CELEBRATING THE END OF THE WAR

Betty   

After six long years of war the celebrations were wonderful on VE. Day (Victory in Europe, 8th May 1945). Relatives, friends and neighbours laughed and cried, hugging each other in jubilation and relief Impromptu street parties sprang up. Anyone who played an instrument played music and people danced with joy and abandonment.

THE VICTORY PARADE

On V.E. Day my pals and I rejoiced that Victory in Europe had come joyously, we all expressed our feelings and danced and sang behind all the Shotts hands who played and paraded the streets - Dykehead Silver, Shotts RC Silver and Caledonia Pipe Bands. In the evening, many people returned to their respective places of worship to give thanks to God for His help and guidance during the war.

At I 0.30pm on VE. Day, Shotts held a Victory Parade when approximately 4000 people were led by the Pipe Band to Baton Colliery. I remember the Victory Bonfire being lit by the under manager, Mr. Tom Eyre, and the Victory Speech being made by Mr. W.B. Stewart, an official of Shotts Iron Company. More speeches were made by other officials, and songs were sung by various members of the audience. In the colliery grounds, we reeled to the music of the Pipe Band, who later played the people home through the streets. Decorated with V-signs, the street lamps were illuminated for the first time in six years; the blackout was over, at last. This was indeed a happy time. I can recall my pals and I did not get home till after 3.30am. I received a cuff about the ears for being out so late. Seemingly, the end of the war was no excuse for being out late, but it was well worth it.

Betty   

Nevertheless, in spite of such elation, people were aware that war still raged in the Far East where brave young men were still fighting the power of Japan. On August 14th 1945 the Japanese surrendered unconditionally, following atomic bombs being dropped on the large cities, Hiroshima and Natzasaki. the newsreel footage of the might of these bombs, the devastation and destruction left in their wake, sent a chill

down my spine. The pictures at’ Uuchenwald and Auschwitz Concentration camps, being liberated some months previously were heart rending. I found myself wondering how human beings could tolerate inflicting such evil atrocities on one another. Perhaps, I thought, a form of masochistic madness had taken over the world for six years. For weeks prior to the surrender, bonfires had been prepared on pit bings. These were lit on Vi. Night (Victory in Japan, 15th August, 1945). Again people gathered together to sing and dance. The sheer relief and abundant joy, was apparent on all the faces there. Yet women mourned husbands or sons who had died. Equally frustrating was the knowledge that those held as Prisoners of War would not be returned to their homes, possibly for months.

WELCOME HOME DANCES

Cathie   

Many social evenings were held in the Miners’ Welfare hail, especially in the middle ‘40s, when the Shotts young men who had been taken prisoner during the war were allowed home. Some of the local housewives baked and catered for maybe twenty people, helped by many others who donated a little sugar, butter etc. from their own meagre rations of food. These, the housewife would pack into her large washing basket together with her own crockery, table linen, etc.

Sometimes called Basket Dances the local band usually played for free. These were great evenings, and most of the talented Shotts entertainers performed between intervals at the dance. We paid 2/6d (I 2.5p) admission. We also played our part in helping to carry the heavy baskets out of the vans and setting the tables in the hail. The young men, ex-POWs were there as Guests of Honour. I think they were presented with the money raised that evening, including the raffle money. Many more fund raising dances were held in the other halls. Daffodil Teas were organised by the various church guilds. There were Tramps’ Suppers where the tables were set with newspapers and candles stuck in beer bottles. We dressed up as tramps, and the best tramp won a prize. The takings were donated to charities such as the Infirmaries Appeal and the Red Cross.

Next, the Caledonia Pipe band took over, and the new MP was carried shoulder high in front of the band. The victory music of the pipes sounded, and thousands of supporters followed behind while Miss Herbison was piped home. As she entered her home she was greeted by her mother and brothers. Again she thanked her supporters who had secured her victory. Some of her officials sang The Red Flag. She paid tribute to the dedication of her late father and other socialist pioneers in Shotts.

Peggy Herbison MP