Life in the Army- Chapter 26

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Arthur Ward, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Refer to Chapter 1-- A4345544 -for links to other chapters.
LIFE IN THE ARMY

by
ARTHUR WARD

Chapter 26 — Peace Time in Italy and ‘V-E Day’ the End of the War in Europe

PEACE TIME IN ITALY
That night we had a big party. All the officers and Sergeants gathered in the Sergeants' Mess, we all became well and truly drunk. The wine appeared as if by magic and plenty of whiskey had been saved up for this day.

The sky was full of flares, rockets and Verey lights of all colours.

There were bonfires everywhere, we had captured some German trucks and we decided to set fire to one which had been used as an office. We dropped several matches into the open petrol tank but nothing happened until we decided to set fire to the papers inside. We had a smashing bonfire, we gathered round singing our heads off and the local people all joined in and were as happy as we were.

The locals had supplied most of the wine, but there must have been a method by some of them in this, as we realised that while we were all enjoying ourselves, some Italians were stealing some of the trucks which we had captured. When we found out some of us ran down to the vehicle park and ran after one truck, but they got away with it.

We went to bed happy with events and pleased to have a night without listening for planes, bombs, fire orders.

The most peaceful night for years.

May 03, 1945
We were given a whole day off. No duties at all, so the first thing was to organize some ground where we could play football. It took some getting used to, being so quiet. The birds were singing and life in the area seemed to be soon returning to normal.

May 04, 1945
Maintenance all morning.

Afternoon - football ‘E’ Troop 2 v ‘F’ Troop 1.

For the next few days we spent resting, maintenance, route marches, playing football, the usual parades and listening to the news about the war in Germany.

May 06, 1945
We heard on the wireless that the German forces in the North West had surrendered, so we had another celebration drink.

Played football ‘E’ Troop 2 v BHQ 0.

May 07, 1945
Went to a cinema in Ferrara renamed 'Rhino Ritz' (after 1st Armoured Division Sign).

May 08, 1945
8 MAY 1945 - VE DAY
We gathered round the wireless at 15:00 hours and heard the Prime Minister, - Winston Churchill announce the official END OF WAR IN EUROPE.

The Germans had taken unconditional surrender. Hitler was dead. So it was all over in Europe.

At 21:00 hours we heard the King George VI broadcast, then we had another party to celebrate and once again, the sky was lit up with flares, bonfires, Verey lights and rockets.

May 09, 1945
We had a Victory Church Parade and heard a speech from the Colonel.

He said our future was uncertain. We were staying in this area near Ferrara for a time. Hopes were for Blighty and possible demob, but the war in the Far East was still going on, so we may be needed there.

Later I went again to the Rhino Ritz in Ferrara.

May 10, 1945
Parades, route marches and maintenance took up most of our time.

May 11, 1945
I was in charge of a truck, and several men with L/Sgt Jack Butler and Sergeant Arnold Murcott, and we travelled via the River Po, Adige, Padua, Mestre to Venice. We left the truck at the railway station car park (this is where the road ends). Then we caught a water bus on the Grand Canal to St Marks Square. We had a good look round the square and the cathedral and the surrounding area. We found a good WO and Sergeants' Club which had a tea garden overlooking the Grand Canal.

We visited the shops and found souvenirs were quite reasonable. I had some films developed and I bought a snap album, beads, a brooch etc. We returned to the truck and all slept in the back. The next day we did the same again and the 2 days had been a change and 2 very enjoyable days. We returned the same route. At Padua we had passed the world famous university, which is a very large building fronting on to the main road. In Venice we had seen the Cafe in St Marks Square called Florians, and Jack Butler said, "We must have a coffee at Florians, it is world famous". The coffee was very expensive.

When we crossed the River Po we marvelled at how the troops had fought across it. It was the widest river we had seen in Italy and the railway bridge across had been blown up.

We crossed by a temporarily constructed bridge. We must have made a detour as we passed through Adige which is off the main road.

May 16, 1945
Visited the ENSA theatre at Ferrara and saw `Nervo & Knox' who were members of the `Crazy Gang'. It was a very good show.

The weather was now very sunny and hot. I was made Battery Sports Sgt which meant I had a lot of organizing to do.

We were getting into a general routine. PT in the morning, a siesta at midday then sports, usually football, in the afternoon. Then we had lectures on various subjects, amateur wireless, cobbling boots?!!! Ready for when we were demobbed.

May 18, 1945
There was an open air dance at Fox Troop and I think everyone in the area attended. Young Peepie, an 8 year old girl who lived on our farm, cut her foot and I had to carry her back to the farm (about 2 miles).

May 19, 1945
I left in an advance party in 15 cwt truck via Ferrara, Padua, Venice and Mestre to a village near Palma Nova called Fauglis.

We had moved here as there was trouble brewing in nearby Trieste, which was on the border of Italy and Yugoslavia. There had been plenty of trouble there in the past, and after the 1st World War, Italy had been given a piece of land belonging to Yugoslavia, and now that the Communist country was under Marshall Tito (who was on our side) and he wanted it back.

Things were very tense for a very long time, so the allies kept troops in the area in case things became worse. We thought, 'Oh No Not Again!!!'

We were billeted in a very large house, right in the centre of the village.

13th Corps were all moving to the area. Later in the week the remainder of the Battery arrived in the village.

May 23, 1945
We arranged a dance from 20:00 to 22:00 hours, but there were not many girls for the large number of soldiers.

I was voted on to a committee to organize dances with Arnold (Yorkie) Murcott from Bolton on Dearne, and I was still Sports Sergeant, so I looked like having a busy time.

Of course our days were changed now, as we had no need to keep up our gunnery training although we still had maintenance, polishing etc on the Sextons. They all shone like new pins now.

May 24, 1945
I went to a film show and saw `Heavenly Bodies'.

The large house we were in had a large barn type building, and upstairs we made it into our dance hall. The floor was not too good, but we were able to scrounge enough chairs for the number of people.

May 27, 1945
We organised a dance which was better than the last one.

Pr-BR

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