The atom bomb explodes

The "Queen Mary" arrives in New York Harbor, June 20, 1945, with thousands of U.S. troops from European battles

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For a young teenager growing up the war could seem quite distant after the bombing (both day and night) virtually ended.

There being no television of course, the only up to the minute news available was from the radio, followed by the newspapers  where the news could be days old, and then Pathe News, the newsreel shown during our weekly visit to the cinema.

(7.41mb wmv file) Licensed by Pathe

Click, relax and enjoy the movie

However tragic events and news continued to reveal the reality of the war. My eldest cousin who was in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) was killed in a bombing raid on the South Coast when she was serving with an anti-aircraft unit. She was 28 years of age. News would also be received of men from work and relatives of neighbours etc. who had been killed in action.  

On the 7th May l945 Germany surrendered and the 8th May was declared V-E day (Victory in Europe). The whole world seemed to go crazy with dancing, singing and parties in the street and celebration drinks. As a group of maturing teenagers we planned a ‘pub crawl’ that evening and off we went to the centre of Bristol.

Although the dancing, singing, bonfires and kissing and hugging of complete strangers carried on, unfortunately the pubs ran out of beer! By about 9.30 pm every pub was dry, cleared out of anything drinkable but the fun continued dancing around the bonfires.

The Government announced a Victory Parade would take place in London on 10th August and my future brother in law suggested that we should go.  We planned to catch the early morning "milk train" to Paddington.   During the night I was ferried on the back of his motor bike to Temple Meads Station and he then returned for my sister.  Leaving the bike at the station we caught the 4am  milk train.

On arriving at Paddington we had some directions from a cockney local who advised  "Go dahn the back streets mate" and we found our way to Oxford Street. The crowds were already about four deep from the front of the pavement and we found the best possible spot. Standing on tiptoe we witnessed a wonderful, colourful, uplifting procession of marching bands and representatives of all the armed forces. The cheering and flag waving was non-stop.

Afterwards we had tea in Lyons Corner House ( a famous London landmark) found our way back to Paddington Station and home.

V-J Day (Victory in Japan) 1945

On August 6th 1945, at 8.15am the first atomic bomb was dropped from a B29 Super Fortress bomber on Hiroshima.  The bomb was code named “Little Boy”.  70,000 were killed. On August 9th 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped from a B29 on Nagasaki.  A second B29 carried Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC as an observer.  

On 15th August 1945, Japan surrendered.

When the war in Japan ended the celebrations seemed much more subdued than the V-E celebrations, but nevertheless everyone celebrated in the hope that it was the war to end all wars.

The End.

 Vera Lynn has the last word.... (372kb .wav)