June 1944 and VE Day

WAR NOTES FROM DURGAN, A SMALL COVE ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE HELFORD RIVER IN CORNWALL

PREPARATIONS FOR 6TH JUNE 1944

We were a close-knit little community of 18 cottages here at Durgan, on the North bank of the Helford River in Cornwall. Did anyone know of our existence? Probably not, but we were in the next cove to Trebah Beach, where American troops embarked for Omaha in 1944, and we had a bird’s eye view of the construction of the jetty needed for the task.

One summer’s evening, my friend’s and I were playing on the beach as usual, when we saw four aircraft skimming up the river. It looked a fine sight to childish eyes, but the spectacle of enemy aircraft firing on the jetty-builders and a fishing boat, The Nazarine, scared our parents. Several local books on the period record other people’s memories of this incident — where they were and what they saw etc. It’s just like the pieces of a jig-saw being put together.

V.E. DAY 1945

We had our own V.E. Day Party two days after the official day, 8th May. It was held in the schoolroom on the Quay — our large “village hall” with its enormous open fireplace for roaring log fires.

The children were sent off to Glendurgan Gardens (now a National Trust property) and nearby hedges to pick flowers and shrubs; then had to go from door-to-door begging for empty jam jars to use as vases.

Teenagers created the decorations, both inside and outside on the Quay.

The menfolk re-arranged the furniture.

The housewives were busy at home, making cakes, etc with the meagre rations they had been storing for the occasion.
The Sandford family — the only family in the cove to have their own transport (a small van belonging to Mr Sandford’s employer, Murt’s the Electrical Engineers) — had driven to Helston for the Furry Dance on the Saturday and returned with yards of red, white and blue ribbon. Every girl’s hair was tied up with ribbon for the party, with the remainder being used to decorate the hall.

The party went on all afternoon and evening, spilling out onto the Quay and culminating with a bonfire and fireworks on the beach.

We had much to celebrate; all the men who served in the Forces returned safely. Not like the First World War, when three village lads didn’t come home from France.

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