VE Day – Memories

by Liz Argent …

At the outbreak of war, my aunt Rowena had just left school. In early 1942 she left Westbury to join the ATS (Auxilliary Territorial Service). After training as a radar operator, she worked on anti-aircraft sites plotting the targets for the gunners. In 1945 she was stationed at a gun site on the Westminster Bank sports ground in Norbury, SW London. The day after VE Day, she wrote to her sister.

I was put on guard on Sunday and didn’t come off till 8 and went to bed early. There was a farewell party for our CO and at about 11 we were all awakened by thunderflashes being thrown all over the place and everyone shouting and singing. One of the girls got us out of bed because she said the news had just come through that the war was over.

Apparently one of the old Home Guard had started the rumour  because he worked on one of the newspapers and had heard it. Anyway we hit the front page of the Daily Mail the next day. The War Office rang up Scotland Yard and they sent a police car down, but as soon as they got into the party they were marched over to the bar for a drink and went away in good humour.

On Monday we were listening to the wireless all day. The people around here started putting up their decorations and when they heard that VE Day was on Tuesday all the lights went on and they started dancing in the streets. We were all in bed when we heard about this, but we got up, put on battledress over our pyjamas and slipped out through the fence. We couldn’t stay for long as we’re still manning. Even now we have to be ready in case any stray aircraft decided to pay us a visit.

Yesterday (VE Day) we had a really marvellous time. I wish you had been there as it’s something I’ll always remember. We had a short service in the camp in the morning and in the afternoon another girl and I decided to go to Westminster and mingle with the crowds.

We could hardly move in the crush, but we waited to hear Churchill’s speech and stayed there in the hope of seeing him. However we gave it up as a bad job, but before we went we saw Herbert Morrison and another minister, a jolly old boy who winked at us!

Afterwards we were pushed along to Buckingham Palace. The crowds outside were terrific, all shouting for the King. It was about 4 o’clock then and the whole family came out on the balcony. We were feeling rather worn outby then so we went to the YMCA and had some tea.

We still felt rather thirsty so we went to the first place we could find to get something. It turned out to  be a very questionable place near Victoria. We almost gave up hope of anything there, but two sergeants, one a Canadian, offered us a drink and then tagged onto us for the rest of the evening. We wanted to get back to camp by eleven for the bonfire there, but one sergeant was going back to Germany and had to leave Victoria at 11 so we decided to stay and see him off.

At nine, we made our way back to Buckingham Palace, feeling better for a few drinks. You should have seen us – Reg had my cap on and I had his beret, but no one cared – we looked quite respectable compared with some of them. After the King’s speech, we waited until they came out on the balcony again and then went back to Victoria station.

We saw the sergeants off, then packed into the Norbury train – everyone was in gay spirits as you can imagine. The bonfire was nearly out when we got back, but the dance was still on so we made whoopee until about 2 am. What a glorious day it was!

After leaving the ATS Rowena trained as a primary school teacher and returned to Westbury. She taught at the infants school, Heytesbury School and for many years at Westbury Leigh school.