Anything I know about the war is what my mum and dad told me in May 1995 when it was the 50th anniversary of VE DAY, I decorated for a party where I worked and wrote this poem:
50 years ago the war came to an end
There was street parties, joy, laughter and tears
Everyone was everyone's friend
Remembering what they'd been through
Years thirty nine to forty five
They had spirit, guts and strength
It was hard to just survive
The loss of life, the bombings
Folks had to move away
The ration books, the starving
Would they see another day?
There'll always be an England
It kept them smiling through
Dig for Victory, waste not want not
Mend it, patch it, "it'll do"
Rabbit pie, lentil soup and braised liver
Menus you might just see
But rations were very limited
One egg a month for tea!
Evacuation for little children
To the country out of the way
Some went abroad to be safer
While others in Nottingham did stay
Blackouts and air raid precautions
Everyone had to muck in
Collecting saucepans to make spitfires
Winning the war was everything
To fly the Union Jack, red white and blue to see
We are proud of those who fought for us
To bring us Victory
Everyone who played a part in the war
Has a story to tell of how they were poor
How they struggled to keep us free
They did their best for you and me
At the time I wrote this I was only forty four but my mum and dad helped in the war
They've passed away now but had stories to tell
Of death and destruction "a living hell" - life's easy now you have to agree
Life was lost to save you and me
50 years ago the war came to an end
There was street parties, joy, laughter and tears
Everyone was everyone's friend
Remembering what they'd been through
Years thirty nine to forty five
They had spirit, guts and strength
It was hard to just survive
The loss of life, the bombings
Folks had to move away
The ration books, the starving
Would they see another day?
There'll always be an England
It kept them smiling through
Dig for Victory, waste not want not
Mend it, patch it, "it'll do"
Rabbit pie, lentil soup and braised liver
Menus you might just see
But rations were very limited
One egg a month for tea!
Evacuation for little children
To the country out of the way
Some went abroad to be safer
While others in Nottingham did stay
Blackouts and air raid precautions
Everyone had to muck in
Collecting saucepans to make spitfires
Winning the war was everything
To fly the Union Jack, red white and blue to see
We are proud of those who fought for us
To bring us Victory
Everyone who played a part in the war
Has a story to tell of how they were poor
How they struggled to keep us free
They did their best for you and me
At the time I wrote this I was only forty four but my mum and dad helped in the war
They've passed away now but had stories to tell
Of death and destruction "a living hell" - life's easy now you have to agree
Life was lost to save you and me