"It’s surprising darling how quietly this marvellous news has been taken by the troops out here on the whole."
After my mother’s death we came across folders of letters exchanged between my mother Joan Page and father Charles Page during the Second World War years. My father wrote two letters on VE Day 1945:
Page letters
Transcript:
Letter 1:
S/207198 Sgt C.E.Page
Wednesday 9 May 1945.
My dearest Joan,
Well my darling, it’s over at long last. Thank God. Today is VE Day for the troops out here and a holiday. Actually the first we knew of the total capitulation of Germany was the unconfirmed report at three o'clock Monday afternoon but of course the official announcement was awaited before declaring V.E. Day.
It’s surprising darling how quietly this marvellous news has been taken by the troops out here on the whole. Everyone is naturally very thankful and very elated, but there have been no wild mass celebrations. Celebrations have been very quiet, and though there has been plenty of wine and beer flowing there has not been the number of "drunks" as one might expect. For five years now whenever peace was spoken of, practically everyone would say, "I shall be as drunk as a lord that day" or words to that effect. and it’s surprising to see how few actually are, now that that day is here.
I haven’t been into Athens since Monday evening so I don’t know how the news was celebrated there. At six o'clock in the morning yesterday, Tuesday, the Greeks went mad. Hooters, air raid sirens, ships' sirens were sounded, guns were fired. The din was terrific and went on for three quarters of an hour. It sounded more like the start of a war than the finish.
I bet London went mad, didn’t it darling? I wish I could have been there. How drunk did you get, darling?
This morning all troops attended thanksgiving services here. Tonight all cafe's and restaurants are open until one o'clock in the morning and the curfew has been lifted. I expect there will be some wild celebrations in Athens to-night.
(CONTD)
Letter 2:
S/207198 Sgt C.E.Page
Wednesday 9 May 1945.
Contd.
Now that it is all over darling we can look forward to the day when we shall together again, with more certainty. Providing that the War Ministry get cracking with their promised plans for demobilisation and reduction of length of service overseas, I think that there is every possibility that we shall be able to spend the summer holidays together. If I am not home for good (and I don’t think that is possible) I should be home on leave I hope.
That is the day I am waiting for darling. The day when I can once again hold you in my arms and tell you how much I love you.
I wonder how quick or how slow demobilisation will be darling. Quite honestly darling, and without wishing to dishearten you, I think it will be between 9–12 months before my group is released (my group being 25). This time next year I should be back in civvies or at least expecting to be very soon.
From now onwards I intend to spend as much time as possible studying, so that when I do return to civvy life I shall be able to hold my own. I have already applied for a course in Accountancy. I am awaiting a reply to my letter to my old firm also. I wrote and asked them for particulars of their plans for reinstatement of pre-war employees.
I must say goodbye for today my dearest, hoping that before very long I shall be saying "Hullo".
God bless you my darling and Keep you safe and in good health.
With ALL my love,
Forever yours,
Charles
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English (UK)