Helena Hall a resident of Lindfield, kept a journal throughout the Second World War. To mark VE Day, the following has been taken from the final entries in the journal.
May 8th - Today is V Day. The news came through yesterday evening and Tuesday and Wednesday are holidays. At 3 o’clock this afternoon an official announcement will be broadcast by the Prime Minister – Victory in Europe Day. The King will broadcast at 9 this evening. All over the world the report of the German surrender was celebrated yesterday. Londoners could not wait for today, they crowded joyfully Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus and all other big places. The lights made London look as if it were in flames. More than 100 planes roared over London in daylight, every kind from Spitfire to Fortress. Boys and girls are happily building a bonfire on the Common, they began yesterday evening. I went to the Avis’ to hear the Premier’s speech at 3 o’clock. He said Germans surrendered on Monday the 7th to the Allies at Rheims.
May 9th - Yesterday was a tremendous day in London and 8 times during the day the King and Queen appeared on the Palace balcony to acknowledge the cheering crowds. The last time was just before midnight just as searchlights flashed across the sky and bombers dropped flares and coloured lights. About 11 the two Princesses with Guards officers left the Palace quietly and mingled with the crowd when their parents made their last appearance. The King spoke at 9 o’clock in the evening and again I enjoyed listening to him. After thanking God and then everybody, Services personnel and civilians alike for their war-time efforts he said the years of darkness and danger are now ‘please God, over for ever’. On the balcony of the Ministry of Health building in Whitehall the Prime Minister conducted the thousands of people below in singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, a tremendous climax to a day the like of which London has never seen before. He spoke to them as a friend ‘This is your victory’ and after cheerful speaking and cheering replies, he gave the V sign and the crowd burst into ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’. Waving his hat he left the balcony. Another wonderful thing was light everywhere. A procession of flaming torches came along from Pondcroft Road, and the Common to the bonfire, which was lighted about 9.30. A very large swastika and an effigy of Hitler in an old armchair were thrown on to the blaze. It was a perfect night for a bonfire and fireworks, fine and no wind. All the village was about and singing around it went on till midnight. The Church was full. The collection was for the Fund for repairing, in some cases rebuilding, bombed churches. Officially hostilities ended at 1 minute after midnight, but in the interest of saving lives, the ceasefire began yesterday all along the Front. The Channel Islands are also to be freed today. Weather forecasts are given in the papers today for the first time since September 1st 1939. No papers will be published tomorrow.
It is impossible to give enough thanks to God for our great deliverance. Not until the war of Japan is over shall we have all our men home again. I pray that will not be a long war.
Helena Hall, Blue Gate, Lindfield.
Extract by the editors Linda Grace and Margaret Nicolle from A Woman Living in the Shadow of the Second World War; Helena Hall's Journal from the Home Front.
Does anyone have any photos of the 1945 celebrations in Lindfield tucked away in old albums? The editors would love to see them... email to editor@lindfieldlife.co.uk