大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War Site by H Porter of the Belfast Education and Library Board/Holywood Arches On behalf of Ada, the author and has been added to the site with her permisson. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The Victory Parade

The Government announced a Victory celebration to take place on the 8th June with representatives from all the Armed Forces and Civilian workers joining in a mammoth procession through London.

One day I was called to Matron鈥檚 office and with some trepidation went in. No reason was given but I was to represent the Hospital in the Victory Parade March. I was to wear Matron鈥檚 cloak and ask Theatre Sister if she would lend me her badge-or was it the other way round? The weight of responsibility was crushing, if I lost either of those articles I wouldn鈥檛 like to return to the West London.

I duly received my official instructions and the evening before the Parade I arrived at the small hotel allotted, I think it was called 'The Ivanhoe'. Conditions were not luxurious. One modest room contained four camp beds with very little space between them and my fears for the safety of the Cape and Badge increased. We were told to assemble on the Square outside to receive instructions.

An army Corporal did his best to organise us but we were a motley collection of Civilian Nurses, medical Auxiliaries, Women鈥檚 Land Army and Women鈥檚 Voluntary Services and he had a hard time teaching us to march. We were going to stay out there all night if necessary he threatened and we all laughed. He managed to teach us about the Marker at the end of the row who, when the command, 鈥淓yes left,鈥� was given, must keep looking straight ahead or we would all veer Left. My neighbour was a Marker and firmly said that if anybody thought she was going to march past the entire Royal Family and Supreme Allied Commanders without looking they were much mistaken.

We eventually went to our hard beds and woke up feeling distinctly unfit for exercise. Limited space made dressing difficult but starched white aprons and caps are designed to be effective and we looked quite smart as we assembled and marched off to Marble Arch, along Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road, Trafalgar Square, Northumberland Avenue and along the Embankment to Parliament Square. Here we halted to join the Mechanised Column which was coming via a much longer route from Regent鈥檚 Park and was to precede us along Whitehall and the Mall.

His Majesty鈥檚 Procession had arrived at the Saluting Base. The Chiefs of Staff Procession had also arrived together with the Supreme Allied Commanders.

The enormous variety of mechanical vehicles moved off and we followed. Bands were interspersed at regular intervals in the Marching Column. Unfortunately we were in the middle and could only hear the faint strains of the Band in front clashing with the equally faint and conflicting music of the one behind. The crowds were enthusiastic and noisy and I fear our marching was not good.

Then we entered the Mall. There was a Band stationed before the Base and the music was loud and clear. The effect was magical. With backs straightened, arms swinging and feet in perfect unison, our eyes turned left on the command as we marched smartly past the mass of V.I.P's on the Saluting Base.

The rest of the day seemed an anti-climax but suffice to say that Matron鈥檚 cloak and Theatre Sister鈥檚 badge returned safely home.

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