YOUNG ALHS
THE END OF WW2
IN ABERGAVENNY
My name is John Davies, I am eight years old and I live in Abergavenny. It is May 1945. A few nights ago I woke up because there was a noise in the street outside. There were neighbours out there dancing in their pyjamas. Mother explained to me that Germany had surrendered and the war in Europe is over. The next day was a holiday and called VE Day. We didn’t have to go to school for two whole days!
A few days later there was a party for the children in our street. There was so much food – sandwiches, cake and blancmange. I don’t know how the mothers managed it with all the rationing that there is. A man in an ermine gown with a chain round his neck came round. I thought it might be the King but my teacher told me he is the Mayor of Abergavenny. At the end of the evening the grown-ups built a bonfire and burnt a guy that they said was Hitler. We all cheered. All the children were given a silver sixpence each. I am not going to spend mine; I am going to keep it for ever. I asked Mother if this meant that Father would be coming home soon. She said, ‘Not yet as he is fighting out East’. I hope it won’t be too long as I don’t want to forget what he looks like.
(Images: VE Day street parties in Barry Island and Penarth - People’s Collection Wales)
