“They never talked about it”

The ceremony in Rye to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day saw local families remembering their fathers’ wartime service in the Far East. There were tears and silent moments as relatives recalled how little they knew about the conditions they faced during the second world war.

“My father didn’t talk about it until he became a Chelsea pensioner for the last ten years of his life,” said Susan Hassall who was wearing the medals awarded to her father Douglas. “He was captured in Singapore and was a POW for just over three and a half years. I’ve never worn these medals before and I feel really emotional about it. I’ve been in tears watching the coverage on TV and at this service too.”

Holding his diary, Isabel Ryan remembered her father, the artist John Ryan. “In 1943, he went with the First Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment to Burma where he took part in the campaigns on the Arakan peninsula and Ramree Island. He was badly wounded in 1944 and spent the rest of the war in India. He very seldom spoke about the war.”

Along with her brother Christopher, she read an excerpt from the diary on August 10 1945 at the Rye VJ 80 service. “Tonight, I feel curiously empty. The Japanese government has asked for peace. They will probably get it. Thank god for peace at last (and I am alive!). But now that the preoccupation of actual conflict is gone, all the possible terrors of the future come more vividly forward. […]. Two bombs have been sufficient to end a war. Can it end all war or must we have more and perhaps final demonstration of this monstrous force. […]. But it is impossible to think ahead – depressing though to think of all those who will be killed tonight, and until peace is properly made.”

The conflict was reflected in the John Ryan’s artwork. Isabel and Christopher have shared two pieces with Rye News. The first is of John Ryan himself, painted by a fellow patient called Brittain while both were recovering from wounds in hospital in India in 1944.

The second is this dramatic watercolour by John Ryan from shortly after his repatriation in 1945.

Carol Valentine also remembered her father Douglas who witnessed the bombing of Nagasaki and was repatriated in 1947. “Mum always told us that he went away soft and came back hard. He was tough but he never opened up about it at all. You can understand why can’t you? They saw some horrendous things but they are the forgotten army now. I remember VJ Day every year and I’m so pleased they’re doing something here in Rye today. There’s not many of them left now, but they were very, very brave men.”

Image Credits: James Stewart , Isabel Ryan , John Ryan .