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Funeral of WWII surrender witness | Funeral of WWII surrender witness |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The funeral has been held of the last British witness to the signing of the German surrender, signalling the end of World War II in Europe. | |
Susan Hibbert, from Andover, Hampshire, was a young sergeant in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, based at General Eisenhower's HQ in France at the time. | Susan Hibbert, from Andover, Hampshire, was a young sergeant in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, based at General Eisenhower's HQ in France at the time. |
As a secretary in May 1945, she typed and retyped the surrender for 20 hours. | As a secretary in May 1945, she typed and retyped the surrender for 20 hours. |
The 84-year-old's funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Abbots Ann, where she had lived, on Saturday afternoon. | The 84-year-old's funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Abbots Ann, where she had lived, on Saturday afternoon. |
Ms Hibbert was one of the first people outside the most senior officers of the allied forces to know that the war in Europe was over. | Ms Hibbert was one of the first people outside the most senior officers of the allied forces to know that the war in Europe was over. |
She quietly celebrated with Veuve Clicquot champagne served in a tin cup. | She quietly celebrated with Veuve Clicquot champagne served in a tin cup. |
The signing of the surrender took place in the early hours of 7 May 1945 in a windowless room at Eisenhower's HQ - a small redbrick schoolhouse at Reims. | The signing of the surrender took place in the early hours of 7 May 1945 in a windowless room at Eisenhower's HQ - a small redbrick schoolhouse at Reims. |
The actual signing was carried out quietly and solemnly Susan Hibbert speaking to BBC News in 2005 In 2005, she told BBC News: "In the days leading up to the surrender, we knew something was happening - there was a real feeling of excitement in the air. | The actual signing was carried out quietly and solemnly Susan Hibbert speaking to BBC News in 2005 In 2005, she told BBC News: "In the days leading up to the surrender, we knew something was happening - there was a real feeling of excitement in the air. |
"For five days we were typing documents. We started early in the morning and finished late at night. I typed the English documents, three other secretaries typed the French, Russian and German versions." | "For five days we were typing documents. We started early in the morning and finished late at night. I typed the English documents, three other secretaries typed the French, Russian and German versions." |
The drafts were sent to Washington, London and Moscow. | The drafts were sent to Washington, London and Moscow. |
Then, on 6 May, she began typing the British version of the Act of Military Surrender and finished some 20 hours later in the early hours of 7 May. | Then, on 6 May, she began typing the British version of the Act of Military Surrender and finished some 20 hours later in the early hours of 7 May. |
Ms Hibbert and her fellow secretaries were invited into a room of allied officers and German representatives of Hitler, who was by now dead, to witness history. | Ms Hibbert and her fellow secretaries were invited into a room of allied officers and German representatives of Hitler, who was by now dead, to witness history. |
"We were very, very tired. We had been waiting for ages. We came into the room, there were a lot of journalists and photographers," she said in 2005. | "We were very, very tired. We had been waiting for ages. We came into the room, there were a lot of journalists and photographers," she said in 2005. |
The Germans sign the Act of Military Surrender in Eisenhower's "war room""The actual signing was carried out quietly and solemnly. There was no celebrating." | The Germans sign the Act of Military Surrender in Eisenhower's "war room""The actual signing was carried out quietly and solemnly. There was no celebrating." |
About 250 people attended Ms Hibbert's funeral, including family, friends, villagers and local politicians. | About 250 people attended Ms Hibbert's funeral, including family, friends, villagers and local politicians. |
Sir George Young, MP for North West Hampshire, gave a eulogy. | Sir George Young, MP for North West Hampshire, gave a eulogy. |
He later told the BBC: "She was the last British person alive who was actually at the surrender of the German forces at the end of the last war. | He later told the BBC: "She was the last British person alive who was actually at the surrender of the German forces at the end of the last war. |
"She was there, she typed the document and all the rest of them have passed on so there's that element of history. | "She was there, she typed the document and all the rest of them have passed on so there's that element of history. |
"She was hard working and a brave lady and had enormous stamina to stay up 20 hours typing the document. | "She was hard working and a brave lady and had enormous stamina to stay up 20 hours typing the document. |
"This was long before computers so if you made a mistake you had to start again at the top of the page so she kept at it for 20 hours until the document was right." | "This was long before computers so if you made a mistake you had to start again at the top of the page so she kept at it for 20 hours until the document was right." |