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DISCLAIMER

This contribution to WW2 People’s War was received by the Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Joan Orford (née Coussell).

I was 22 years old, recently married, serving in the WAAF and somewhere on Salisbury Plain. My husband had recently crossed the Rhine with the Airborne Forces and was fighting in Germany. The morning of VE Day, when reporting at Station HQ with other members of staff, we were told ‘no work today, one day’s leave granted’.

My parents had moved to Bournemouth during the Blitz, so I decided the best way to spend this exciting, unexpected day of leave would be with my family. After signing out at the Orderly Room I turned out of the camp gate and, hardly able to contain my excitement, virtually ran the mile down the hill to the village, caught the local bus to Salisbury, changed on to the service bus and — Bournemouth here I come! On arrival at the bus station I made my way home amid shouts of ‘well done’ and lots of pats on the back.

Mum, Dad and my 16 year old brother could hardly believe their eyes as I pushed open the unlocked front door and yelled ‘I’m here’. There were hugs and kisses all round and a few tears that it was all over. Mum made a quick cuppa, then produced a length of red, white and blue ribbon. This I put round my cap, taking care not to cover my RAF badge, of which all who wore it were very proud. We then made our way down town to the seafront. Crowds were strolling along the promenade waving flags, singing and dancing — the atmosphere was electric.

My brother and I soon realised there were gaps in the barbed wire which had covered the beach since war began. He grabbed my hand and together we raced across the promenade, literally slid down the sea wall and ran along the beach to the water’s edge, where we both got our feet and shoes very wet — but who cared?

Such a memorable day, made all the more so by the happiness of everyone around us. The sun shone down on us all from a cloudless, brilliant blue sky, where never again would enemy planes be seen.

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