Editor

I was happy to see your VE Day article on this poignant and hugely significant moment in our history (‘World War Two heroes honoured, 75 years on’, 7 May).

We did what had to be done and it subsequently gave rise to a wonderful enlightenment: awareness of our oneness. Hence the NHS and so many other bold efforts to equate people’s quality of life. We so wanted a fairer society because we had all been in it together.

However your photographic reminders show only male soldiers - well of course they were the massive majority. But we were there! I am shown on the left of this photo (above) taken after the wonderful news. I was by then in Brussels but had been with my unit deeply into Germany while warfare was the 24-hour reality.

But this is not about me - now 98 years old and locked down in my lovely flat in Aber - it is to remind everyone that women were there! Invaluable, essential, resolute, indefatigable... in fact just being ourselves!

It was not just those in the comparative security of being in one of the Armed Services, it was in the factories, on the fields, in the communities dealing with grief and disaster and desperate need - day-to-day life had to be sustained and it was women who did it. So, when you say “we will not forget” - remember... please remember!

Bettina Collingwood Address withheld

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