I have attached a couple of poems that I have written after sitting chatting to my mother regarding VE Day and the troops coming home.
Although my mum doesn’t have any letter, they reflect how a young girl thought about VE and the end of the war.
Oh how I miss you, Oh uncle of mine.
Oh how I miss the boy you used to be
Who would tickle me as I sat on your knee.
With your blonde curly hair and sparkling eyes
Always full of mischief but oh so wise.
Oh how I missed you, as you marched off to War.
So proud you were in the uniform you wore
But what have they done to your curly blonde hair
But you didn’t mind as you tossed your cap in the air.
Oh how I miss you , especially on Christmas Day
But I am sure you are sad for being away.
Our table was empty without you and your Kin
Please hurry up back, after you win !
Oh how I have missed you these last four years
But your home know as we hug amongst our tears.
But Uncle dear you have changed from a boy to a man
As you stand side by side, with the rest of our clan
Oh how I miss you, oh Uncle of mine
I was five when you left but know I am nine.
But you seemed to have aged much more than me
And oh how I long to sit back on your knee
Oh how I wish I could turn back the sands of time
Because without this war you would still be mine
Your eyes are dimmed with all your grief and pain
This war will mean, things will never be the same.
My Mums VE Day and beyond
The big day came on the 8th May 1945.
Victory in Europe was upon us all.
My sister and I, along with all our friends
Had made the longest paper chains ever.
That could reach from house to house,
Our contribution to the streets big party.
The days before, I had read in the papers
How we had the Germans on the run
Our brave boys pushing them back to Berlin.
I went to the cinema, to watch the news with my Mum
Anything too gory came on, she would shield my eyes.
But I knew we were winning and winning well.
The day went in a flash and we were all so happy
The streets looked so pretty with all our chains.
We ate sandwiches, homemade biscuits and
Eggless sponge cakes, as we had all saved up our rations
And our Dads and Uncles drank the beer that had saved too.
The older girls danced and hugged the returning soldiers
Then it was over and I was surprised to read the news
That Winston Churchill was no longer Prime minister
They had voted Attlee in, but Churchill won us the war !
Then Bevan brought us the NHS to keep us all well
Too late for our Dorothy, she died before it came in.
The drugs we needed to save her, were too expensive.
I know VE Day was our big victory party, after the war
But we had other big days too follow, that made us cheer
First they lifted the rations on flour, fresh bread for tea
Clothes were next, I got new uniform for school
The on 19.5.1950 the rationing years were officially over
We had sweet mincemeat pies for Christmas that year !
Photo illustration: Historic Barking & Dagenham
