terrible implications, especially when Nagasaki was bombed as well.

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End of War 1945 Category
Birmingham and West Midlands Category
London Category
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