40
The Atom Bomb & VJ Day
The day after Japan
bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan, thus
joining the Allies in World War II. By April, 1942, Japan
was occupying the Philippines,
Indochina and Singapore. American troops dominated the fighting in the
Pacific, helping to avert further expansion of the imperialist Japanese empire.
 |
| Explosion of the atom bomb at Hiroshima, Aug. 6, 1945 |
The war in the Pacific continued
after the war in Europe ended, culminating with the United
States dropping two atomic bombs at Hiroshima,
Japan on August 6 and at Nagasaki on August 9,
1945, killing approximately 200,000 people.
Bournemouth, August 9,
1945
Dearest Helen,
The papers are full of the new invention, the atom
bomb and the damage it did to the city of Hiroshima.
I can’t see any argument to justify using it to kill 100,000 civilians, can
you? It’s just one step further to the end of civilization as we know it as far
as I can see. But I hope I’m wrong. I’d like a few years of peace with you
darling before we all get blown off the earth!
[Aug. 13] Well
darling, I suppose it’s just a matter of hours until there will be peace on
earth again for the first time in eight years. It doesn’t seem natural to know
that there isn’t a fight going on in some part of the world. I sure hope that
speeds up our return home. . .
Love,
Harry
With the devastation caused by the atomic bombs, the war in Japan ended on
August 15, 1945, commonly referred to as Victory over Japan Day or VJ Day. The official signing of the formal surrender
document took place on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay, Japan,
aboard the ship, the USS Missouri.
Bournemouth, VJ Day August 15, 1945 12:30 a.m.
Harry had been in bed for just an hour when he heard some
kids hollering and blowing noise makers down below their room on Christchurch Road.
He turned on the lamp and peered at the clock - 12:30 a.m. He thought it was
strange that kids would be out so late, then he realized - World War II was
finally over.
Smitty rushed in and told him
that the good news was broadcast at midnight.
“What an ungodly hour
– but I guess we better get over to the square,” Harry said, pulling on his
pants.
Once outside, they heard an
American dance band marching down the street playing “The Caissons* go Rolling
Along.”
Everyone started singing – “Over
hill, over dale, as we hit the dusty trail and those caissons go rolling
along.”
“The unofficial song of the US Army,” Smitty shouted over
the din.
Another
American band was perched on the roof of the bus depot, playing for the crowds
gathering around a huge bonfire in the square.
*Caisson - a chest to hold ammunition
Bournemouth, Aug. 15/45
V.J. Day 2 p.m.
Dearest Helen,
The war is over at last! It seems almost unbelievable
to me that factories won’t be making shells and guns any more and that men will
all be going home at last instead of setting out for battle fronts all over the
world.
Smitty
came in and just then an American dance band came marching down the street
playing “The Caissons go Rolling Along”, so sleep was out of the question and I
got up and we went down to the Square. There must have been at least a thousand
people there around a big bon fire built in the middle and the dance band was
up on the roof of a bus station going to it and giving out with plenty of jazz.
It was really an American celebration all the way. They had congo lines all
over the place and a baton twirler like I’ve never seen before. We hung around
until about 2 a.m. and then came home to bed.
We had to report at 10 a.m. this morning
but there was nothing for us to do except that the dance band is playing at the
Mess Hall (Winter Garden) to-night. I suppose we’ll be doing a big parade on
Sunday.
We
just live around the corner from where the WAAF [the Women’s Auxiliary Air
Force – the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force] is billeted and they have
the misfortune (?) to have a pub right in the same hotel. There’s a couple of
them drunk as lords carrying Union Jacks and shaking hands with everybody on
the street saying “We beat them again!” I guess you wonder why I’m not out
doing the same? Well, I just received your letter of 7th and 9th
this morning and I couldn’t feel any happier if I tried. Darling, the only
music and words I want to hear when I get off the train is your voice speaking
my name. I’ve dreamed of it so often it almost seems real sometimes sweet. I
know we must think of each other often at the same time darling because I
always seem to have you in my mind at all times. Yes, angel, our time will come
soon but we mustn’t get too anxious. Look who’s talking!
There’s no one more anxious to use my uniform
for a door mat than I am. My shirts were all in ribbons almost and Mrs.
Forster[his landlady] has just done a
fine job of patching them. The uniform is really a wreck too and is every
colour except blue. Do I worry? Not when I’m making $50 a week.
You
can close your eyes when I kiss you sweetheart but you won’t have to open them
to make sure I’m still there. I’ll be there all right, just as close as you
want me.
Well,
sweetheart, I’ve spent all afternoon with you again and now it’s time to clean
up and get tea. I hope everybody gets too drunk to dance any later than
12 tonight because if they don’t we’ll all have to play until 1 or 2.
All my love angel,
Harry
The Caissons Go
Rolling Along by Edmund Gruber
Over hill, over dale, as we hit
the dusty trail
And those caissons go rolling along!
In and out, hear them shout, Counter march and right about
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
In the storm, in the night, Action left or action right
See those caissons go rolling along!
Limber front, limber rear, Prepare to mount your cannoneer
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
Was it high, was it low, Where the hell did that one go?
As those caissons go rolling along!
Was it left, was it right, Now we won't get home tonight
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
*The SS Ile de France was a French ocean liner built after First World War which was used as a troop ship during the Second World War, then, once the war ended, brought the soldiers back.
starting in May, 1945 when the first boats began to arrive from England. The
returning soldiers expected on August 8, 1945 had come back on the Queen
Elizabeth ocean liner to New York City, then had
taken the train from there to Toronto.
Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here, lyrics by D. A. Esrom, music by Arthur Sullivan
And those caissons go rolling along!
In and out, hear them shout, Counter march and right about
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
In the storm, in the night, Action left or action right
See those caissons go rolling along!
Limber front, limber rear, Prepare to mount your cannoneer
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
Was it high, was it low, Where the hell did that one go?
As those caissons go rolling along!
Was it left, was it right, Now we won't get home tonight
And those caissons go rolling along!
Then it's hi, hi, hee, In the field artillery
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
Where'er you go, You will always know
That those caissons go rolling along!
41
Opening of the RCAF Wing at Queen
Victoria Hospital
at East Grinstead
Amidst the jubilation of victory were the reminders of the
horrible and tragic consequences of the war. The Queen Victoria Hospital at
East Grinstead, 43 km south of London, became world renowned for its treatment
of severely burned war victims, with innovative methods of reconstructive
plastic surgery developed by Dr. Archibald McIndoe. Patients were Allied Air
Force personnel burned while on duty as air crew. Plastic surgery on burn
victims was performed there from July 1944 on. No mirrors were allowed in the
hospital and the employees and citizens in the nearby towns were encouraged to treat
the patients as normally as possible to aid in their psychological recovery.
A new Royal Canadian Air Force
wing built by Royal Canadian engineers was officially opened at the hospital on
September 5, 1945.
* * *
The RCAF Personnel Reception Centre band had just marched 2
½ km from the town of East Grinstead
to the hospital. Lining up on the grounds of the facility, they were waiting
for the ceremonies to begin.
 |
| RCAF band marching to Queen Victoria Hospital |
“That was one of the longer parades we’ve done. All the way
from town out into the countryside,” moaned Bill.
“Did you know they
also want us to play a dance here tonight?” asked Harry.
“But we didn’t bring the dance music library,” said Smitty.
“Or the instruments.”
“Jim has gone back for the instruments, but as for the
music, we’ll have to wing it.”
“I guess that’s why they call us the air force band.” They
all groaned at that one.
“Lots of bigwigs here – Frederic Hudd, Acting High
Commissioner for Canada,
Air Marshall Johnson . . . “
“Look, there’s the chief surgeon, Sir McIndoe.”
The bandmembers watched as the
nurses in their white starched caps and uniforms wheeled out the patients who
were able to sit up, their heads swathed in bandages, some missing limbs.
“Poor fellows, I don’t think they’re going to care if we
don’t have our sheet music.”
“Shh – the speeches are starting.”
 |
| (left) Edward Blount, chairman of Queen Victoria Hospital |
After Air Marshall Johnson
officially handed over the wing, they filed in for supper, followed by the
dance. They were told not to react in any way to the patients’ severe injuries
or facial disfigurement.
Bournemouth, Sept. 7,
1945
Dearest Helen,
On Wednesday we went out to East
Grimstead on that hospital job I told you about. We marched from
the town to the hospital and back about three miles. The hospital is for
fellows with severe burns and needing plastic surgery. I’ve never seen more
horrible cases than were at that dance. One fellow had both ears burned off
also his nose and his whole face was a mass of scars. I don’t know how some of
them lived through it. I woke up in a sweat the next morning thinking about
them. The townspeople are warned not to stare at them as they [the patients]
are encouraged to walk around the streets as though there was nothing the
matter with them. We got back to London
at 4 a.m. on the back of a truck after a gruelling ride.
We went up to London on Tuesday and I went to the Beaver
Club and bought you a coin bracelet made out of threepenny bits. I hope you
like it.
Take
care of yourself darling.
All my love honey. x x x x x x Harry
42
When Will He Return?
The war in Europe had been
over for three months and Helen was becoming anxious to know when Harry would
return. In his letter of July 29, 1945 he said that he thinks he will be home
by Christmas, but that it all depended on the number of troops coming back, the
spaces available on the ships, and the point system where each person was given
a priority ranking – those with the most points went home sooner. Harry was
subject to the decisions of the officers in charge and did not really know for
sure.
Helen was having difficulty
keeping her spirits up.
Toronto, Aug. 4/45
My Own Darling Harry,
I was so happy
to receive yours of 29th today; it was a perfect letter, honey. I
just had to answer it tonight, but I haven’t very much to tell you. Gee! It
sounds more definite now as to when you’re coming. It’s so nice to think about
it; I’ve always been afraid to. If it’s just four more months, that isn’t so
long. Yes, it will be two years Monday since I’ve seen you; and I can still
feel you when I pretend! There’s something to it, I know that, darling, and I
know what you mean when you explain it.
[Aug.7/45] Well, honey, I hope you haven’t heard
anything to contradict that last report. If it’s true, we’re only about four
months apart, so don’t uncross those fingers. The Army Personnel from the Ile
de France*
arrived today and the R.C.A.F. tomorrow. Our Department [at the TTC]
chartered twelve buses to Hamilton
and outside points [i.e. where the ship
was docking]. They say Mayor Saunders has been down to meet every train so far
to welcome the boys. At first he had a long speech, but he’s gradually
shortening it. I haven’t been down to the Colliseum [where the troop trains are
coming in] yet.
 |
| SS Ile de France |
Love Helen
*The SS Ile de France was a French ocean liner built after First World War which was used as a troop ship during the Second World War, then, once the war ended, brought the soldiers back.
Canadian National
Exhibition, August 1945
The annual Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto was suspended from 1942 to 1946, as
the Department of National Defence used the buildings for troop training and
demobilization.
Veterans had been gathering at
the Coliseum
 |
| The CNE's Coliseum was a depot for returning troops |
*
* *
The noise was deafening in the Coliseum as thousands of people
filled the seats, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their loved ones. Others,
such as Helen and her cousin Georgie, were there as supporters to welcome the
battalions home.
Now that she was actually there,
Helen wasn’t sure it had been such a good idea to come. All she could think
about was when Harry would return. However, she tried to put on a happy face
and take part in the good cheer surrounding her.
Relatives were holding up
“Welcome Home” signs, and the band struck up with “Hail Hail the Gang’s All
Here.” A roar erupted when the soldiers marched in to the huge arena.
Toronto, Aug. 9/45
Darling Harry
They finally persuaded me to go down to the Coliseum
last night honey, and what excitement there was! An Air Force Band played when
the 800 airmen marched in. They dropped their bags, looked around for their
section, and lost no time in finding their relatives. You see the seats are
divided with letters of the alphabet and the people seat themselves
accordingly. It was a grand sight, but I knew I’d feel funny – you know exactly
how I stood there spellbound. Our turn must come – it must. I see where they
expect a slow-up again in repatriation, but they should crowd you in somewhere.
Imagine some of them spending their seventh Christmas there – they shouldn’t be
asked to bear that.
Aug. 16/45 Lynn [her friend] said she heard today they were transferring
two big boats to the European run – that may speed things up a little. It takes
time for all these changes though.
All my love, Helen
Hail, hail, the gang's all here
What the heck do we care
What the heck do we care
Hail, hail, the gang's all here
What the heck do we care now
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