Living History

When the war ended

My mother had me in 1941. We lived in a small timber house in Hobart. My father worked down at the docks. I can remember the celebrations of the end of the Second World War, even though I was only a child of four years old. I recall the main street of Hobart on that day. There was streamers everywhere and people playing music, and just basically unplanned entertainment and fun everywhere. You could tell that there was a huge release within the community and even though I was only a child I could sense that something horrible had just ended and that the celebrations were well deserved.

It was only later as I grew up that I learnt to understand the seriousness of war and how many people couldn’t celebrate on that day because they had lost loved ones. There can be no denying that the despair and joy of wars end was a crucial part of the 1940’s, and stands out in my memory that is for sure.

Elsie, Ringarooma, Tasmania

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