Letters to Sunday Telegraph relating experiences of Victory in the Pacific Day, 1995 - Part 7

2
happy they seemed drunk. It was
wonderful
Alice Hear

19th July 1995.
The Sunday Telegraph
P.O. Box 970
Strawberry Hills, 2013.
Victory in the Pacific 50^th Celebrations.
Sirs,
My V.P. Day memories are as under:-
I was on duty as a member of the Australian
Womens Army Service at Victoria Barracks,
Paddington, when we heard the news. My friend,
also shown in the photo, were given permission
to leave and we caught a tram and headed for
Martin Place. My friend (now deceased) was
Corporal Jean Crawcour and I was S/Sgt Kelva D'Arcy
I am now 82 and a War Widow Pensioner.
Please forward the photo back to me, as I
have had it for 50 yeas and would like at back
Thanking you in anticipation
(Mrs) Kelva Todd
Phone

Marjorie Kirwan
Dear Sir
I am enclosing a Photo taken
the day the war ended,
Marge Norma & Grace were
working in "Her Majesty Arcade"
for a firm Called Femina we were
machinist & we just left our Machines
& when down to George street. I dont
know the soldiers or the man in the
photo, we had a great time dancing
up George Street.
My Husband, Kieth, & two brothers
Martin & Reg Ross were all in
New Guinea & all returned
safely. Yours Sincerely M Kirwan

To Whom it May Concern,
The Photo I am sending to you has
special memories.
It was taken in Martin Place ouside
the G.P.O.
I worked for Sir Norman Nock at
Nock & Kirbys in George street and as soon
as the News came through that War was
over Sir Norman closed the store and
all stores in the City were closed, and
we all went out to celebrate. 
It was here I met my husband who was
and officer in the British Navy stationed
at HMN at H.MN Nabberley at Bankstown
We were married at the end of the year
and I travelled back to Wales as I war
Bride are the HMAS Rimutaka which was
taking the retiring Govener General back
to England.
My husband and myself and my three
year old ^son returned to Australia five
years later and were married for
forty two years until he died.
Also it meant that my Father
returned from the Islands as well,
to his family
Thanking you
Mrs Evelyn Fortune

LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS DURING WAR. (FAMILY HOME)
WAS MARRIED IN 1946. LIVED AT BANKSTOWN.
AND RETURNED TO THIS ADDRESS IN 1976.

DEAR SIR/MADAM.
AM SENDING THIS PHOTO OF MYSELF
(LAST GIRL ON RIGHT) AND FRIENDS. (NOW IN OUR 70^s!
OUR NAMES WERE. FROM LEFT
DOT LUCAS           NOT KNOWN OF SINCE ?
JEAN HANSLOW    "            "           "       "
JOAN PAYNE           "            "           "       "
EDNA EADIE            "            "           "       "
ADA BOWERY (SELF) NOW ADA COLLINS (OF ABOVE ADDRESS)
AT THE TIME WE WERE MACHINISTS (DRESS) WORKING AT
"DOROTHY HAIG" CO. AT 338 PITT ST SYDNEY.
WHEN WORD CAME THROUGH THE WIRELESS; OUR BOSS CALLED
OUT "ITS OVER". FINISH UP RIGHT NOW! AND GO OUT TO
CELEBRATE WHICH WE ALL DID. (ABOUT 25 GIRLS WORKED
THERE, BUT HAD BEEN DOING ARMY CLOTHES THROUGH
WAR PERIOD.) BUT WE 5 SAT NEAR EACH OTHER AND
WERE FRIENDS, SO OFF WE WENT DOWN PITT ST,
THEN UP GEORGE ST., VIA MARTIN PLACE. WHERE WE
GATHERED UP FLAGS, STREAMERS, & BONTING, AND THIS PHOTO
WAS TAKEN SOMEWHERE IN GEORGE ST. 
OF COURSE WE JOINED UP WITH OTHER GROUPS AND
CELEBRATED THEN WENT TO OUR RESPECTIVE HOMES TO JOIN
OUR PARENTS. CERTAINLY A DAY TO REMEMBER!
SINCERELY YOURS
ADA (BOWERY) COLLINS.
HAVE ENJOYED READING 
YOUR COLUMS IN "TELEGRAPH"

July 10, 1995
Re: Victory in the Pacific - 50th Celebrations.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Please find enclosed the photograph taken on the 15th August, 1945.
I was a corporal in the AWAS at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and I had been discharged 
the previous year to take up nursing which proved not to be my vocation. 
As a book- keeper, I joined George Patterson, advertising agency in October, 1944.

The day the War ended with the Japanese, Mr George Patterson personally came into the office where 15 of us were working and declared that he had just heard the news that the war was over and we could get out and celebrate - before he had finished speaking we were out into the street with thousands of other office girls and boys.

As we raced down George Street, laughing and joyous a photographer stopped myself and two friends, Jill and Joan and before he could snap us a whole lot of girls and a boy joined us. We didn't know any of them but it didn't matter - we were all celebrating. Some of the bunting also got into the photo.

I remember that day as if it was yesterday and still remember the wonderful feeling and excitement that at last the war was over. I am now 72 years old and that day is still with me.

My brother had died on the Burma-Thai infamous railway two years previously but because of his courage, like all the aussies who died for freedom we rejoiced that they made this day possible.

Sincerely,

Signed (Mrs) Gloria Kanaley

(Mrs) Gloria Kanaley.

PS. I would appreciate the return of this photos when you are finished with it. I am enclosing a self stamped address envelope.

Phone: [redacted]                                         

 

17th July 1995

                     VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC 50TH CELEBRATIONS   

I should have been ecstatic when the war ended, but for me,

separation from my man had just begun.

A WAAAF, stationed in Melbourne, July 14th 1945 I'd just become

engaged to a Royal Navy sailor. Two weeks later his ship sailed for

Sydney to ^^rejoin the Fleet. Arranging leave for August 19th, I was to

meet him there for a few blissful days before the Fleet went north.

August 10th, at 11pm, I was awakened, in WAAAF barracks, Toorak, from

a deep sleep. 'Sydney calling'. Doug's mate was on the phone. (Doug 

was below making cocoa when the call he'd booked, came through).

'Have you heard the news? It's all over bar the shouting!' George 
cried. Half-awake, I was wondering why the recreation room was in an 
uproar; girls carrying on like crazy.

The official announcement didn't come till August 15th. Doug had

called the night before. His ship was sailing with the morning tide;

our planned meeting was off. He had no idea where they were going;

when or if they'd be back. It was three weeks before a newspaper item

told me the BPF (British Pacific Fleet) was in Hong Kong to secure the 

port and release prisoners-of-war  -- a mission of mercy I couldn't

begrudge!

It was 5 months before HMS Ursa called in to Sydney, enroute to

England, enabling us to be married. It was another 10 months before

he returned to me. This is why I'm holding the Union Jack in Melbourne

on VJ day.

Una Clarke

 9.7.1995

To Victory in the Pacific

50^th Celebrations.

My friends & I in the

enclosed photo all worked at the W.D.& H.O. Wills

Kensington.

When we were told that W.W. II had

ended there were many cheers from the many

employees who worked there. We were all given the

rest of the day off.

My friends & I went to Martin Place

to join in the celebrations there.
To-day we are in our

70^th years but still keep in touch & meet twice

yearly.

 Hoping I have luck with the photo enclosed

being printed in your Sunday Telegraph special

edition

I am

Yours Sincereley                                                    The Pelen

(Mrs) Valerie Ross                                                  Al Woy Woy

                                                                                    - Aly Tallemah

P.S. I am on the end holding the flag V.R.       -10 left.

                                                                                      33

                                                               537575             9

 DR 00625

 Australian

 War Memorial

There's been tragedies & deaths & weddings, dear

friends going overseas

CMF 18 marks - transferred to

RAAF - trained in London Canada, went to London.

flight sgt - navigator & bomb-aimer

He'd been discharged 5 days when I met

him ^{in 1946}at the Trocadero - 1947 - 3 children - 2 married
& one in W.A. - 5 grandchildren

- David Ross - 1984 he had a stroke

at home for 8 1/2 years
-
"That                   put your name &
the month & date year
till you were 16
built marine for 40 yrs - married 33/3 one

                                                       job - £3 or £4

                                                      Peace Piece

                                                      work & uniform

                                                      hair tied up for hygiene **

Crowds, everyone being happy with each         [ & reasons]

speaking to each other if if they didn't know each

other - 11 & midday.                                                   [**no nail polish, no jewelry.**]

Processing [talihos learners] & pushing in

the [flaireys] & packing cigarettes.

17th July 1995

The Editor

Victory in the Pacific 50^th Celebrations

Dear Sir

August 15th 1945. My 18th birthday. How 

I could join the W.R.A.N.S to which I had

already applied.

When I arrived at work at the Union

Bank of a/asia (now the A.N.Z) on the

corner of Pitt & Hunter Sts. Sydney there

was a strange feeling of "something about

to happen".

I had just removed my typewriter 

cover & settled to work when the news

that the war had ended spread through

the building.

Within minutes we had deserted the

bank & raced into Pitt St. where this

photo was taken, between Hunter St & 

Martin Place.

The street was jammed with office

workers pouring out of the buildings.

Looking back the strange thing was

that the flag & whistle vendors were

already there as well as the street

photographers. Did they know something

we didn't?

Trucks came from nowhere & people