Letters to Sunday Telegraph relating experiences of Victory in the Pacific Day, 1995 - Part 4

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.232
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

X793 Victory in the Pacific Clebrations, I was working as a Trank Line Telephoniste in the Trunk Exchange on to top floor of the C.P.O. building when the news came through. I was due to finish work at ge 30pm but the whole exchange lit up with callers wanting to phone friends & relatives + I worked till 12:30 pm all the time we could hear the celebrations going on in Martin Place & even when I eventually left work Martin Place was still jam packed with people celebrating. It was so packed with people that you had to edge your way through The Trunk Exchange at that time
had about 15 interstate switchboard positions & about 60 V5n positions plus 2 time positions & 10 Information positions. Ihe time at that stage was given by the newer trainces reading the time. (no recording) In addition there was a four position pricing desk & an eight position suspense (estimated delay! desk all housed in this huge room the sige of a large dance hall. When you first walked in the noise was deafening but you grew accustoned to it It didn't octur to me at the time but I have since realized that it was possibly one of the nost dangerous places in Sydney to work during vartime. It was a communications centre plus being on the top floor of the 6P0 building in the centre of Sydney.
The room itself was sandbagged all around the walls to a height of about 10 ft but the ceiting was about 30 ft high covered by a glarsdome. We worked shift work, one week day work + one afternoon a left which included Sunday + earned about £2 a week on arcrage. I paid £1 a week board fire stillings for fares & had to shillings a week left for clothing & outings. During wartime there were different priorities on trunk calls. I remember it was not unuseral to have a four hour delay on immediate priority calls which were always strambled for security The plote is of myself & another trunk telephoniste in marten Place after work in 1945. My friend is holding the reaspaper I am the one on the left. Yours Sincerely, thone Mrs Year Spier
1 Withet THE WAR ENDED IN 1945 WE WeLE Ar BAVikPARiN IN BoRNEC ove FMoT OrICAL NEW Cane inTe Army NEWsPAlek (TABLE TORS 1 HAsE ONe Et THE ORiCINRL PAPENE T tuciosE a coly Ot THE FRoc PACF Holin6 700 mAy BE ABLE To USE IT. CCENE RETORu Tu3 ColyTomE THE oviy wAy vc CovlD CCLEDRATE WA3 PIRE Au OvR 3PARE Anmo Ire Koe A.R WWae Perry Nary FoR H. WHILE LIRE AUOTHEX BATTLE soweror EGurgh
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10/795 The Edilo Victory in the Pacpe S0 Abbsin The Sully Tlge 1.0. 8ox 910 Franbey Hill 20.1 Dea hi preson regad to you wil to be sincn to fin deail as to has y P Day, I endose th felleig write by nt ated say Aps 15th and, wa pt of my bost; for Tay My fat. Over 112 noole Gauia Coorast Oir, RAA Lonon Covere, Sotonor 186479 your siaty B08 Excaton
is madam. have attached a phato capy pl. I was lisan in October 1943. I am sitting on the liannet of hey grandnas car at a picnic sate the news-paper I am hading 3 selse. IT TELEARRPR hat sice about the expression mayI masnt connced an a of aylie the hannet of the car was that) are alite its this picture e all Braume oncamera. us from a in are the ariginal print. sext de yours sincerely ma ndrew
MonHew Wee Eraeet GL P Alebraton Mes Gutn FRIENE The Sunday Tebegreft PClorgr Strawberry Hells 2012 2 July 29 Dear Sir Madon, The enclosed three photographs spak a thenrand worls (ateet the cssation of hostilities with the eny- Japen) We called it V.S. Dayor 15 Auge 42 some names only knewn to me new, are on back of photegraphs. There granps were taken before sat The March starting in Macquarie Street, to Martin Place, George Street, finishing at the Domain. We parched our legr of gleat joy in all our hearts the six years of heartacke in our country was over all these NAAAE, were wirebes aperator, statined in Townsvelle North Gld. during W.W. TI The DAAAE (Wonerd Auxellary Aushalian An Force enlisted well over 10,000 women & filled 68 Musting I was an exsential part of the Austrabon Depreefore served its purpose Admirally as time gaes by 50 years sents the and of W.H II I look back on these several you with pride yours faithfully Hand Cm. C trn)

18-7-95
Victory in the Pacific Celebrations,
I was working as a Trunk Line
Telephoniste in the Trunk Exchange on
to top floor of the G.P.O. building when
the news came through. I was due to
finish work at 9.30pm but the whole
exchange lit up with callers wanting to
phone friends & relatives & I worked till
12.30 pm.  
All the time we could hear the celebrations
going on in Martin Place & even when I
eventually left work Martin Place was still
jam packed with people celebrating. It
was so packed with people that you had
to edge your way through.
The Trunk Exchange at that time

 

2
had about 15 interstate switchboard
positions & about 60 NSW positions plus
2 Time positions & 10 Information
positions. The time at that stage was
given by the newer trainees reading the
time. (no recording) In addition
there was a four position pricing desk
& an eight position suspense (estimated
delays) desk all housed in this huge
room the size of a large dance hall.
When you first walked in the noise
was deafening but you grew accustomed 
to it.
It didn't occur to me at the time
but I have since realized that it was
possibly one of the most dangerous
places in Sydney to work during wartime.
It was a communications centre plus
being on the top floor of the GPO building
in the centre of Sydney.

 

3
The room itself was sandbagged
all around the walls to a height of about
10 ft but the ceiling was about 30 ft
high covered by a glass dome.
We worked shift work, one week day
work & one afternoon shift which included
Sunday & earned about £2 a week
on average. I paid £1 a week board, 
five shillings for fares & had 15 shillings
a week left for clothing & outings.
During wartime there were different
priorities on trunk calls. I remember it
was not unusual to have a four hour
delay on immediate priority calls which
were always scrambled for security.
The photo is of myself & another trunk
telephoniste in Martin Place after work
in 1945. My friend is holding the newspapers.
I am the one on the left.
phone
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Jean Spiers

 

PH.
WHEN THE WAR ENDED IN 1945 WE
WERE AT BALIKPAPIN IN BORNEO.
OUR FIRST OFFICIAL NEWS CAME IN THE
ARMY NEWSPAPER (TABLE TOPS)
I HAVE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PAPERS
& ENCLOSE A COPY OF THE FRONT PAGE
HOPING YOU MAY BE ABLE TO USE IT.
(PLEASE RETURN THIS COPY TO ME)
THE ONLY WAY WE COULD CELEBRATE
WAS FIRE ALL OUR SPARE AMMO INTO
THE AIR. IT WAS PRETTY NOISY FOR
A WHILE LIKE ANOTHER BATTLE
GOING ON
C.G. Wright

 

ORIGINAL COPY
55
17/7/95.
Victory in the Pacific 50th Celebrations
The Sunday Telegraph
P.O. Box 970
Strawberry Hills 2013.
Dear Sir.
When the War in the Pacific ended on 15/8/45
I was serving with the R.A.A.F. at No.9 Stores
Depot in Darwin. The Depot was across the
North - South road from the main RAAF aerodrome
six miles from Darwin.
I do not rember how the end of the war was
announced, it could have been by the P.A. system,
word of mouth, or by a special parade.
But that night there was a monster barbeque
on Darwin Beach. Thousands turned up and it was
a very gorgeous night, it was a bit rowdy at times
and some service men were firing off their rifles. The
celebrations went well into the night. The next
morning, on parade, were were all disarmed.

 

ORIGINAL COPY
2  56
The only other exciting event was the arrival of 
the "Orarje", in Darwin harbour, bringing home
Australia P.O.W's. Thousands turned up to welcome
the POW's, it was a great sight.
Enclosed is a photograph of some of my mates 
from Hut 96 No.9 Stores Dept. I have not seen
any of them since. I have another mate from hut 96
his name is Jack Pryor, of Launceston, Tasmania. We
exchange Christmas cards year each year.
My service number was 162460 Rank LAC.
Please return photograph, my name and address is
on the back.
Yours faithfully
Ross P. Smith

 

The Editor,  10/7/95
Victory in the Pacific
50th Celebration
The Sydney Telegraph.
P.O. Box 970
Strawberry Hills
2013
Dear Sir/Madam
In response to your invitation to ex-servicemen to provide
details as to how they spent V.P. Day, I enclose the following impressions
written by me on the actual day, August 15th and, now, part of 
my book, "You Taught My Father".
Unit : 112 MOBILE FIGHTER CONTROL UNIT, RAAF.
LOCATION :  BOUGAINVILLE, SOLOMON ISLANDS.
Yours sincerely
BOB STOCKTON
The way it was: Australians celebrate the end of World War II
WERE you one of the
hundreds of thousands of 
people who celebrated Victory 
in the Pacific around
Australia on August 15,
1945?
Do you have photographs
or letters recording the day
Australians finally saw the
end of World War II?
The Sunday Telegraph is
giving readers a chance to
join the 50th anniversary
celebrations of VP Day next 
month.
If you have photographs or
letters from friends or relatives 
describing what they
were doing on VP Day, we'd
like to publish them in a
special edition of The Sunday 
Telegraph.
And if you remember
where you were when the
war ended and how you celebrated 
send us your details.
Clearly mark all material
with your name, address and
telephone number, so it can
be returned.
Sent it to Victory in the 
Pacific 50th Celebrations.
The Sunday Telegraph, PO
Box 970. Strawberry Hills
2013.

 

8
PR00625
Australian
War Memorial

 

18.7.95
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have attached a photo copy
of myself. I was born in October 1943.
I am sitting on the bonnet of my grandma's
car at a picnic.
*Note the news-paper I am holding
-SUNDAY TELEGRAPH What else?
*I am not sure about the expression
on my face. Maybe I wasn't convinced.
(maybe the bonnet of the car was
too hot!)
Hope you are able to use this picture.
It is from a small "Brownie" box camera.
I have the original print.
Best wishes
Yours sincerely
Mrs Marilyn Mercer
(nee Hudson)

 

NEE - A.C.W. WADE-FERRELL G.J.
MRS. GWEN. FRIEND
9th July 1995
VP Celebrations
The Sunday Telegraph.
P.O. Box 970
Strawberry Hills 2013
Dear Sir/Madam,
The enclosed three photographs - "speak a
thousand words" (about the cessation of hostilities with the
enemy in Japan.) We called it V.J. Day on 15th August 1945.
Some names only known to me now, are on back of
photographs. These groups were taken before & after
"The March" starting in Macquarie Street, to Martin Place,
George Street, finishing at the Domain. "We marched
our legs off," great joy in all our hearts - the six
years of heartache in our country was over.
All these W.A.A.A.F, were wireless operators, stationed
in Townsville North Qld, during W. W. II
The W.A.A.A.F (Women's Auxillary Australian Air Force)
enlisted well over 18,000 women or filled 68 musterings
& was an essential part of the Australian Defence forces
& served its purpose admirably.
As time goes by, 50 years since the end
of W.W II I look back on those several years
with pride.
Yours faithfully
(MRS G.J. FRIEND)

 
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