"I had no sooner left the house when word came over the wireless that the war in Europe was finished and that Tuesday was to be VE Day and Wednesday VE plus 1 day"
Daniel Manson was my father. During WWII he served in the RAF and spent about four years in what was then Rhodesia as an airfield controller. Throughout that time his father (my grandfather – William) wrote to him every week with news of what he and my grandmother, Jean, had been doing at home.
This is a letter sent on 7th May, the day before VE day:
This is another letter he sent to my father just after VE day.
My father died in 1997 and I found all of the letters among his papers. He had kept every single one. I was originally slightly confused by the references to taking a “car” but then realised he was talking about a tramcar. As you’ll see, it was a good way to get about the city in those days.
Transcript:
[Letter 1]
Glasgow G2
Our Dear Son,
here is the ordinary letter that was promised a week ago. As it is supposed to go by air, we are expecting that you will get this just as Quickly as the airmails so let us know how long it takes on the way. To-day has been a strange kind of day, as Everyone was expecting the announcement of VE day, in fact at the warehouse we were told to stand by at 3pm and wait for the word, but nothing came untill 7-30om, and then it was given over the Radio that Tuesday would be VE day and that it would be a general Holiday. The Shops, Warehouse and lots of Houses have been decorated with flags and streamers and the City Chambers the University and a number of other Prominent Buildings are being floodlit but owing to the nights being long clear unless one is prepared to walk home from town after midnight, it will hardly be worth the journey into town.
We understand that Aunt Jean has written ou, it is an Airmail so we hope you receive it.
Mother went into town this morning and saw Cousin Annie and Miss Boyle away by bus.
Saturday was the B.B. annual Parade this is the first they have held since the war started. Sunday was the May Day Procession and there was a very large attendance, with plenty of bands. We are both keeping very well but not hanging out the flags, although we are pleased that the war in Europe is at last ended.
We hope you are keeping well and suppose the folks beside you would likely do a spot of celebrating.
Cheerio
PS By the time you get this it will round about your Birthday. So we both join in wishing you many happy returns. We wonder how many more birthdays you will celebrate away from home.
[Letter 2]
Our Dear Son,
Well as no letter has turned up from you, we will proceed with our weekly diary. Sunday we went with Annie and Jessie into town to see the Labour day Procession and as they were going out to the Western Infirmary to see a Patient, we saw them on the car and then came home to prepare Dinner, so that it would be ready for them, however they came back a bit late and we had started to take our own Dinner before they arrived, at night we all went up to Visit Uncle Alex & Aunt Jean where we spent a Quiet Evening. Monday Mother went into town and saw them off by the 12am bus. This was a fine day but there seemed to be a tenseness in the air, at the warehouse we got word to stand by at 3pm but nothing happened. At night I went to see a Juvenile game, and Mother told me that I had no sooner left the house when word came over the wireless that the war in Europe was finished and that Tuesday was to be VE Day and Wednesday VE plus 1 day both to be Public Holiday. Tuesday morning I went out for a paper, and then decided to go over to the work in case the Workers turned up. However they had been out and had been sent home by the Factory Manager before I got over. The rain came on, while I was on the way home but it was off by Dinner time. In the afternoon we went into George Square to see the decorations. They were very good, after tea we decided to take a car to Kelvingrove to see the University Floodlit. Off course we had to wait till after 9pm. At Kelvingrove we had a long wait in the Queue for a car. This took us along Sauchiehall and down Renfield St, along St Vincent St and round the Square. The crowd was so great on the Square that it took the car 10 minutes to get round the north side, so we had a splendid view of the square & Municipal Buildings. They had made a good job of the Decorations with all the trees & statues having various coloured fairy lights and the Municipal Building Floodlight. It was really a beautiful Picture. We managed home about 11.30pm Wednesday, we did not go out till afternoon then we left home with the intention of going to Knightswood and along the Boulevard however we got a car to Georges Cross and there saw cars for Clarkston so we changed our direction and joined a car for Clarkson and walked through Busby to Carmunnoch then down to Croftfoot, joined a bus to town then the car home. The weather had been just perfect, just like a real summer's day. Thursday & Friday I was at the Football Saturday being a lovely day, we went down to Gourock and spent the afternoon at the shore watching the many ships that were laying off Gourock. The weather was ideal.
Well my dear son, here I am again so I am not so busy today. Well how did you take the good news this week, I was just wondering what effect it will have on you being posted home will it bring it nearer or just put it further away.
Hope this finds you in the best of health as it leaves us both O.K. Your loving Father and Mother
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