"There were millions of people at Trafalgar Square tonight. I felt as tho' I were a person in the books I've read about the last war. People sang and shouted and smoked and wore ridiculous red, white and blue hats."
These are my parents. I have 400+ letters exchanged between them 1942 – 1945
These are letters in the 1945 collection referencing the first week in May, leading up to VE Day and the day itself.
My father had T.B. (tuberculosis) and spent the early years of WW2 in sanatoria in Wales. My mother was a Welsh Assistant Nurse, stationed at The London Hospital by May 1945.
My mother (Megan) was not one for rushing out on the streets, climbing lamp posts or kissing bus conductors, although she has plenty to say about it all!
My father (Jock/not Scottish) could only shake his head and come out in sympathy with the ordinary citizens of Germany in their plight.
Interesting and understandable angles – but perhaps not ones they shared widely at the time.
Megan was 23 when she wrote this in 1945 to my father, aged 24. He was recovering from tuberculosis and living and working in South Wales. Megan is not one for frivolity, letting her hair down or engaging in social occasions. I think this can be deduced from the tone of her letter to my father at the time of the VE Day celebrations!
Transcript:
[Letter 1]
.... had five minutes in which to wash and get on duty had us time for tea - which was perfectly maddening, because these days I am perpetually famished.
Tonight when I was taking notes of patients' histories having nothing else to do (incidentally was that a split infinitive because I am explicitly told to cure myself of that unfortunate habit) one of the men sat bolt upright, partially strangling himself in his earphone wires and said "It is - yes it is, it's over", whereapon twenty six men simultaneously grabbed their earphones assumed ridiculour expressions of intense interest and began to cheer. Apparently, the war is almost at an end. As yet, I have seen no obvious demonstrations of joy in Whitechapel. Perhaps, people are waiting for official orders to celebrate. For myself, I don't know what to feel. Peace won't necessarily affect me in any way, unless we hear news of Gwyn, which is quite likely. And for the majority of people, a six year old set of worries will be replaced by a new set. I have an intiution that we would be wise to marry and settle down now, before England finds her home problems more difficult than her foreign.
We have, I take it decided to be married in August. Can you give me information about banns and such-like? I shall never get used to being married. I can't think why it should be made such a complicated procedure. Are coupons necessary for curtains, cushion covers and table cloths, and what are we to use instead of carpets? And do you remember that I love you, as I should love you? Don't you think it would be best for me to leave here on May 31st or as near that date as possible? If we are to be properly married and live as comfortably as present conditions will allow, I shall need at least two months in which to get together some domestic requirements. And I do want us to have a real home and....
[Letter 2 - date stamped 7 May 1945]
There were millions of people at Trafalgar Square tonight. I felt as tho' I were a person in the books I've read about the last war. People sang and shouted and smoked and wore ridiculous red white and blue hats. Hundreds of students formed a procession and walked singing thro' the Strand and among them were middle aged spinsters and bowler-hatted gentlemen dutifully joining in the jolity and fun, and at the foot of Napoleon, sailors and soldiers and airmen of all nationalities danced La Conga with breathless girls for the benefit of a camera-man perched on an astonished lion.
Ships' sirens have been blowing since eight o'clock, and I can't sleep for the cheering of youngsters in Stepney Lane.
On the ward tonight, at the first sound of a siren, soldiers whipped out carefully hidden bottles, threw pillows at the long suffering, harrassed nurse Brock vainly trying to restore order, and the pillows to their respective owners, and leaping into trousers vowed their intention of going out to celebrate. We were afraid to tell them that they were due for forty eight hours' leave for fear of further demonstration.
Personally I wonder if there is a great deal "to celebrate". I'm dreading the reaction of war, but hoping desperately that there will be jobs for all and happiness for all classes of society after the war. Last night there was a socialist demonstration at Trafalgar Square - I gathered very little information except that the working class people should make certain that the Tories would not lead us into another war. The masses are so easily led, and wherever there are crowds of people gathered together, I feel an under-current of excitement and danger. Tonight the very air is tingling, so that one can feel it at the finger tips.
The London Hospital has magnanimously announced its intention of giving the nurses an extra three days off duty - to be added to the annual leave, which in the case of our particular set, will be in October. There is to be a dance as soon as possible, and tomorrow night late-passes until midnight, or as near that time as possible. How I wish that you were here, so that we could remember this together. According to the off duty....
[missing page?]
... impatient for next July. This is our own private oasis, and only we are responsible for its outcome. I do so want our marriage to be a success - write and tell me that it will be. I love you so much; so we can't fail.
Meg
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