VE Day Memories

Heartwarming tales from our readers

Ride of my Life

Victory came seven days before my fifth birthday. But your article awoke deep memories, especially the photo of jubilant nurses riding on a Liverpool ambulance.

The news hit the airwaves in Fishponds, Bristol, just after noon. Everyone tumbled out into the streets from homes, workplaces and shops.

Fishponds Road was chaos, jampacked with people crying and clapping, buses were nowhere in sight. After four and a half years of bombing, twice a day, it was a very emotional hour. My mother dressed me in my Dr Bell’s best school uniform and put on her only stockings, best dress and camel-hair coat.

We were out in the street just as a GI Jeep was passing with a major and three soldiers in it. Mum called out to them and ask them for a ride down Fishponds Road to the centre of

Bristol, explaining that my father was still working at Bristol Aircraft Co., at Filton. He was a toolmaker and could not leave and he hadn’t seen me awake for four and a half years.

The GIs were at their best. The

Major took the wheel and Mum sat beside him, two soldiers with their sub-machine gun behind, while I sat on the bonnet of the Jeep between the (ex) driver’s legs, his arms around my waist. It was such an emotional journey for me. I think I wept most of the way. The GI was such a great guy!

They took us right down Fishponds Road through the centre and up Park Street, past the university to Filton. When we arrived, Dad was in uniform – he had been a captain in the Gloucester Home Guard. Greetings from all the grown-ups was a splendid occasion after which the GIs told Dad they would take us home. We went via their barracks and they gave me chocolate! Mum was given several pairs of silk stockings by a lovely nurse, along with bacon, fresh eggs, raisins, fresh bread and other packaged food.

When they dropped us home Mum gave the Major the bread pudding from our larder. By mid-evening they were