Jumbo possessed a small set of bagpipes which went with him everywhere, and when in his cups or feeling homesick for the tranquillity of his island’s glens and mountains, he was unfortunately inclined to play them, regardless of the fact no one but the other Scots in the Brigade could appreciate the noise. To Jim it sounded as tuneful as a cat being strangled.

‘Any news on Churchill’s speech yet, Jumbo?’ he asked before stuffing in a mouthful of food.

‘Och, he’ll not be talking just because we want him to,’ the big man replied in his soft Highland accent. ‘Ye ken what those English politicians are like – tied down with red tape and paper. He’ll be waiting for it all to be signed and sealed afore he lets us lesser folk know what’s going on.’

‘I hope not,’ said Jim. He took a slurp of tea and winced as he burnt his lip on the scalding tin mug. ‘We know Hitler’s dead, and the Allies are now swarming through Europe, so what’s the point of keeping us all in suspense?’

Jumbo shrugged and shovelled in the last of his food, making further conversation impossible.

Jim ate in silence, praying that if it really was the end of the war in Europe, Jumbo wouldn’t take it into his head to serenade them all on the bagpipes. But it was a forlorn hope, for there was a quarter bottle of whisky on the table, and he could see the familiar instrument of torture to the ears beside him on the bench.

The tension grew as the time for the broadcast approached, and the level of conversation dropped to a murmur as cigarettes and pipes were lit, beers glugged and games of cards and chess abandoned. All attention became focused on the radio and even the youngest and rowdiest sapper fell silent as the announcement came from London that Churchill was about to address the nation.

Jim stiffened with anticipation as the familiar gravelled voice echoed into the stillness of that jungle tent.

‘Yesterday morning at 2:41 a.m. at Headquarters, General Jodl, the representative of the German High Command, and Grand Admiral Dönitz, the designated head of the German State, signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea, and air forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force, and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command.

‘General Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and General François Sevez signed the document on behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and General Susloparov signed on behalf of the Russian High Command.