These were Ted's words from India on the momentous occasion of VE Day:
'I suppose there are events in everyone’s life that at one time or another prove to be a milestone or turning point for no better reason than intuition; speaking for myself, yet another has been added. The news that came over the air yesterday morning at 7.30, news which we had been anticipating for so long and yet somehow still left us wondering whether it was really true. Not that there was any doubt in our minds (oh dear, no!) but the anti-climax meant so much to us that one thought alone was insufficient to cover the multitude of thoughts concerning our loved ones at home. Indeed, the reaction is altogether a most complicated one and what with the war with Japan being lengthened by one day in celebration (today we are ‘off’) the importance of events is to some extent anyway, brought home.
At 7.30 last night or as Big Ben chimed his third stroke in London, we listened to Churchill’s speech. A small radio in the middle of a large tent was the centre of attraction, surrounded by a mass of cheery but sweating faces. As if the radio apprehended the importance of the situation, it behaved perfectly and all but Churchill’s slightly distorted voice could be heard. True it wasn’t flowery in its eloquence or boastful in its message, but the sober account of the Treaty was spoken, I thought not without a certain feeling. For him I am sure it was the greatest moment of his life – of any man’s life to convey a message that was the breath of life to suffering humanity.'
'I suppose there are events in everyone’s life that at one time or another prove to be a milestone or turning point for no better reason than intuition; speaking for myself, yet another has been added. The news that came over the air yesterday morning at 7.30, news which we had been anticipating for so long and yet somehow still left us wondering whether it was really true. Not that there was any doubt in our minds (oh dear, no!) but the anti-climax meant so much to us that one thought alone was insufficient to cover the multitude of thoughts concerning our loved ones at home. Indeed, the reaction is altogether a most complicated one and what with the war with Japan being lengthened by one day in celebration (today we are ‘off’) the importance of events is to some extent anyway, brought home.
At 7.30 last night or as Big Ben chimed his third stroke in London, we listened to Churchill’s speech. A small radio in the middle of a large tent was the centre of attraction, surrounded by a mass of cheery but sweating faces. As if the radio apprehended the importance of the situation, it behaved perfectly and all but Churchill’s slightly distorted voice could be heard. True it wasn’t flowery in its eloquence or boastful in its message, but the sober account of the Treaty was spoken, I thought not without a certain feeling. For him I am sure it was the greatest moment of his life – of any man’s life to convey a message that was the breath of life to suffering humanity.'