Win Cremer

Today we remember Win Cremer, a resident of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. She recalls the serenity of the evening of 31 May 1942 before it was shattered by the sounds of war.

Win Cremer audio file (MP4 23.84 MB)

Win Cremer audio script

75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

Audio actuality

“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” — (The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia)

On the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, Australia remembers Win Cremer, a resident of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

The newly-wed recalled how the serenity of the evening of May 31st 1942 was shattered by the sounds of war.

Win Cremer

I was actually retiring for the evening. And what I do remember was this whirring sound of a shell and thinking at the time, “Goodness, what was that?” It was very close, just a matter of 2 or 3 streets away. About 15 mins later, the air raid siren was activated. I remember all the homes were in darkness. I opened my front door; other people had come out into the street and all were milling around wondering what had happened. Actually there was a reasonable amount of censorship at the time — we were not told very much at all but it was obvious that there had been some action taken by the Japanese. There was talk among people too, they were moving out of Sydney. They were talking about going to Katoomba to live. I remember that very, very clearly.

Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.