Sent by:Cyril Bonner
Sent to:Joan Bonner
Sent from:Ceylon
Date of letter:8 May 1945
"Actually the news came through yesterday evening about 9.30... At first nobody in the hotel seemed at all excited and one would almost have thought the people in the lounge were all attending a church meeting instead of discussing victory"
This letter is from my grandpa to my nan. He was a lieutenant in the Navy based in Ceylon. My nan received the letter where she was living in Ealing.
It’s one of many letters and telegrams written between them during the war, and although it’s very faint as it was written in pencil, I wanted to send this one as it was written on 8th May 1945 on what my grandad called “V” day.
Transcript:
No 209
Naval HQ
Dearest Girlfull,
I've spent best part of today sorting out clothes etc and have had very little time to think about "V" day celebrations. Actually the news came through yesterday evening about 9.30. They brought out a special edition of the evening paper. At first nobody in the hotel seemed at all excited and one would almost have thought the people in the lounge were all attending a church meeting instead of discussing victory. As soon as the band came back and started playing Tipperary etc things brightened up and by 11 o'clock everyone was singing. There were no church bells etc. I expect them to be ringing all over the town. As a matter of fact I was rather dissappointed as I had just asked the band to play my favourite selection of Emmerick Kalman pieces when the news came through. Of course they had to start playing war songs instead. I shant get another opportunity of hearing it.
In any case Dear I dont want to celebrate Victory on my own as [unclear]. We'll have our own celebration very shortly now Dearest. Tonight I've got to go out to a party given for me by my [unclear] and my Boss is giving me one on Friday. Lets get all the nonsense over and get on with the job! I loath and detest these ridiculous farces.
I hope you got my Telegram all right Dearest and that you now have no fear that there may be any snags. I think the best thing for me to do is to send you another wire when I get to England. OK sweetie. How I am looking forward to seeing you again. It wont be long now. All my love Darling [signed]
Tagged:Asia , VE Day
Contributed by:Tracey Cantua
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