- Contributed by听
- Wakefield Libraries & Information Services
- People in story:听
- Grace Potts
- Location of story:听
- Wakefield West ,Yorkshire
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A3303091
- Contributed on:听
- 20 November 2004
In August 1945 I was six weeks away from my 12th birthday. I had always been aware of the war in Europe but I did not have much knowledge of a war with Japan. However, VJ was something special.
At the time of the surrender of the Japanese a party of Girl Guides from Wakefield, under the leadership of Miss Smallwood of Sandal, were camping at Langbar not far from Ilkley and Bolton Abbey. This was my first camp. Miss Smallwood announced the end of the war and told us we were to help build a giant bonfire at Beamsley beacon, a high point on the hill above the camp.
All day we collected up wood from a nearby plantation of trees. This was taken to the top by a farmer with a trailer and tractor. Other people and Scouts camping nearby must have built the fire.
On the night of the official declaration of the end of the war we guides and others climbed up in the dark, each with a candle burning in a jam jar. It was said the procession of lights could be seen for miles. At midnight the giant fire was lit. When all was over we returned to our tents, there was hot cocoa waiting for us.
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