Letters to Sunday Telegraph relating experiences of Victory in the Pacific Day, 1995 - Part 6

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It was my brother's death and the need to

free men from the Air Force in Australia for active

service overseas, which prompted me to leave my good
job as a statistical clerk with the Castrol Oil Co.
Back in 1941 to enter the W.A.A.A.F. as a wireless

telegraphist we were required to undergo training at Fort
Street High School every night of the week after work

until we were proficient sending and receiving morse at
25 W.P.M.
The enclosed photo is taken at R.A.A.F. Command,
Brisbane on that wonderful day 15TH AUGUST 1945.
I am the sergeant on the left at back. We had all
come off "dog-watch" night shift from 11.20 PM - 7.20 AM.
It was an extremely busy signals office, because we

had watches with Air Ministry, I was working Singapore

when they fell to the Japs, but the night before VP day

all our communication with bases throughout the Pacific

were flat out as usual. After ceasing duty in the morning,

normally it would have been off to bed, BUT who wanted

to sleep the WAR was over - unbelievable and a time to

celebrate.

We broke a strict rule berets must not be worn
with uniform, but as you can see we adorned our head
wear with plants I had grown alongside our hut. We
were off to the city to celebrate, and oh what a day in

Brisbane it was. We could sleep for the rest of our

lives, but today we must live it up, and we had

youth on our side then. The friends made in those

3

wartime days, are extra special. When 30 young

women sleep in a hut with little privacy, and then also

work together, and having little luxuries and little

money, the comradeship is unreal, but something lasting

a lifetime.

I have a full front page of the COURIER MAIL

dated 16TH AUGUST 1945, showing how Brisbane celebrated

with the main street packed to capacity. On that day

9,000 ex service personnel marched through the city. If

that front page is of any help for your special edition

of VP day I'm only too happy to co-operate.

I have many, many war time snaps, but I chose

just one to send of 6 happy little W.A.A.A.F.'s who had

served 4 years in the Air Force, and ready to

celebrate after a hard night's work.

Humbly yours,

Betty King (NEE PASCOE)

Sunday Telegraph July 4th

Australia Remembers

Dear Sir,

I remember well where I was and what I did on

15th August 1945. On the 14th I was on night duty nursing in

a ramp ward of the 113th A.G.H. Concord.

I was listening to a wireless, in between doing the

rounds of the ward and kept my patients informed as to the

latest news. I don,t think any of them slept that night.

I finished duty, had my breakfast and went to my

room,shortly the bells started to ring and we were told

over the loud speakers the War was over.

We were told to proceed to the Notice Board to see

if we were rostered for leave.

I was one of the lucky ones, so with my girlfriend

from Wollongong we caught a taxi to Strathfield, then a

train to the city, yes and danced in the street! Then my

friend caught a train to Wollongong and I caught a train to Windsor.

On the train to Windsor was an intoxicated soldier,

laying on the platform between the carriages (there were

no doors on the train then) Fearing he may roll out, with the

aid of a sailor, we got him inside the carriage. He told us he

was going home to take his wife out. We put him safely off

the train at Riverstone. I then went on to Windsor and went

to a Victory Dance at Richmond,that night.

Fifty years on this coming 15th Aug, health 

permitting, I would like to stay the night of the 14th at the

R.S.L. Hyde Park Inn and join the celebrations on 15th

August

My husband was on Tarakan, Borneo on the 15th

August 1945,when news came through that the war was

over.

Yes, we Remember!

(Mrs) M.I. Moulds (nee Hunt)

Ex A.A.M.W.S.  NFX 172754.

August 15^th, 1945. The War was

over.

Alan Fairweather is deaf, he used

to work as a dress cutter & designer

with his deaf sister Betty (Dressmaking)

at Snowball Bros, Elizabeth St, Sydney

opposite the Mark Foy's Shop, one of 

their uncle Arthur Snowball's own

businesses & He was well known in 

Australia. There were about 5 deaf

girls, who worked with 150

girls & 6 men. They had been

cutting soldier uniforms, which the

girls made for the War twice a 

week. When the war was over, his

uncle kindly gave them all some

Fruit cakes, Bottles of Beer & Wine as

well as many flags & streamers.

Good fun & laughs!! They all had

a great time. Afterwards they went

for a walk at Hyde Park, where there

were crowds of people walking around.

They really enjoyed themselves very

much.

Alan & Betty shall not forget

about the story that one Friday 

night, After Deaf Club, when they

went to "Repins" Cafe with deaf

friends for a late supper near

Wynyard Station, George St, Sydney.

After supper, Alan & Betty had to catch

the last Tram at 12 pm for Drummoyne.

They suddenly stopped at Rozelle with

a black out for ½ hour so they

had to walk from there. They were

so frightened they ran fast across

the Iron Cove bridge & arrived home 

at Drummoyne safely.  Next day

2

they got a shock to read in the

paper about a Japanese midget

submarine that had been bombed

at Sydney Harbour that night.

Alan & Betty used to go & see

newsreels at Wynyard Theatre

every week after work, to watch 

the War news. It was very sad (1 hour)

I am sending you 5 photos,

which I sincerely hope you will

be interested to see & my story.

Yours faithfully

from

Alan Fairweather.

My photo was taken outside our work place

in Pitt St a shirt factory called Amtex on

August 15 1945 V.P. Day. Was given the rest off day off

Later we made our way to Martin Place

for a great celebrations.

Three of us are still very good friends

I am in front row right side of picture

My name then was Winsome or Pat Duddle

now its Moss. I have lived in Greenacre

45 years.

Thanking you

Mrs W Moss.

(Greenacre)

Aug 15th 1945.

It was my girl friend's 17th Birthday.

Betty, the girl on right hand side.

We all went to work at S.R. Buttle's head

Office the whole place was buzzing with

excitement & I can tell you there wasn't very

much work being done, so when the news

officially came through we firstly rang

Lilly, (the one in (the dark coat). made

arrangements to meet her. She worked in

Farmer's Office. I then went for our lives

I still get goose pimples thinking of it.
Martin Place just seemed to fill up with

people. Everyone was laughing, singing

dancing, wherever you went.

People were pulling up kissing each
other. The trams were still running

& people were hanging on the footboards

hooting as they went along.

Hyde Park was crowded. We had

street photographers in those days & boy

they were doing a roaring trade.

Betty, Lilly & I always kept in touch, but

I wonder whatever happened to Joyce

& Castle & Cecily De Landro.

Yours faithfully

Jeanne Hewitt.

2nd from left.

17.7.95

Dear Sir,

I am enclosing a photo

of myself taken on 15th August 1945

at Eddy Avenue, Central Station.  I

had been celebrating with friends

from work. We had been dancing

in Pitt St and just wandering

around with everyone being happy

The trams could not run

in the city that afternoon so as I

lived at Bondi Junction I had to

walk to Taylors Square.

I celebrated again that

night, the city was jam packed

and we just wandered around

for hours. The pubs were closed

and there didn't seem to be any

drinks although every one was so