Whilst compiling the diaries (1938 – 1946) of John Teague (pic), my grandfather, we discovered a batch of letters that he had kept from his parents after he died in 2022 (aged 100). We have 7 letters between 04/04/45 to 29/05/45, 4 specifically from 1945 when he was still in Europe and 1 letter in Aug 45 refers to surrender of Japan.
John was 17 when war broke out and initially served in the London Civil Defence in Camberwell, London, where he was tasked with requisitioning houses and re-homing those that were bombed out. He later served in the RAF as a wireless mechanic across Europe.
On VE DAY in his diary whilst posted in Brussels he wrote:
7 May
We drove back to Everre Airfield, parked our vehicles and went into the city where there was dancing and singing in the streets, tomorrow to be Victory Day in Europe! Treated incessantly to booze, back on midnight liberty bus as I was really on duty.
V.E. Day, 8 May
There were anti-royalist parades by the communists in Brussels, but otherwise all rejoicing, fireworks and guns fired by resistance people. Dancing in streets, girls kissing us, etc. Back 03:00, on duty, several kites to service and a Church Army van drove over to us at dispersal and served English tea and biscuits at 04:00, wonderful Christian men and women, no cussing was heard for a while!
V.E. Day + 2
I had to drive back to Vilvordia, more of our equipment to be stuffed into our vans and drove to Nijmegen through awful battle areas, rotting cattle, bloated in the canals, stench of death, The German prisoners clearing up all salute us. Slept in the wagon by Rhine at Nijmegen.
And at the same time his parents, in Deptford wrote to him:
10/05/45
My dear John,
I suppose you have now heard the Great News (V.E. Day, victory in Europe) we did both wish you had been with us and we are now looking forward to seeing your dear face in the near future. The people just went mad, and this last two days they have even lit fires in the roadway…
