The Mary Churchill diaries: ‘How can I ever describe the crowds – or their welcome to Papa'
Mary’s battery departs for Belgium on January 25 and takes up a position in the countryside outside Brussels, before moving in mid-April to Antwerp. Events move quickly and she is well placed to observe the final phase of the war in Europe, recording the Allied crossing of the Rhine and the deaths of President Roosevelt and Hitler. The mood of the diary lifts and the social engagements proliferate as the peace approaches. She is awarded the MBE.
On VE Day in May, Mary’s celebrations in Brussels are followed by an urgent request to join her father in London, Clementine being away in the Soviet Union because of her work chairing the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund. She accompanies Churchill to some of the celebrations but records his worry and weariness in the moment of victory.
Sunday, January 7 1945
During the last fortnight the battle has waxed & waned & now rages again. We are all prepared & longing to get going. Battery life – battery problems and battery gossip is super-imposed on everything.
Last Wednesday – I forget the date [3 January] I went up to lunch with Mummie & Papa – but again I missed him. He left me a letter, written in his own handwriting – I was overcome with love & gratitude – he needn’t – he is so so busy & preoccupied. He thanked me for the G/S operas – he’d liked them. If he only knew how happy & glorious I feel that they have made him happy. It will join the other letter he wrote me – the week I joined up. To me they are a sort of ‘Talisman’.
Thursday, January 25
Woke up with that warm, expectant feeling. Breakfast – fried egg, bacon, toast & raspberry jam. Finished packing & tidying up. Kit is very heavy & tiring to carry. We set off at 08.45 – marching through snowy icy roads to the station. Singing – “Tipperary” – “Pack Up Your Troubles”. 3 hour icy train journey to Tilbury. Passed W9 – wouldn’t be them for anything. Changed money. Girls had tea & sandwiches & then were hustled on board to make way for incoming prisoners of war. I could not resist as I passed giving them a look of what I intended them to interpret as triumphant loathing – But I fear – & how just – it probably made me look a discontented, served up fat ATS officer – comparing on the whole unfavourably with Hitler’s Rhine Maidens.
Once on board ATS thronged onto the decks. They looked – smart – excited – gay and smiling. I could not help feeling proud to be there with them – and as we moved away from the quayside we sang “Auld Lang Syne”. Red caps – naval officers – WRENS waved us off. Conditions on board are not too bad, & as good as they can be. Everything is very much under control and well organised. There was a small dance in the evening. After the girls were in bed I went up on the bridge & the 1st Lt & officer of the watch treated me to tea & naval chit chat. Rather chilly night.
Letter from Montgomery to Mary, February 11
My dear Mary, I had lunch in London last week with your Father & Mother and heard of your arrival in 21 Army Group. I am sending Noel Chavasse, one of my ADCs, to visit you and make certain all is well. I am also sending by him a present for your Battery of a case of Bovril and 10,000 cigarettes. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
I hope your Battery is shooting down the flying bombs. Yrs sincerely, B L Montgomery
Monday, March 26
During the last two days I’ve had some lovely long letters from Mummie written in her gayest and most entertaining style. My flowers reached her in time and she writes that they are beautiful, “I love them not only because of their beauty but because they represent your dear love for me which warms and enriches my whole life.” Darling, darling Mummie, I can never tell you, how much your love and tenderness, with Papa’s, have made my life overflow with happiness.
Maundy Thursday, March 29
The news continues to be quite extraordinary. Everyone is saying “it’s over” – oh God, grant it may be so.
Thursday, April 12
Just after midnight. Sam, the Major & I have just heard that the President is dead. God rest his soul. What an incalculable loss. What a triumphant life.
Friday, April 13
Busy day. Problems & parades . . . About 11 a despatch rider appeared with a letter from Papa telling me I’d got the MBE. Surprise made me almost hysterical.
Saturday, April 28
Wetter & colder. Germany has offered to capitulate to England & US only – what a nerve. Letter from Papa asking me to go to Picture Exhibition for him in Paris. Oh how wonderful to have a chance to do something for him.
Wednesday, May 2
Hitler 'on dit' is dead – so what? But the German armies in Italy have surrendered – thank God. Really the crescendo of news is breathtaking. In contrast to the general tenor of world events I spent the afternoon searching for hair ribbon.
Monday, May 7
Lovely day. Every news bulletin told us the announcement of victory would come at any minute. At about half past six it was announced that Germany had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies early this morning. It is such a beautifully calm evening after the winds & rains of the last week. I am feeling quite stunned. The war is over – I can’t quite grasp it.
Tuesday, May 8
VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY
Left Deurne [Antwerp] in a cloudburst – which had cleared by the time we had got to Brussels. The whole city is bedecked with flags. As the morning passed by the streets became fuller of people. By the afternoon there were vast crowds walking all over the place – every car & jeep was overloaded with children & grownups too clinging to the roof & sides. They were quiet crowds on the whole – with a sort of dazed, happy look.
The King’s voice came over calm and clear – he spoke of God’s guidance – of the dead – of victory – of the future. I stood quite still – and tried to make my stubborn, dulled consciousness accept & realise that the war is over – that the day we have schooled ourselves not to dwell upon – lest in gazing ahead we should falter in our path – that the day of deliverance had come. Then we trooped back to the restaurant & finished a luscious dinner – I wrote a note to Papa for some kind friend who is going to London to take.
We walked through the crowded streets to the Grande Place – what a sight – floodlighting, music, bells, but above all, people. Thousands of them – friendly, jostling, thankful crowds. Some were dancing – others, mostly the children, were leading wild farandoles around the square. Occasionally moving pyramids of people would make their way through the throng – somewhere at the bottom of the pyramid was a car or a jeep.
About half past twelve we took our leave & walked back to the Splendide – once inside I found Col Galloway there with a message to say I am to go to London tomorrow. At first I was enraged & shocked – at the unwisdom & unsuitability of such a thing & then the Col said “Don’t be so selfish” – & then my heart’s desire & the thought of Papa having remembered me – having wanted me – left me only with the longing to be at his side & to hell with everything else.
Went to bed at 2.30 – feeling ‘tomorrow’ will never come soon enough.
Wednesday, May 9
VE +1
Flew home to England & gazed with love & happiness once again – first on the white cliffs gleaming across that unbelievably narrow channel & then on the well-known countryside & then Croydon & at last the annexe & Papa in his dressing gown with open arms. He had waited lunch for me. He had his on a tray in bed. I, at his feet. I just had time to titivate before Papa set out with me in in tow to pay diplomatic calls at the Embassies.
How can I ever describe the crowds – or their welcome to Papa as he made his way through London. Escorted only by 4 mounted police to clear a pathway through the streets and a few despatch riders. It has all been told – I shall never forget it – nor can I express my pride & joy at the sight of Papa being so received. How wonderful he has been – how wonderful he is now. For it is he who is striking the note of just restraint. “Retribution & justice must be done – but in the words of Edmund Burke ‘I cannot . . . frame an indictment against a whole people’.”
Diana & Duncan came to dinner. We listened to a wonderful radio programme about Papa. Then Tommy came to say there was a large crowd in Whitehall. So Duncan, Diana & I bolted ahead & got a good place in the crowd – & we & everyone else bellowed happily when dear Papa appeared. He was charming – tender & gay. Then he finally recited a verse from Rule Britannia & we all responded with gusto that Britons never – never – never shall be slaves.
We dashed to the Palace & were not too late – the King & Queen – she resplendent in white & a diamond tiara appeared – & we all yelled with happiness & pride. The flood lighting is too lovely – the city is transfigured. The crowds are vast, happy and unbelievably controlled. Papa in the midst of national victories & personal triumphs suddenly looks old & deflated with emotion, fatigue & a heartbreaking realisation of the struggles yet to come.
Copyright in the diaries © The Beneficiaries of the literary estate of Mary Soames and The Master, Fellow and Scholars of the Churchill College, Cambridge
Selection and editorial contribution © Emma Soames
Editorial contribution © Churchill Archives Centre
Extracted from Mary Churchill’s War by Emma Soames, published on September 16 (RRP £20). Pre-order now for £16.99 at books.telegraph.co.uk or call 0844 871 1514
You can read the first extract here and the second extract here
Emma Soames will be talking about Mary Churchill’s War at 7pm on Wednesday September 22 at Heckfield Place in Hampshire (heckfieldplace.com/the-assembly)
