VIRGINIA 

By Jane Scoggins 

Soon after the beginning of the war in 1939 Eva began working in the munitions factory. It was a tiring repetitive and boring job and Eva hated it. But she knew she had to support the war effort as best she could, and with the factory nearby in Willesden where they lived, she knew this was how best she could play her part.  But in 1942 the factory was targeted by German bombers and very badly damaged. It had been shocking to think the workers could have been in the building at the time. Eva moved to a smaller factory in Kilburn that was not so easily identified as making electrical equipment. It was just as boring repetitive work and Eva was constantly afraid of bombing. Her husband Michael was away in the army fighting Germans in France. She prayed each day for his survival and homecoming when at last this wretched war was over.  She heard very little from him. The occasional letter from him was precious. She had developed a nervous disposition and her only joy and comfort though these past years was their daughter Ruth who tried her best to keep her spirits up when she became melancholy, as she often did. Winston Churchill had the job of keeping the country's spirits up with his frequent updates. The radiogram was permanently tuned into the news. When Ruth returned home each evening from her job as a telephonist and secretary at the Ministry of Works she would retune the radio to music if she could find a station that was operating. She too often felt very down, worrying about her mother’s low mood and the absence of her father. At nineteen she felt the weight of family responsibility on her shoulders. Added to that was the recent news that her aunt had received a letter saying her husband, Eva’s brother, was missing in action. During the last year there had been numerous friends and neighbours who had similar news of their menfolk badly injured on the frontline or killed in action. Eva and Ruth put on a brave face for each other but inside they both felt stressed and exhausted by the lives they were living, and both felt the absence of  Michael very difficult. Every time the warning siren went off they hurried to a neighbours Anderson shelter until the noise of the shelling was over and the ARP gave the all clear. Sometimes there had not been time to get to the Anderson shelter and they had crawled under the kitchen table and clung to each other and prayed. Houses nearby had been damaged by the bombing but so far their terraced house had survived with only minimal fallout damage. Life seemed to be lived on a knife edge, and with rationed food and poor fitful sleep, things were a struggle for them, and everyone else in their community. How much longer will this war go on they thought every day.

 And then on Tuesday May 8^th 1945, a day they would all remember. Came the news from Winston Churchill that Hitler and the Germans had conceded defeat and the war was over. The joy, the relief, the tears and the unbelievable exhilaration was on everyone lips, in every house and street. Ruth and Eva heard the news at work and like so many were given the rest of the day off to go and celebrate with family and friends. By the time they got home there were already plans afoot for a street party, and everyone was dragging tables and chairs outside and playing music. Mrs Moss had brought out her accordion and Mr King, who had a leg amputated due to shrapnel injuries was helped outside by his wife to sit on a chair and play his fiddle.  By mid afternoon youngsters in their late teens were talking about going into central London where there was celebrating going on in and around Trafalgar Square. At first, Ruth wasn't sure she wanted to go and leave her mother, but Eva gave her the encouragement she needed, and seeing her mother looking happy and relaxed for the first time in years she decided to go. Leaving her mother chatting to neighbours and drinking tea, Ruth and an old schoolfriend linked arms and set off down Kilburn High Road hoping to get a lift or a bus for at least part of the way. Crowds of joyful people were everywhere and it took some time to reach Marble Arch. But Ruth and Ann couldn't have cared less how long it took. Young men and girls chatted freely and pubs opened their doors. By the time they reached Trafalgar Square, it was late afternoon. The weather was mild and everyone was so happy, it was infectious. Ruth and Ann chatted to anyone and everyone and were offered swigs from champagne bottles and sips of all sorts of alcoholic beverages. Neither were used to alcohol so they were soon relaxed and linking arms with those around them singing loudly. At some point, they became separated and Ruth found herself chatting to a young man in naval uniform. Within minutes they were swept along towards the Mall and down towards Green Park. Once there they sat down under one of the statues to catch their breath. They exchanged names, and Ray produced a small bottle of rum from his pocket and offered it to Ruth. Ruth had not tasted Rum before so was apprehensive, but took a sip and decided it was quite nice. She was intrigued by Ray and thought him handsome and polite. Ray in turn thought that Ruth was pretty and charming. Ray told her his ship was a destroyer providing support for mine laying and anti-aircraft protection. They had suffered some losses and experienced some hairy moments. He was glad to be back on dry land. They took turns sipping from the bottle of rum, chatting and enjoying each other's company. When Ray leaned over to kiss Ruth she reciprocated readily and was so happy she almost felt she could fall in love. When dusk fell they walked hand in hand through the park, bought a sandwich and beer, and joined in with the dancing and singing all around them. Everyone was tipsy and enjoying the freedom and relief that the news of the end of the six long years of war had brought that day. Ray and Ruth did not want to be parted so they spent the night in the park, cuddled up wanting these wonderful feelings to last and last. They fell asleep in each other's arms with the sounds of people singing, ‘We’ll Meet Again, Don’t Know Where Don’t Know When’, and ‘There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover’. And then with more kisses and cuddles they parted, but not before Ray had scribbled his Mother’s neighbour's telephone number, up north somewhere, on a scrap of paper for her in the hope that they would meet again someday. Ruth returned to Willesden and Ray to wherever he had been told to meet his other ship mates. For both of them it had been the best, and most memorable time of their lives. They felt a weight had been lifted and happiness was back in their lives.

Nine months later baby Virginia Eva was born. Ruth did not for one minute regret her liaison with Ray. Sadly having lost the scrap of paper with the telephone number Ruth never saw Ray again and in due course met and married another handsome young man. Victory in Europe would be forever celebrated, and marked each year since then. Everyone on that day had their own special memories Happy 80^th VE day to all those veterans still here and with memories to share.

 

Copyright Jane Scoggins