God bless you all. This is your victory! 

It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the independent resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.

Winston Churchill, Whitehall London, 8 May 1945

BELOW ARE SOME LOCAL STORIES

OUR VE DAY MEMORIES BY HELEN SMITH & HARRY CLARKSON

As an evacuee from Wallsend, VE Day in May 1945 held more significance than I realised on that day, as it marked the beginning of the end of my happy time with my Great Uncle Tommy and Great Aunt Mary Clarkson and family in Swan Street but thereby hangs another story.

On the day itself, I remember my “mam” asking me to pop over to Manny and Mrs. Robinson’s who had a big garden growing supplies of vegetables for their grocery shop on Swan Street.  I was nearly 9 at the time and it was a “bright sunshiney day”.  I was singing, “All things bright and beautiful” which I’d learnt both at Ramshaw School and in Sunday School.  I got a shock when Mr. Robinson shouted,

“Stand still!”

as I went to open their back gate.  He had been concreting the yard and was standing on a plank with a stick in his hand.  I was mystified.  Then he told me,

“This is a very important day, Helen, in history.  It’s VE Day and I’m writing this day on the yard in memory of it.”

I guess, by now, this commemoration will have been long obliterated but it made a lasting memory for me and caused me to realise its meaning for my future.

Above: Helen Smith (nee Clarkson)

Above: Robinson’s shop, Swan Street

 

Our Harry reminded me how the Welsh family, who lived on the other side of mam’s fish and chip shop between us and Tom Anderson’s drapery shop, dragged their piano onto the fronts and everyone came out and were “dancing in the street”.

Of course, nearly every household had sons who were in uniform; the Welsh’s, us and the big Patton family who lived the other side of the Swan, to name but a few.

Harry also mentioned a big procession with Union Jack flags and streamers, all red, white and blue flying everywhere.

The Swan had a very busy time.  It was “a grand day out” with something to celebrate for most but at the same time remembering those who did not return.”

VICTORY – Doris Kay

We used to enjoy ourselves in the Queens Head – (now the café and the hairdressers’) in the Centre.  It was run by the Atkinson’s.  I was very friendly with their daughter Alice who later married Jacky Kilcran.  Alice “tinkled the ivories a little bit” so they carried the piano out onto the flags stones in front of the pub.  Alice played the piano.  We were all singing and dancing in the street – happy days!

Above: The Queens Head, the Centre – photo probably taken after the war

VICTORY: Nancy Bell

The end of the war was celebrated with spontaneous dancing on the village green – I remember it well and it took some time to understand that the war with Germany was over and life would return to normal – at least for those of us lucky enough to see our families remaining intact.  Then there were still some, of course, unlucky enough to be engaged in war against the Japanese and it was only after the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in August 1945, that those lads too started returning home with their stories of horrific treatment and torture at the hands of the Japanese.  It is hard to imagine wars of that description ever being fought again – not in Europe any way.

Above: Nancy Bell

VICTORY: Jean Green

1939 to 1945 was a momentous and dark period in our village history but I had a very happy childhood in Evenwood, surrounded by a loving family and lots of friends, largely unaware of the hardships the adult population endured.  What the village lacked in economic wealth was more than made up for by a strong sense of community created by honest, hard-working men and women who were both resourceful and resilient.  We all suffered and fortunately survived those dark days.

To finish on a lighter note.   Like all other kids of my generation I never saw a real banana until way after the war had finished – I cannot forgive Gerry for that!

VE DAY PHOTO OF EVENWOOD SCHOOL CHILDREN – The photo has been donated by Beryl Smith.

Back row: Eric Tarn; Flora Denham; Dorothy Bowen; Maureen Bowen; Amy Humphrey; Jean Bruce; Raymond Humphrey; Arnold Smith; Harry Thompson; Thomas Watson.
Middle Row: Unknown; Jean Coates; Doreen Thompson; Barbara Senior; Joan Yole; Mrs Waistell; Carol Metcalfe; Unknown; Unknown; Maxwell Atkinson.
Front Row: Includes Gordon Humphrey, Ronnie Towers, Irene Bowman, Michael Bowman & Kathleen Wren.

This photo was taken outside the old scout hut, on land next to McColl’s shop, opposite Stones End. The scout hut was demolished to make way for the access road into the new housing estate, Newholme Crescent.

VE DAY IN LONDON: Hilda Bell (nee Cox)

I was in St. James’ Park, London.  This was a special day, the streets and parks were packed to capacity with people of every nation and the atmosphere was euphoric!  It was something to remember.  I was in Parliament Square on the night Big Ben was lit up for the first time since the “blackout” – this was a great sight.  We had been in darkness for so long. 

Above: Jean & Hilda Cox [ATS]

BAD NEWS (Details provided by Eric Welsh)

To the Welsh family, bad news had been received 3 weeks earlier, 23 April 1945 when Harry Welsh, Corporal Queen’s Royal Regiment was reported as being “dangerously ill” as a result of shrapnel wounds.  Harry was serving in the Central Mediterranean Theatre of War. [probably Northern Italy] Harry survived and continued living in Evenwood.

Above: 1563774 Corporal Harry Welsh, The Queen’s Royal Regiment

Above: The Infantry Record Office letter to Robert Welsh informing him that his son had been wounded in action.

Perhaps, by VE Day, further news had been received that Harry was recovering from his wounds and perhaps it was a double celebration for the Welsh family, hence the piano!