Wigan Album

I know this was an extra special occasion when peace was declared - but it was wonderful how neighbours came out to share in the happiness together. That's something very comforting to see and it happened in every street. The feeling must have been like no other - and yet there must have been some very sad people behind closed doors who wouldn't have wanted anything to do with the jollifications. Those who had husbands, sons, brothers and relations who did not come home. It must have been doubly sad...

There has been a considerable amount of controversy in relation to moving the May Day, 2020, bank holiday forward to the Friday, to celebrate the 75th anniversary. I believe it needs to be celebrated. They could give an extra banh holiday.

I was in the Woodwork Room at WGS when the announcement was made.I was not yet twelve & let out a rip-roaring shout ,only to be castigated by Mr Baron as the sort of person who caused all the trouble in the world.I thought we had just defeated him.I spent the evening with hundreds of Wiganers dancing around the town.I wonder if Theresa Parr from Clegg Street,Ince remembers?

I remember my dad telling me people where getting drunk, dancing in the street and lighting bonfires and celebrations going on all night and into the early hours... I would love to have experienced it all. I was born the year after!

Your dad was correct Veronica. I was eleven years of age. I walked at 10.p.m. With a very large crowed of singing, and dancing people, from Spring View to Abram. The pubs had rolled barrels of bear onto the still darkened streets. People had lit bon fires in the street. Some people had brought out their pianos into the street, others were playing different kinds of instruments. Everyone had their arms around each other. I’ve never since experienced another celebration like it.f

V.J. Day followed, on the 2nd September, 1945. British, and Allied troops suffered agonising conditions fighting the Japanese, in the Far Eastern jungles, like Burma. British, and Allied P.O.Ws were treated by their Japanese guards atrociously, many died of diseases, malnutrition, and extremely cruel treatment, some of the P.O.W.s were executed. Although V.J. Day was celebrated, it did not have the same zest about the celebration, as did the V.E. Day celebration. It may have been because of the thousands, and thousands of Japanese civilians that were killed with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. The dropping of those bombs considerably shortened the war in the Far East, and umpteen thousand of British and allied troops, lives were saved, because of it.. If at all possible, visit the Japanese P.O.W. Exhibition building at the National Memorial. (Arboretum) in Staffordshire. The whole of the Arboretum is really, a must visit.

I am just reading a book about the POWs at the moment. Some of them felt they were undervalued at the end because they were imprisoned and hadn't 'fought' in normal battles. In truth they were betrayed at the Fall of Singapore. The Korean guards were more cruel than the Japs- although many Japs were executed at the end of the war for their cruelty. There was definitely a hierarchy between the Japs, the Koreans and the prisoners. A lot of face slapping went on to incongrously,'save face' . If the Japs were cruel to the Koreans ( which they were) they would in turn take it out on the prisoners. The very fact that soldiers surrendered went against them to the Japanese way of thinking. They did not believe in 'surrender' no matter what - they had to die by the sword ' to save face. Very strange race of people and incomprehensible to fathom out. What suffering those men endured is beyond belief. A far worse imprisonment in the Far East than the German Prisoners of War had - and that was bad enough.

Although I'm obviously far too young to have been a participant, I still celebrate VE Day quite frequently Veronica .
In fact, most Saturday evenings will often find me drunk, playing the piano,...after a fashion,....and dancing around my bonfire in the middle of Wigan lane.
I frequently experience difficulty however when it comes to convincing the local constabulary that my motives are merely rooted in national pride.
The Arriva drivers on the 362 Chorley bus route also appear to take a dim view of my celebratory activities for some reason, and occasionally take the avoiding 113 route as far as the Cherry Gardens.
Nonetheless , and providing I'm released from the Lyceum Fields care home for the terminally confused on time , I'm planning yet another VE Day celebration this weekend should you care to join me , what with you having missed the first one and all.

It wouldn't be the same though Ozy- perhaps Irene has the right idea with the 40's events! At least the uniforms are on show - even if they are mainly the Yanks polishing their jeeps. It is possible after a few drinks to think it's really real though..you can get swept away with it all ..;@))

Blimey Veronica, I'd forgotten all about it , but your mention of polishing their Jeeps has just reminded me that it's the Yanks weekend on the 10th/ 11th of next month at Uppermill.
Lordy, but It's a brilliant weekend......and if you don't believe me then just ask Irene.
So dust off your travel pass, get the train to Greenfield, then jump the 184 to Uppermill and I'll see you in the Hare and Hounds.
If you get there ahead of me, then mine's two pints of Warsteiner and a double single malt Highland Park chaser.
I know.....but don't worry, I'll see you right when I get my new glasses.
No...seriously, I will.
Oh!, and p.s., don't forget to draw a line up the back of your legs.
Regards. The Whizzer.

I'll come as a Munition Worker ' cos I like to drop bombshells! Good idea about the charcoal line down me legs Ozy. I suppose you'll come as a Desert Rat who drives a wagon bringing supplies- mind you don't get stuck in the sand though....especially on a hill.....

Yeah, I like the sound of that Veebs. Maybe we could take one of those bouncing bombs with us eh ? You know, one of those that you smuggled out of Euxton all those years ago....remember ? Now that should go down really well at the event eh ? what do you reckon ?
There won't be many Yanks that's seen one of them things I'll wager.
And fortunately I have the very contraption , fabricated from an old modified Silver Cross pram , that we could use to shift the thing from your Anderson shelter as far as the station, although getting the blimmin' thing down those steps onto the platform at Daisy Hill may prove to be problematic.
Not to mention the barriers at Piccadilly.
Hmmm!.....I need to think this one through......just give me a couple of days and I'll get back to you.
Oz.

I've thought about it Ozy . We could travel on the Bouncing Bomb if somebody could drop us off. Failing that I will just have to take it apart and put it in M&S shopping bag and go by motorbike with escorts!