LONDON'S YE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 117, 19 May 1945, Page 10

LONDON'S YE DAY

"WE WANT GEORGE!"

N.Z. PILOT'S EXPERIENCE

In six years of war WingCommander Bill Crawford-Compton, one of New Zealand's most decorated pilots, has crowded many experiences.

In active combat he has shot down 21 h Germans. He has seen all phases of the air war. And on a lecture tour in the United States he was twice mistaken for a commissionairo and once for a postman! Of all lis experiences, however, he numbers among the top just being in London on VE day—the day when Britain forgot all about her traditional reserve, forgot for the moment all the horrors she had endured and just went crazy. Burning Their Bunks!

Britain, like New Zealand, had arranged an official programme of celebration, but when the news of Germany's surrender "beat the gun' the English people threw all those to the winds. By 4 o'clock on May 8 it was impossible to move in the Piccadilly area for the tremendous crowds. "Cockneys rendered homeless by the blitzes London has endured are still living in the shelters," said the wing-commander. "But on that day they were pulling the bunks out of the shelters and making bonfires of them in the streets. All over the place chaps and women were climbing on tops of buses, cars and statues —anywhere to get a better vantage point. Policemen would try to climb up to get them down, but would have their helmets pushed over their faces. Of course, it was all in fun and the police took it good humouredly." After a while, he said, he went along towards Buckingham Palace. There also was a tremendous crowd, all singing the National Anthem and shouting out: "We want George! We want George! We want the King!" It was a most uplifting scene. There Were hundreds of New Zealanders in London that day, all. thoroughly enjoying themselves. Among them were a number of released prisoners of war. He had a drink during the day with Jack Hinton, the Southland V.C., and he met many others. In all, it was a day of tremendous rejoicing. .

The English Have Changed The freedom with which Englishmen let themselves go on VE day was partly relief and joy, but there had been a considerable change in the Englishmen during the war years. When he first went to Britain before the war it had taken him three days before he got to know anybody. Now the British people were much more openly friendly and their hospitality was amazing. The New Zealanders had a very high reputation and the English did all they could to help them. A Kippenberger Story

Undoubtedly the most popular New Zealander, he said,, was MajorGeneral Kippenberger, who," in spite of his two steel 'legs, got about quite well, and who was on terms of closest friendship with all the New Zealanders, particularly the prisoners of. war who came under his care.

"There is a lovely story told about Kippenberger — I don't know whether it is true or not," said Compton. "It is related that after he had had both his feet taken off with a land mine explosion and was to be fitted with artificial ones, he sent a cable to his wife in Rangiora asking her was she quite satisfied with him as he was—or would she like him two inches longer or shorter." All the ex-prisoners of war he had seen looked thin, but were in "terrific spirits." One thing, that was needed, he said, was a larger club for them in London. The Fernleaf Club in Lowndes Scuare was very well run and was doing a fine job, but it was in an old building and needed much more room. "It is one of the best service clubs in London," said Compton. • «. During his visit to Auckland WingCommander Compton is staying with his uncle, Mr. F. V. Home, commandant of the Red Cross Transport Corps.