Chronicle chief reporter Jack Tolson looks back on VE Day ...
HOW BARNSLEY RECEIVED GERMAN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
WITHIN six weeks of their last physical assault upon these islands by rocket, the Germans, with whom we have been at war five years, eight months and eight days, have surrendered unconditionally to Great Britain, the United States and Russia.
At one minute past midnight on Wednesday, with the formal cease fire on all fronts, the German Third Reich ceased its legal existence and the war in Europe came to an end.
The Prime Minister officially announced the end of the war in Europe by broadcast at 3pm on Tuesday, giving an account of the signing of the document and its implication.
After indicating that we may ‘allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing’, the Prime Minister emphasised that all our resources must now be concentrated on the defeat of Japan.
This statement was repeated in the House of Commons where Winston Churchill received a tremendous ovation.
Later from the Ministry of Health balcony he spoke to huge crowds saying ‘This is your victory’.
MORE BARNSLEY AND DISTRICT CAPTIVES HOME
AGAIN this week we record the joyous homecoming of many Barnsley and district men who have been captives in enemy prisoner of war camps and some have dreadful stories to tell of their treatment and particularly forced marches from camp to camp during which many of their comrades lost their lives.
All the returned prisoners pay a spontaneous tribute to the Red Cross for parcels regularly received and without which they probably would not have survived to reach home.
Pte Alec Dyson, son of Mr and Mrs Horace Dyson, of Royd Lane in Thurlstone, arrived home on Saturday morning after an absence of over five years, and for four years and ten months of which he has been a prisoner of war in Germany.
A warm welcome awaited him and the street was well bedecked with flags flown from his own home and those of neighbours.
VICTORY DAY IN BARNSLEY AND DISTRICT
THE Mayor addressing the crowd in front of the town hall said he did not want to appear a kill-joy, but he appealed to some of the more boisterous spirits to cease letting off fireworks as one person had suffered injuries to the eye.
After this no more squibs were exploded.
Cheers were raised as three individuals clad in underpants dived in a water tank.
They must have been home for they had brought towels with them.
The impersonator of Goring stood on the steps of the war memorial in an attempt to make a speech but was met by a barrage of squibs.
An American soldier produced a bottle of whisky, handed it to a soldier in the tank, passed it round, then flung the empty bottle into the tank, splashing many spectators standing around.
On Wednesday night many licensed houses in the town were closed through being sold out of beer.
