I quickly said: ‘Well that is over. Japan has surrendered’ quite dispassionately and unemotionally. I do not think that I quite realised myself just what I was saying. I do know that I was convinced that it was the Emperor speaking. Things moved quickly after that. The guards forgot to come and let us out for the afternoon, and as it was in the 80’s our spokeswoman went to enquire at the office, and the guard came and let us all out with no roll call. In the compound we looked across at the men, a punishable offence, and there were no guards, and the men were all making V signs.
Then suddenly the Greek cook shouted across to me in Greek, and said he had orders to prepare two extra boiled potatoes for each prisoner in addition to the bread ration. And it was that evening for the first time for the past two years, I ate my full meal, rather than keeping something back for my son aged 14 years. Next morning whilst I was bending over getting my last tin of bully beef out for my son to celebrate, I felt a strong pair of arms around me from the back, and I was kissed as I have never been kissed before. It was Michael..... he had come over from the men’s camp to tell me that Fred Garner had translated the paper that morning as usual in the lavatory, with two men keeping guard outside, and he confirmed that the miracle had indeed happened and Japan had surrendered. Later that morning Capt. Stratford went as usual to the Commandants office. He asked for news of the war, the political situation and whether he had anything to report to us. The Commandant said there was no news. But Stratford held his ground, and said the men were in an ugly mood and he could not accept such an answer, as they too had listened to the special broadcast and they realised it significance. The Commandant then picked up the telephone and talked to his superiors, and finally told Capt. Stratford that the Chief of Police would come and address the camp at noon that day.
He duly came and told us that the Cease Fire had taken force from midnight, and that Japan had come to an understanding with the Allies. He also pointed out that this was the first time in history that Japan had ever been defeated in War, and that though we were technically free, he would advise us not to go out of the camp immediately as he could not foresee the reaction of the people to foreigners in their midst. To emphasise this point, he doubled the guards outside the walls of the camp for the first few days. We were at last free people again, with our rights, our dignity respected and restored. There was kissing, handshaking , laughter and tears and the children were bewildered by it all . ‘Why are you crying now when you have not wept like this for three years ?’ asked Michael. ‘It s all over now’. Yes it is over, but what an ordeal to have had to go through. What an effort to keep alive, not to give in, and what a fight for your life, your ideals, your morals, and your whole future attitude to life. It had been a grave responsibility on my shoulders, entirely dependant on me to pull us both through, but we had done it together!”
