Where was your parent on VE-Day?

[Ken Atkinson]

Continueing on the theme with memorable events:
My 21st on the green and rust MV Wandby was not celebrated to mark the occasion with strong drink as after a few weeks “the Shatt al Arab is the a***hole of the world and Basra is 100 miles up it” there were only soft drinks left as we passed down the Persian Gulf on the way to Australia. My next chronological landmark was……
50 years ago, while 3/E on MV Fresno City we were heading North up the “Inside Passage” from New Westminster near the U.S. border to Watson Island opposite the top of Vancouver Island to load forest products for Rotterdam. As my junior, Karl R. Negele from South Wales and I were aware that this was a cruise ship itinerary which would otherwise of cost good money, so Karl and I coming off watch at four in the morning participated as tourists. After wrapping up (uniform jacket over boiler suit) we got a couple of beers from the bar and sat outside on the bench facing aft to watch the scenery in the early daylight and postponed sleep until after breakfast. This contrasted with our usual practice of sharing a bottle of Bacardi laced with Coca-Cola pre and post dinner before bed until midnight and work.
Passing “Atkinson Island”, obviously named after an ancestor, we tied up to a jetty attached to a factory and no other sign of civilisation. After a few days excitement I placed a notice in the bar “Ken’s Quarter Century Tonight”. My next quarter was a forgettable working Thursday ashore and this one is a retirement Sunday which has come as a surprise, and the next is unlikely. Looking back has been varied and best described as “all this and money too”.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi Ken
God story, it's good to hear of others experiences, especially if one has never been to that particular place, Thanks.
Des

[Ivan Cloherty]

#21 Hmmm!! but where were your parents on VE Day

[Peter Thomson]

My Dad was in hospital recovering from wounds, while Mum was busy with the other Mums catering to us nippers in a fantastic street party with goodies and munchies like we had never seen before. Every table and chair from every living room in the street was lined-up out there. And Mr. Banfield blew his bugle. A great time to be around.

[Terry Foskett]

My Dad was with 43 Wessex Division Royal Signals in North West Germany having fought from Normandy. Grandad was in WWI and World War II. Me Falklands and Desert Storm.

[happy daze john in oz]

My father was still in Gibraltar having an affair with the field hospital matron.
Had been so for all the time he was there as Captain of the transport corp.

Came back to Uk and divorced mum.

I never forgave him even though I only saw him fore times in my life.

But it was war, and war does funny things to people.
Stuck where they were not knowing if it would be their last day at any time.

[David Varley]

Pa (Lt.(E) RN (Temp)) was on a gunnery course at Whale Island. The celebrations there included firing billiard balls at the cricket screens with the ornamental cannon using thunder flashes. During the day he had been pub crawling with my Aunt Kate much to the displeasure of Ma (a reluctant AA gunner) who had to do 'celebratory' marching drill - she was pregnant with my older brother as well!

I am not sure where Uncle Teddy (had his farm taken off him as not being good enough and joined as squaddie) was and I think poor Uncle Bruv (Dr.) was still with the RAMC ministering to the damaged of Belsen (that made him our only family casualty) .