- Contributed by听
- Braintree Library
- People in story:听
- Theresa Rowntree
- Location of story:听
- South London
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A3176877
- Contributed on:听
- 25 October 2004
I was just 10 years old on 8th May 1945 so I had few recollections of peace but I had heard adults talking about it and was looking forward to this phenomenon.
I vividly remember waking up on 8th May, lying in bed and being told that the War was over. We no longer had to spend nights on hard bunk beds in shelters in South London awaiting the explosions of "buzz bombs".
I lay there expecting to experience a noise, a smell - something different now that we were at PEACE. I then experienced a bitter disappointment...nothing had changed. Obviously, to the adults with their comprehension of war and peace, it was a great day. But to me - disappointment.
We lived only 2 miles from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street. So, later that day, we walked along the Embankment to Downing Street where crowds were waiting to cheer Winston Churchill then onto Buckingham Palace where I could see the balcony.
At last the Royal Family appeared - we cheered, cried and laughed and at the height of it all, I fainted! I came around as I was literally being handed over the heads of the crowd, followed by my anxious mother.
The journey continued to the Victoria Memorial where the St John's Ambulance were dealing with many similar cases. The smell of sal volatile brought me round sharply.
The celebrations were over for us and we slowly began our walk home to begin living in PEACE.
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