Page 90 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

We became aware of tremendous preparations in our own country.. something big was
afoot. At last it came - D-day 6th June 1944. That would mean more air-raids, we were
sure. But they did not happen, not immediately. We had not long to wait.. and when the
new attacks came, they took a novel form - pilot-less aircraft - the flying bomb! To our
shelters again, to our posts. Death, injuries, destruction.. by night and day. Our Armies
made extraordinary progress in France. Soon the flying bomb sites were cleared. We were
told, and believed, that the danger was over. But there was more to come... even worse!

We heard mysterious bangs, listened to explanations. "Home guard ammunition dumps
were blown up" - "gas mains had exploded" ....but we were sceptical and felt that the
enemy had some new horror for us. Soon we knew - the long-range rocket. These
awesome weapons began to fall here. Again we saw the damage they caused, and the loss
of life and terrible injuries. Without a fraction of warning they caused havoc.

But we carried on, confident that, although there seemed no defence against these terrible
weapons, something would happen, and it did. Our airmen smashed the rocket sites and
communications, and while this did not altogether stop the attacks, it certainly prevented
its development, as the enemy planned. The rockets came and wreaked their destruction,
until the great attack by our armies led to the over-running of the sites. The rocket attacks
ceased and within a few weeks the great deliverance had come ... the once mighty German
army disintegrated and collapsed.

Our part of Kent has been a little mirror of Southern England. We have suffered - how
grievously we have suffered! We have borne our share of all the horrors the enemy
unleashed upon this country - our scars and our sorrowing hearts bear witness to this
ordeal.

No medals for us... beyond our wounds. No reward beyond the consciousness that we
played our part. We did not give way under the strain. We carried on under great
tribulation. And we know now that we can claim to having contributed in no small way to
the final victory. And while we may be proud of our bearing in this conflict, we have no
arrogance. We are just profoundly thankful that the conflict is over. We remember and
honour those who have died at the hand of the enemy here in our home towns and in our
villages

We remember too our dear ones who have gone forth from our homes to fight the foe.. we
honour those who will not return. We share the grief of those who mourn. We remember
those who, notwithstanding long hours of exacting work, have taken their place in the
ranks of the Home Front service at night.. those who have stood by in the day-time, ready
for the call.. We remember those who, in their daily tasks, have helped us to carry our
burden. We remember the children, deprived by many ways of many of the delights of
childhood.

We remember, and perhaps honour as highly as any, the womenfolk, who have had their
own particular burden. They have contended with the problems of rationing.. they have
struggled to keep their homes together.. they have stifled their tears and smilingly waived
farewell to dear ones leaving to serve in the Forces...they have received their sad news, but
they have carried on. Notwithstanding the perils in the air and the sorrows of parting, not
only from those who have gone abroad but of those who, if only for a day, have gone to
work or school.

We salute and honour the people on the Home Front in this part of southern England."

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