NIGHT WE GOT PLASTERED - We were living at Toft Hill, a village near Bishop Auckland. Dad, who was a miner, mam, myself and two brothers.

Like a lot of property in those days we had an outside loo (an earth closet) known as the nettie.

On VE night there were fireworks going off all around. Nothing like today's spectacular events. However, they were exciting and a welcome relief from five years of blackout and air raid warnings.

Because of the celebrations we were allowed to stay up later.

Around 9pm we had decided to come in and there was a huge bang. Dad said: "Gosh, I thought the war was over."

We dashed outside into the back yard to be met by roof tiles flying about. My middle brother and his pal stood like ghosts covered in white, which was actually the whitewash and plaster from the nettie walls.

What transpired was they had been endeavouring to make some sort of fireworks from carbine, which was a substance used in miners' lamps, and it had gone horribly wrong.

They were in serious trouble and were sent immediately to bed. They were lucky.

The same night in a similar incident a boy lost his finger at Evenwood. - Les Sams, Newton Aycliffe.

UNDER THE TABLE

I was only a child during the Second World War but can remember being carried by my mother from my bedroom to the downstairs living room and - still held by my mother - sheltering under the table as a German plane flew over our neighbourhood.

We stayed sheltered like that until we could hear the enemy plane no more.

I also remember attending our village street party to celebrate victory and seeing public lighting switched on for the first time since the war to signal the end of the blackout.

Though only a boy at the time, I was aware and felt very proud that we had won the war. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

MEMORIES FLOOD BACK

CONGRATULATIONS on your publication of the VE Day souvenir supplement, which will have brought back memories for many.

Readers will have noticed that, after more than five years of war with enormous loss of life, a vicious dictator was finally eliminated.

Not a mention in the entire front page of any bereaved parent proposing to take legal action against the government for the loss of their loved one.

Not a mention of anti-American propaganda.

How things have changed in 60 years. - Frank Robson, Darlington.

SO PROUD

HAVING lived in Australia for 38 years I always enjoy coming back to England and visiting my 91-year-old mother.

I love to start the day with a long walk and to purchase The Northern Echo on my way back. I then sit with my breakfast and enjoy a good read. My favourite is Sharon Griffiths, who can bring tears and great laughter in one article.

However my letter is not about her column but to comment on the recent death of Guardsman Wakefield. My deepest sympathy to Miss Toward for the loss of her husband, and father of her two children. Unfortunately, in war there are deaths.

We have to remember that politicians make decisions that aren't always popular but necessary for the future and welfare our country.

Also, when her husband enlisted, he knew full well that death could be a consequence of being in the armed forces. It is not a game.

We are remembering 60 years since the finish of the Second World War, in which many thousands of young men died so that we today are able to enjoy freedom to live our lives without fear and to be able to protest about issues that concern us.

If Iraq hadn't been invaded who knows how powerful Saddam Hussein would have become?

I feel I am able to write this letter as my own son has just returned from active service with the Australian Armed Forces in the Middle East and I thank God for his safe return.

I am also aware he could go again. I am proud of my son and know that there have been many sons/husbands gone before him and given their lives that I can live the life I do. - Elizabeth Wilds, Balaklava, South Australia.

WAVES OF HAPPINESS

My father's name was Eddie Lake and he was a Flight Sergeant with the RAF flying from Tain in the north of Scotland.

I enclose parts of his version of the events.

"My memories of the end of the war in Europe came before VE Day. In fact it was May 5, the day of Armistice in north west Europe, when hostilities were to stop.

As the navigator of a Coastal Command Liberator Crew, we were called to make a flight to the Kattegat, where our operation was to observe the action of German naval vessels.

Crossing Denmark, we were surprised to see so many Danish flags flying from houses and farms. They had all been prepared and made ready for erecting that morning or probably the night before.

In the countryside we saw many people who waved to us. We replied with a wing wave. I remember one gentleman who had dismounted from his cycle, he was waving both arms and on his cycle he had flags on the handlebars.

Arriving at Aarhus, as we were early for our patrol in the Kattegat, I suggested to the captain that we fly around the town as we had seen many people in the streets. We thought it would give the people a "kick" to see the RAF. This we did, taking photographs.

The return journey across Denmark was a repeat of the outward with many people waving to us. Returning to base we felt that we had done something for the people of that country. For as far as we knew, we were the first Allied plane to cross the country.

Back at base, a visit to the photographic and intelligence sections to look at the photography resulted in a copy of one showing a view of a railway bridge.

This was taken on a second trip round the town. The first time the people were all in queues at food shops. You can see many people waving hands and hats.

This photograph gave us all a great kick and for me it is a great memory of VE Day." - Miss Ann Lake, Ferryhill.