Letters to Sunday Telegraph relating experiences of Victory in the Pacific Day, 1995 Wallet 2 of 2, Page 60 - 80

Ruby Haych
The Day the War Ended
In our church August 15th is a holy day, so
I went to Mass with our 2 year old son, on
our way home, as we came to our local shopping
centre (Mick Simmons Sports Store) had a
loud speaker out the front of their shop
announcing the war had ended
I headed for home pushing my pram, to
find my husband & mother had already
arrived home from work, as their employers
had closed for the day
At that time we were in the process of adopting
a sister for our son, and was to bring her
home the next week end, but when the next
day was proclaimed a public holiday, we
headed for Crown Street Womens Hospital
 

and brought our little daughter home.
Unfortunally we lost our son 10 years ago
from cancer, but we still have our lovely
daughter, she has just turned 50 and she
is the joy of our lives
R. T. Haych
PS
Sorry I do not have any photos of that day
 

Where Were You?
On the day Peace was declared, I worked
in an office on the 3rd floor, Corner Liverpool
& Castlereagh streets. Our Lady Boss came
out & told us the "War was Over" & we
could all go home.
Coincidentally one of the Senior girls' boyfriend
was there, an Army chap, and he had
his army Truck downstairs. We all climbed
on board, but prior to this a chap on the
pavement was selling daffodils. We called
to him that the War was over + he promptly
handed each of us girls a daffodil.
The Army truck, loaded with office girls
waving daffodils was snaking its way up
& down Sydney streets & in& out of Martin
Place. All of us girls yelling, screaming &
laughing & having a wonderful time.
Suddenly it came to an abrupt end when
an MP stopped the truck & ordered "Soldier
get this truck back to Barracks".
 

2
Sadly we climbed down, but joined
the throng on foot in Martin Place.
After several hours from the start of
our adventure we all finally decided to
make our way home.
But I will never forget that feeling
there in the air as it was electrifying.
Jean McCoy
 

Mary Farmer (Lynn)
In Pyrmont St. Pyrmont there is a
little stone church, St Bede's Catholic Church.
Next door was a school I attended. On August 15th
1945 being the feast day of Marys Assumption into
heaven, first Communion was celebrated for children
from St Bede's. Afterwards at the Communion
Breakfast Father Richard Funcheon our parish
priest announced the wonderful news. "The war
is over" All the ships docked in the harbour
blew their whistles. Cathedral bells from
St Mary's, St Andrews and all over Sydney
could be heard chiming what a glorious
day. I was 12 yrs old at the time and for me
and my family it meant my three brothers
would be coming home from the war and we
could be a family again. One brother John
served in the Middle East (A Rat Of Tobruk)
Michael & Daniel Patrick in New Guinea & the
 

Islands. Now relieved & happy my mother was,
only now, being mother & grand mother can I
realise the extent of relief & joy to have her
boys returned to the family.
My parents, an older sister Ellen, those three
brothers are now deceased. My older sister Bridget
younger brother Peter and I, Mary are the survivors
who will always remember the day W.W.2 ended.
 

17.7.95.
Dear Sir
Re your request to share our
V.P Day. memories.
On the day the war ended I
was 15 in my 3rd year at Gardeners
Rd. Home [[Scunce?]] School.
The news was received of the
wae ending between 11 am & 12.
School was dismissed and
we all went to catch an overcrowded
tram home - no fares were
collected as the tram was too over.
crowded with people hanging out
of doorsr & riding on the running
board.
My friends (whom I am still
friends with 5o years later) + I then
went to a party at Woolooware,
which in those days seemed like
travelling to the country, although
at was near Cronulla.
My friends aunt & family
all congregated at her home & we
had a wonderful day of celebrating
the end of the war.
We slept there overnight + then
travelled home the next day.
I am now 65. I have led a full &
happy life, but that day will remain
in my mind forever,
Mrs Nola Killy (nee West)
 

Victory in the Pacific Celebrations
Sunday Telegraph P/o Box 97 - Strawberry Hills 2013
Dear Sir or Madam
I was a junior clerk on the NSW Government
Railways in the Military section at Alexandrea Railway
Goods yard when the war ended, and the greatest
cacophony of Steam Engine whistles of all time was
heard from Eveleigh Railway workshops etc signaller the end!!
I had been seconded to the job in January 1944 and we
had a wonderful liaison with the Army, commanded by
CAPTAIN PETER CROFT who showed us great Army hospitality,
with Army Cocoa and biscuits with the troops at morning
and afternoon tea. They treated us as one of the family!!
I would add that for several years I have been singing
as chorister with the Bell singer and lately as tenor soloist
at the Garrison church at The Rocks on Army Navy and
Air force, as well as Legacy occasions, and am proud and
honoured to be soloist on Burma Star Day the 13TH of August
knowing that as previously I shall be in Select Company
the likes of which I doubt we shall see again
Sincerely

[signature]
VINCE LEMON
 

Dear Sir/ Madam,

 I would like to share
with you where I was on 15th August
1945. That was the day I was
born - my father tells the story -
as he was coming out of the
hospital in Taree to tell my
grandparents etc that I was born,
my Dad said people were out on
the street in great excitements,
horns were blowing, bells ringing
- he said the excitement was
unforgetable. He soon realised
that the celebrations was some-
thing more than the fact of
his baby girl just been born.
yours sincerely,
(Mrs) Mary Woolfe
 

Newcastle University Choir
P.O. Box 88,
Newcastle, 2300
Phone: ...................
We Remember
The Sunday Telegraph
PO BOX 970
STRAWBERRY HILLS 2013

We are writing to inform you of a performance of the Newcastle University
Choir on Hiroshima Day August 6th.

On that day, at 3 pm in the Great Hall of the University of Newcastle the
Newcaste University Choir will present Benjamin Britten’s twentieth century
masterpiece  War Requiem.

This performance has received financial support from local "Australia
Remembers" committees. I t is a cultural offering to the Hunter community
to honour the selflessness of servicemen and service women, and their
families, in World War ll, and to celebrate continuing peace in our region.

Britten's work combines words of the Latin liturgy and the World War l poems
of Wilfred Owen with powerful and poignant music.

Our performance will be conducted by Musical Director Peter Brock, assisted
by Kim Sutherland (Hunter Singers) and George Ellis. Gregory Massingham,
Margaret Schindler and John Pringle are the soloists.

We do hope that you may be able to include information about this very
special event in your 'We Remember' section.
Yours Faithfully,

Margaret Steinberger             for the Committee
(049) 874687 (w) [REDACTED]
 

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY CHOIR
PO BOX 88
NEWCASTLE 2300
MEDIA RELEASE
WAR REOUIEM by BENJAMIN BRITTEN
SUNDAY AFTERNOON - 6 AUGUST 1995 AT 3.00pm
at THE GREAT HALL, UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
Conductors: PETER BROCK,
GEORGE ELLIS and KIM SUTHERLAND

On 6 August, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. On that date, fifty years later, the Newcastle
University Choir with the Hunter Singers, will give a performance of WAR REOUIEM by BENIAMIN BRITTEN.

It was first performed in the new Coventry Cathedral in May 1962. The ruins of the old Cathedral remain beside it as
a poignant reminder of the destruction of the city.

It is hoped that the people of Newcastle will see it as an opportunity to remember Hiroshima and to hear one of the
great works of the twentieth century.

In the work, the composer brings together the traditional form of the Latin mass for the Dead, and the poems of
Wilfred Owen, a young soldier killed just before the Armistice in 1918. Britten was deeply moved by his poetry
Owen wrote of war as an outrage against humanity, but believed that beyond the carnage was the possibility of
reconciliation.

The Work is constructed on three levels. The small Chamber Orchestra, conducted by George Ellis, accompanies the
tenor and baritone soloists - the soldiers who interpret the poems.

The Mass itself, conducted by Peter Brock, requires the full orchestra and the soprano soloist, while in the distance is
the chorus of boys’ voices whose innocence is untouched by the horror of the battlefield. In this performance, a choir
of local High School students, the Hunter Singers, conducted by Kim Sutherland, will fill the role.

Margaret Schindler, a lecturer in Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium and the University of Queensland, is the
soprano soloist. She has a large repertoire of oratoria, concert music and operatic roles. These include overseas
engagements with the Cologne Opera and the Berlin Philharmonic.

The distinguished tenor, Gregory Massingham, will be remembered for his moving interpretation of the poetry of
Wilfrid Owen in the Choir's performance of WAR REQUIEM in 1990. He is best known as a concert singer, but has
many operatic roles to his credit. In 1996 he makes his debut with The Australian Opera.

John Pringle, a principal singer with The Australian Opera, is one of Australia's leading baritones. He makes a
welcome return to Newcastle after his performance last year as soloist with the choir in Vaughan Williams' Five Tudor
Portraits.

The composer prefaced the score of WAR REOUIEM with the words used by the poet— "My subject is War and the
pity of War. The poetry is in the pity. All a poet can do today is warn"

____________________________________________________________________________
Concert Tickets- Adult $25; Concession $20; Schoolchild $10 (Group Bookings: 52 3009)
From: University Union PO; Pepperina, 37 Bolton St, Newcastle, Latham's Garden City and Charlestown; McDonald Bros, Maitland; and
at the Door. (Booking Fee where applicable). Enquiries 63 2774 or 63 2237
For The Newcastle University Choir Committee
MARIE TIETZE

Ph: 63 2774

PHYLLIS ROBSON
Ph. 63 2237

Supported by:
"AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS" DEPT of VETERANS' AFFAIRS * NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE DEPT of COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES
WT PARTNERSHIP, Quantity Surveyors; WESTS EXECUTIVE INN
 

BENJAMIN BRITTEN'S
WAR REQUIEM
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY CHOIR
and ORCHESTRA
with HUNTER SINGERS
Conductors: PETER BROCK.
GEORGE ELLIS and KIM SUTHERLAND
Soloists: MARGARET SCHINDLER- GREGORY MASSINGHAM-JOHN PRINGLE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON-6th August, 1995 at 3. 00pm
GREAT HALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
This performance commemorates the 50th anniversary of the
atomic bombing of Hiroshima at the end of World War II
Tickets: $25, $20 Concession, $10 Schoolchildren (Group Bookings: 523 009)
From University Union PO; Pepperina, 37 Bolton St Newcastle; Latham's Garden City and Charlestown;
McDonald Bros, Maitland; and at the Door. Enquiries 632 774 or 632 237
Supported by:
"AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS" DEPT of VETERANS AFFAIRS - NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE DEPT of COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES
WT PARTNERSHIP, Quantity Surveyors *WESTS EXECUTIVE INN* PEPPERINA * Books, Music, Cafe

The City of Newcastle
 

R.M.B. 774.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was seventeen and working in a office
in Martin Place 10 floors above the cenataph. When we
first heard of peace I looked out the window to see
small crowds of bank staff running down Martin Place
rejoicing. The office staff including myself went to
the cupboard with the typing paper and it all went out the
window, by then Martin Place was packed with people and
servicemen. When we finally got down to the crowd
you could hardly move and they were dancing the conga and
laughing and crying. All transport had stopped so we
had to walk all the way home after we had gone to St.
Andrews Cathedral to give thanks. The rejoicing went on
& St. Mary's Cathedral which was packed all the streets were just
a mass of people all day and night. At last the nightmare of war was over,
and peace was here.
My memories.
Yours faithfully,
Ms Gloria C. Harris

It was 15th August, 1945, and we hadn't been at our
office desks long when the long-awaited news came through -
the war in the Pacific was over.
We didn't wait for official sanction but flocked out into
Castlereagh Street and rushed through a ticker tape snowstorm
to Martin Place where it was all happening.
A crowd of revellers soon gathered, laughing, crying,
even hugging and kissing complete strangers. The joyous mood
was contagious and a conga line formed and we snaked our way
up and down the City streets, Pitt, King, Elizabeth, more
joining on en route.
Long suffering but good natured police helped us through
traffic which at times we held up. Trams clanging, horns
honking, Church bells ringing, all added to the cacophony of
merry bedlam, all wanting to be a part of peace at last.
Truly a day to remember.
(Mrs) M. Quinn
 

Fifty years ago 15 August
I was travelling with my brother in law from
a small place called Lynchs Crk on the far North
Coast. We arrived at Kyogle to hear the joyous
new
We still had to go to Limore through to
Casino when we arrived there we drove
straight to St Marys Catholic Church & said
some prayers of Thanksgivings then on to Lismore
The town was crowded with the noise
of Happy & joyous people
There were a lot of Pommie sailors with
horses who wanted my Mother (who I was
meeting) & I to get on the horses with
them & ride around the town
We never did know where the horses came
from
My husband was in some God forsaken place
in New Guinea with some Yanks & didn't know
the war was over for 2 days
My husband & two brothers were in the Army
a younger brother in the Navy.
We were lucky to get them all home but
our hearts went out to those who lost
their loved ones & friends that we know
never returned.
The 15 August is The Feast of the Assumption in the
Catholic church A special Day.
 

From (Mrs) Joan Stanborough
Phon [REDACTED]
My husband served in The Middle East as well
as New Guinea passed away 1990
 

PROO625
Australian
War Memorial

Where was I?
I was in St Vincents Church at
Ashfield watching my son, making
his first. Holy Communion,
The Priest gave the news from
the altar - "what a wonderful time
to celebrate" he said "Our children
being blessed & our boys coming home"
I said to the nun standing next to
me "Thank God my Brother is coming
home" and she answered me back
"so will mine" we both cried with joy
my brother was a Tobruk rat.
Our photos were burnt in a house fire
My brother was Corp George H. S. Barry
2/17 formed the 9th Div. Middle east.
 

13.7.95
As a child growing up in the sleepy town of Tumbarumba
N.SW. during the war. there wasn't much to suggest that
the world was in so much torment. Perhaps we complained
about the tea & sugar rationing & the fact we had to queue
up with our tuppence to buy chewing gum on Sat mornings
at Hippy Quinn's store, Nothing else worried us.
We sometimes saw army convoys going through,
saw search lights at night, & in our class we had a
girl, from Sydney whose parents had sent her to the safty
of Tumbarumba.
Our Industrial Hall had been divided up with
cubicals made of hessian, where the land army
girls were housed. They were mainly working on the
potato crops, packing them & sending them to be
sorted in sheds up near our railway station
From there they went off to Wagga.
Then the big day. Word came that the war was ended.
People were dancing in the street. Potatoes were being
thrown all around. I had a view from the top
verandah of Heinecke's Hotel (a no no usually for a 10 yrs old)
& there I was throwing streamers & potatoes as well.
I suppose when the soldiers did come home, we
realized for the first time how fortunate we had been
particularly as some were maimed & for the first time
we could actually see the effects of this cruel war.
(Mrs) Mel Hardy
 

Patrick J WATERS
Where was I when the war ended? On the
bottom of Sydney Harbour in a full diving
suit & helmet, attached to a hand operated
air pump. No scuba gear or air tanks in
those days. I was working away steadily
when suddenly air stopped coming through, no
response to signals sent to the surface so
closed valves on helmet & "blew up" to the
surface, to float helplessly until seen and
rescued by diving attendants who then informed
me that the war was over. I was then
rushed to decompression chamber at Balmoral
Naval base where spent several hours, so
my celebrations were somewhat delayed.
Do not think too many other people any where
would have been in such a situation as
myself when the war ended
P.J. (Taffy) Waters
ex NAVAL DIVER.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
 

12.7.95
Hello there!
I worked in the Plan Printing &
Photographic Section of the G.P.O. during
the war years. We were a happy lot, a
mixed bunch of men & women. We were
all hoping to hear the war was at an end
& I, in particular, was hoping for it to
happen on the 19th of August, my 21 st birthday.
A double celebration I thought.
However on Monday August 13th, I went
home from work rather ill. By Wednesday
I had pneumonia, the doctor had been some
hours earlier & I had to take medication
every 2 hours. I don't remember much of
what went on until the Friday when I
found that my grandmother & my English
friend (R.N.) had come to be with me while
my parents took my younger brothers &
sisters in to the city.
I felt very sorry for James as he had
 

already missed the V.E. day
celebrations in England. He
was in the midst of the war
off Japan. So he missed out on
both occasions.
However, I did have my 21st party some
time later & I married my sailor in
December 1945, so we have a celebration
ahead of us now.
But even after all these years I still feel
frustrated that I missed that day so long
ago.
Sincerely yours
(Mrs) Eileen Kelsall