When Peace Dawned Anew 1945 Poem by Joyce Hemsley

*Memory Lane* forever leads back to the
desperate years when days were so black;
sirens were sounding and people were scared
to shelters they fled when war was declared.

Britain was bombed, cities fell to the ground.
Destruction was rife, stones and bricks all around.
Theatres and churches...little was spared
in those terrible raids after war was declared.

Brave men on the home-front gave of their all,
bringing food drink and shelter, answering each call.
Families made homeless and dearest ones dead
'twas a pitiful sight, with a flood of tears shed.

There seemed no ending, war still raged free,
more killings at home and ships lost at sea.
Thousands of comrades lost their lives in the fight
Oh, 'never again' must we face such a plight.

After five years in battle, victory came fast
and the scourge of hostility ended at last.
Britons and G.I's were Victory Day mad...
revelling and dancing; the scene was quite sad.

As Victory night passed, daylight broke through
and a new life began; peace dawned anew...
never to forget the multitude who died,
they fought for this country, turning the tide

from armed conflict to peace
that is how it must stay.
Thank heaven for the glory
of the eighth day in May.

(67,100 British Civilians lost
their lives in World War Two
Blitz, plus many-many injured.
Checked on Google) .