65th Anniversary Of VE Day

[englishangel]

You just have to know what you are looking for.

[J.R.]

It was Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Crimean War.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%25 ... n/art38768

Congratulations on finding that. The reason why Berwick is thought to be still at war is an illustration of the detailed technicalities which make Britain so interesting.
There is a question of the definition of "war"; I don't think anyone declared war over the Falklands (No JR! not the Malvinas). We still have a couple of anti-Welsh laws which, whilst not actually war related as such are close to it (Welshmen cannot remain inside the walls of Chester at night and Welshmen can legally be killed in a certain other city). I suspect that Berwick has a couple of ancient bye-laws going back to the forays from north of the border. I know that there is one anti-Ulster one from the days of John which probably has never been cancelled / replaced and then there are the Pale Laws which have similar effects.

No such place, David.

In leafy Dorking, we have Falkland Road, Falkland Terrace, AND The Falkland Arms public house.

I've checked our local street-map, and can't find a Malvina street or lane anywhere !

[sejintenej]

There is a question of the definition of "war"; I don't think anyone declared war over the Falklands (No JR! not the Malvinas). .

No such place, David.
In leafy Dorking, we have Falkland Road, Falkland Terrace, AND The Falkland Arms public house.

I've checked our local street-map, and can't find a Malvina street or lane anywhere !

Neill the Notorious might just have some thoughts about that

[DavidRawlins]

A patient of mine was an officer in the tank corps. He saw action in Normandy, and for the rest of his life had nightmares every night. I doubt if he told anyone else about them, other than his wife. I am sure that the traumas of war are under estimated

[englishangel]

Just been a piece on the news about how many service personnel have PTSD and fewer than expected are being diagnosed, but they do have a high level of alcohol dependency. no sh1t Sherlock . No-one can understand unless they have been there. Part of it is the relentlessness with no respite and WW1 was the first time it WAS so relentless. Previous wars had been a series of skirmishes/battles with long periods in between. In WW11 the home front suffered so some people could understand. Now we can't understand. In the US some people are just beginning to understand as they get attacked on their own shores, but only in big cities, the vast majority of the country is a different planet.

[Angela Woodford]

Here's a bit of a strange/different point of view.

I was born in 1953, of older parents. Our South London community, speaking very generally, seemed to find WW2 an opportunity for the most ordinary people to reach a parity with those who led more interesting lives. Uncle Reg, who was a clerk in a drab office somewhere, became a fireman in the Blitz, and served very bravely. There was a terrible enemy to overcome; partly to be loathed and fought, partly to be mocked with a marvellous humour. My father, who'd been an underfed ill-treated illegitimate young man, gained enormously in stature and fitness in the Army.

I grew up on War anecdotes - I was always touched by the stories of a friend-of-a relation who had helped care for rescued Jewish children taken to the loveliness of the Lake District. Stories of how people had unflinchingly climbed out of the wreckage of their ruined homes, or taken in and fed complete strangers, or taken on utility tasks that they'd never dreamed they could do. Women sacrificed their pots and pans, became Land Girls or worked in factories.... the two Princesses had even mingled with the crowds on VE Day...

Sorry to ramble so vaguely - only just had a brain-jolting cup of coffee and the memories of these stories have come back -

[sejintenej]

Here's a bit of a strange/different point of view.

I was born in 1953, of older parents. Our South London community, speaking very generally, seemed to find WW2 an opportunity for the most ordinary people to reach a parity with those who led more interesting lives. Uncle Reg, who was a clerk in a drab office somewhere, became a fireman in the Blitz, and served very bravely. There was a terrible enemy to overcome; partly to be loathed and fought, partly to be mocked with a marvellous humour. My father, who'd been an underfed ill-treated illegitimate young man, gained enormously in stature and fitness in the Army.

I grew up on War anecdotes - I was always touched by the stories of a friend-of-a relation who had helped care for rescued Jewish children taken to the loveliness of the Lake District. Stories of how people had unflinchingly climbed out of the wreckage of their ruined homes, or taken in and fed complete strangers, or taken on utility tasks that they'd never dreamed they could do. Women sacrificed their pots and pans, became Land Girls or worked in factories.... the two Princesses had even mingled with the crowds on VE Day...
-

Amongst the less well-off there had always been the need for "make do and mend" and "help your neighbour" and the war forced the well-off to do their bit.
A couple of examples: a millionairess (in those days) serving in a navy canteen (which, from other facts I guess was in southern Kent/East Sussex) ; she says that she couldn't understand the sailors who had come down from the Faeroes! Another lady learningf to use common plants and herbs from the roadsides (very effectively); her husband became Lord Lieutenant of a southern county. You mention the Royal Princesses mixing with the crown on VE day but omit to mention that the present Queen was an ambulance driver.
As for those who took others in, there were the good but there were also the bad who took advantage of the extra food coupons and money at the expense of their "guests"; there will always be the ugly side of life.

Though I didn't understand at the time I do remember being shown a V1 in the sky and a comment along the lines of "some poor person is going to get it" when the thing went quiet.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Sorry to raise the Myth about the pots and pans, to make aeroplanes------ They didn't, --- it was propagada to make us feel that we were contributing to the "War Effort"
The removal of lovely Cast Iron Victorian Railings and Gates ------- also didn't go to make Tanks !!


(Cast Iron ?)

[J.R.]

Sorry to raise the Myth about the pots and pans, to make aeroplanes------ They didn't, --- it was propagada to make us feel that we were contributing to the "War Effort"
The removal of lovely Cast Iron Victorian Railings and Gates ------- also didn't go to make Tanks !!


(Cast Iron ?)

'Del Boy's' Dad must have made a fortune !

[Angela Woodford]

NEILL, the point I was trying to make was not that pots and pans were used in any particular way; rather that people felt altruistic enough to donate them for the War Effort.

My mother always wore her dentures to bed in case there was an air raid - and that was in 1988!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

NEILL, the point I was trying to make was not that pots and pans were used in any particular way; rather that people felt altruistic enough to donate them for the War Effort.

My mother always wore her dentures to bed in case there was an air raid - and that was in 1988!

Yes, MY point was that propoganda is so insidious, that people were persuaded that they were helping to build Spitfires, when the whole isea was to make them feel better, and as you say --- altruistic.

Propoganda certainly didn't end after the War -------- we could start a new Topic on current examples !!