NEWS of forthcoming celebrations of the anniversary of VE Day reminds me there was little in the way of celebrations as I remember them.

In the Far East, the war seemed likely to continue for years to come.

Not surprisingly there was resentment at radio news bulletins telling of victory celebrations back home.

Of course we were glad the conflict in Europe was over but it seemed the people back home were in an indecent haste to celebrate.

In our little naval auxiliary hospital it was very much business as usual as we awaited arrival of a convoy of casualties. Soon we were crowded to capacity and I found myself assigned to the bedside of a young lad who clearly was not going to survive.

As I monitored his failing pulse a radio near at hand blared out the sound of jubilant crowds in Trafalgar Square.

"I wonder if his family are among that lot?" commented a colleague who assisted me in transferring the body to a trolley.

I drew a Union Flag from the store cupboard.

"Where do you think you are going with that? " demanded our ever-watchful wardmaster. I explained it was to cover a body on its journey to the mortuary.

"Then make sure it comes right back here," he ordered. We don't want anyone purloining it for celebrations."

But we did manage to celebrate after all. As we came off duty, a thoughtful mess caterer issued each of us with a bottle of beer that was really something, considering we were normally rationed to one bottle a week

JOHN HINTON,

Worcester.