Bombs, buckets and victory: Ruby Bales looks back on her life as she celebrates 100th birthday
As she turned 100 on Thursday, Mrs Bales looked back on some of those events.
Like her time as a fire officer in London during Britain's World War II struggle against German incendiary bombs.
And joining crowds outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate VE Day — victory in Europe day, which marked the German surrender.
And her time working at celebrated London florists, Longmans, which gave her an insight into the operation of the business which went on to prepare the future Queen Elizabeth's wedding and coronation bouquets.
Mrs Bales was born in East Ham, London, on May 1, 1925.
While still at school, she joined the war effort, aged 16.
'I was given a tin hat and an arm band,' she said.
She was part of a team of three, equipped with a stirrup pump and a water bucket. 'I carried the buckets of water,' she said.
They went into action during The Blitz, German aerial bombing attacks on British cities in 1940 and 1941.
Her house was damaged when a landmine attached to a parachute dropped on the next block.
'We didn't have a roof for years, we had tarpaulins,' Mrs Bales said. 'We didn't have windows for years.'
At the age of 17 she worked as a book-keeper at Longmans, before training as a comptometrist — using an early mechanical calculator — and then worked at International Harvester, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery.
In 1943 she met Les Bales from Perth. In January 1945 they married, and were among the crowds celebrating VE Day outside the palace on May 8, 1945.
'There were crowds, they were climbing everything,' she said. 'Everyone was cheering, everything was pandemonium.'
In 1946 Mrs and Mrs Bales and baby Keith, (Colin and Glenys would be born in later years) set sail for Perth, and their new life.
Back in London the city celebrated again in 1947 when Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey.
And Mrs Bales is well aware of the mystery around the day — what became of Queen Elizabeth's wedding bouquet, which had been made by Longmans.
Some photos of the day show the Queen standing without the bouquet even though the bridesmaids carry theirs.
In 2019 The Daily Express reported that because the bouquet — made by Martin Longman — went missing, the royal couple had to interrupt their honeymoon to pose for pictures with the Queen holding a replacement bouquet also made by Mr Longman.
And so from then on all royal brides had two bouquets made, the paper said.
Adding further intrigue, the Royal Family's site says that on the day after the wedding the bouquet was sent back to the abbey, where it was laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
On her drive to Westminster Abbey for her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth carried another bouquet made up by Martin Longman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The dish everyone thinks is Singaporean? It's not (but here's how to cook it)
Masterclass No, it's not Singaporean While 'Singapore noodles' are a globally popular dish, they're not actually from Singapore. This Cantonese creation, which originated in Hong Kong, cleverly incorporates elements that reference Singapore's diverse population. It combines rice vermicelli noodles, a staple of the Hokkien people from China's Fujian province, with curry powder, a nod to the large Indian migrant community in Singapore. Both groups arrived in Singapore in large numbers after it became a British colony in 1824, seeking economic opportunities. But the dish was not developed until the 1950s. After World War II, British navy-style curry became popular in Hong Kong, and innovative chefs at the booming cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong-style diners) sought ways to incorporate curry powder, toast, spaghetti, and other Western-influenced ingredients into Cantonese cuisine. It's also worth noting that while 'Singapore noodles' use a type of rice vermicelli popular with the Hokkien people, what we call 'Hokkien noodles' is something else entirely. In Singapore and Malaysia, this refers to a variety of dishes featuring thick, yellow alkaline noodles, while in Australia, we use the term to describe that type of noodle. Use your noodles The main challenge in making fried rice noodle dishes is achieving the perfect noodle texture. With Singapore noodles, you're using rice vermicelli, not bean thread or glass noodles, which look similar when dry, so check the package carefully. The most common mistake is overcooking the noodles before they hit the wok. Stir-frying is incredibly effective at rehydrating and softening them; if you boil the noodles for too long beforehand, they will become overcooked, soggy, and break apart during the final stir-fry. Before frying, you have three simple methods to prepare the noodles: Soak: Submerge the noodles in room-temperature water for about 20 minutes. Boil: Cook them in boiling water for one to two minutes only. Steep: Pour boiling water over the noodles and let them stand for five minutes. Drain the noodles immediately and let them dry in a colander. This step is important to let the noodles hydrate without overcooking. They should feel slightly dry to the touch before you add them to the wok, ensuring they don't become soggy during frying. Cook in batches This recipe is designed for cooking all the noodles together, but the real secret to a great stir-fry is frying the noodles, not stewing them. A common mistake is overcrowding the wok, which traps steam and makes everything soggy. To prevent this, cook the other ingredients first and set them aside. Then, fry the eggs and noodles in the hot wok. If you're concerned about handling a large quantity of noodles in your wok, simply divide the recipe into thirds and cook it in three smaller batches to ensure every strand gets perfectly fried. Unsung heroes Bean sprouts are the secret weapon for many fried noodle dishes. Their shape mirrors that of the noodles, and their texture provides a perfect contrast to the soft noodles, helping to prevent them from clumping together. For the best results, add a handful of sprouts right at the end of cooking. The residual heat from the noodles will soften them just enough to remove their raw bite while keeping them crunchy. I also think they help prevent the noodles from overcooking, much like adding a splash of lemon juice stops brown butter from burning. I never bother to 'top and tail' bean sprouts – that is, snapping off the root and bud. It's a tedious task and something I was certainly never taught to do when I was growing up. An authentic touch Char siu (Cantonese barbecue pork) is delicious on its own, but it's also a key ingredient in Cantonese cuisine, the offcuts used to flavour dishes such as fried rice and Singapore noodles. Its sweetness helps balance the other savoury seasonings, so using good-quality char siu is important. Unfortunately, some cheaper restaurants cut corners by making their char siu by smearing lean pork in commercial sauce, which is never as good. For an authentic flavour, buy your char siu from a Cantonese barbecue shop. If you aren't using char siu, a great substitute is lap cheong, a sweet Cantonese-style cured sausage available at most Asian grocers. Its flavour profile is an excellent match.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
The dish everyone thinks is Singaporean? It's not (but here's how to cook it)
Masterclass No, it's not Singaporean While 'Singapore noodles' are a globally popular dish, they're not actually from Singapore. This Cantonese creation, which originated in Hong Kong, cleverly incorporates elements that reference Singapore's diverse population. It combines rice vermicelli noodles, a staple of the Hokkien people from China's Fujian province, with curry powder, a nod to the large Indian migrant community in Singapore. Both groups arrived in Singapore in large numbers after it became a British colony in 1824, seeking economic opportunities. But the dish was not developed until the 1950s. After World War II, British navy-style curry became popular in Hong Kong, and innovative chefs at the booming cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong-style diners) sought ways to incorporate curry powder, toast, spaghetti, and other Western-influenced ingredients into Cantonese cuisine. It's also worth noting that while 'Singapore noodles' use a type of rice vermicelli popular with the Hokkien people, what we call 'Hokkien noodles' is something else entirely. In Singapore and Malaysia, this refers to a variety of dishes featuring thick, yellow alkaline noodles, while in Australia, we use the term to describe that type of noodle. Use your noodles The main challenge in making fried rice noodle dishes is achieving the perfect noodle texture. With Singapore noodles, you're using rice vermicelli, not bean thread or glass noodles, which look similar when dry, so check the package carefully. The most common mistake is overcooking the noodles before they hit the wok. Stir-frying is incredibly effective at rehydrating and softening them; if you boil the noodles for too long beforehand, they will become overcooked, soggy, and break apart during the final stir-fry. Before frying, you have three simple methods to prepare the noodles: Soak: Submerge the noodles in room-temperature water for about 20 minutes. Boil: Cook them in boiling water for one to two minutes only. Steep: Pour boiling water over the noodles and let them stand for five minutes. Drain the noodles immediately and let them dry in a colander. This step is important to let the noodles hydrate without overcooking. They should feel slightly dry to the touch before you add them to the wok, ensuring they don't become soggy during frying. Cook in batches This recipe is designed for cooking all the noodles together, but the real secret to a great stir-fry is frying the noodles, not stewing them. A common mistake is overcrowding the wok, which traps steam and makes everything soggy. To prevent this, cook the other ingredients first and set them aside. Then, fry the eggs and noodles in the hot wok. If you're concerned about handling a large quantity of noodles in your wok, simply divide the recipe into thirds and cook it in three smaller batches to ensure every strand gets perfectly fried. Unsung heroes Bean sprouts are the secret weapon for many fried noodle dishes. Their shape mirrors that of the noodles, and their texture provides a perfect contrast to the soft noodles, helping to prevent them from clumping together. For the best results, add a handful of sprouts right at the end of cooking. The residual heat from the noodles will soften them just enough to remove their raw bite while keeping them crunchy. I also think they help prevent the noodles from overcooking, much like adding a splash of lemon juice stops brown butter from burning. I never bother to 'top and tail' bean sprouts – that is, snapping off the root and bud. It's a tedious task and something I was certainly never taught to do when I was growing up. An authentic touch Char siu (Cantonese barbecue pork) is delicious on its own, but it's also a key ingredient in Cantonese cuisine, the offcuts used to flavour dishes such as fried rice and Singapore noodles. Its sweetness helps balance the other savoury seasonings, so using good-quality char siu is important. Unfortunately, some cheaper restaurants cut corners by making their char siu by smearing lean pork in commercial sauce, which is never as good. For an authentic flavour, buy your char siu from a Cantonese barbecue shop. If you aren't using char siu, a great substitute is lap cheong, a sweet Cantonese-style cured sausage available at most Asian grocers. Its flavour profile is an excellent match.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'People see injustice': fight goes on for Vietnam vets
Australians who fought in Vietnam have been acknowledged at ceremonies around the nation to mark the 59th anniversary of the costliest battle of the contentious conflict. The end of the Vietnam War, Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century, was commemorated on Monday, the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. Services throughout Australia included a major gathering of servicemen and women in Sydney's Martin Place. But for many a different battle drags on. Bernie Cox attended in Sydney and told AAP people had gained a greater appreciation for what veterans of the conflict faced. "People can see the injustice of the whole thing," he said. After being conscripted to serve in Vietnam, he faced "animosity" attending university after he returned home. "Even some of those people now would say that was a bit unfair," he said. Relatives of Mr Cox served in World War I and World War II. "I just thought that's what Aussie kids did, join the army ... it's normal," he said. He found out that wasn't necessarily the case after being conscripted. "I got a bit of a shock, it wasn't such a great adventure in the end." Having not always felt fully recognised, 2500 Australians excluded from receiving the Vietnam Campaign Medal continue their struggle to be acknowledged despite increasing public awareness of what veterans went through. The Vietnam Veterans Association and the RSL are calling on the federal government to award the honour to the contingent, who were among 60,000 Australians to serve in the conflict between 1962 and 1975, but remain without acknowledgement because of a technicality. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Navy veteran Bob Braithwaite finally received his medal last week after multiple applications and rejections. After joining up as a teenager, he served 120 days in Vietnam before having to return because of injury. "It's very hard, very hard," Mr Braithwaite told AAP from his home in Adelaide in the lead-up to Vietnam Veterans' Day. "You weren't recognised as a full veteran in my books ... you could say it felt like being a car with only three wheels." Conscripted into service and sent to fight in a deeply unpopular war, the veterans awaiting recognition completed at least 60 days in-country, serving under harrowing conditions. Because their national service obligations ended before they reached the 181-day threshold, they were sent home and denied the campaign medal - and the recognition and respect many of their comrades received. Made to feel like they had not done enough, some were labelled "short-timers" and have since carried the burden. Mr Braithwaite takes medication for PTSD and undergoes a twice-yearly psychological check-up. "You'd go to a hotel on Anzac Day to have lunch and celebrate with your wife and a couple of close friends and the guys with the full medals would kind of look at you a bit funny, and you'd think, 'oh, OK, I haven't finished the process to become a full veteran'. "But the stigma has slowly worn off ... and we seem - the older we get, the fewer we get - to get more appreciation for what we've done." Christopher Anderson said some of his fellow veterans felt more closely aligned with Vietnam Veterans Day than other memorial days such as Anzac Day. "It is still an experience that is close to the hearts of those who participated," he said. "Many of us lost good friends." The broader community and RSL failed to treat veterans well or welcome Vietnam vets when they returned. Then-RSL NSW president Ray James, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was among those to deliver a formal apology on Vietnam Veterans Day in 2023. Some 3000 Australians were wounded throughout the conflict and 524 died during or as a result of their service in Vietnam. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Australians who fought in Vietnam have been acknowledged at ceremonies around the nation to mark the 59th anniversary of the costliest battle of the contentious conflict. The end of the Vietnam War, Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century, was commemorated on Monday, the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. Services throughout Australia included a major gathering of servicemen and women in Sydney's Martin Place. But for many a different battle drags on. Bernie Cox attended in Sydney and told AAP people had gained a greater appreciation for what veterans of the conflict faced. "People can see the injustice of the whole thing," he said. After being conscripted to serve in Vietnam, he faced "animosity" attending university after he returned home. "Even some of those people now would say that was a bit unfair," he said. Relatives of Mr Cox served in World War I and World War II. "I just thought that's what Aussie kids did, join the army ... it's normal," he said. He found out that wasn't necessarily the case after being conscripted. "I got a bit of a shock, it wasn't such a great adventure in the end." Having not always felt fully recognised, 2500 Australians excluded from receiving the Vietnam Campaign Medal continue their struggle to be acknowledged despite increasing public awareness of what veterans went through. The Vietnam Veterans Association and the RSL are calling on the federal government to award the honour to the contingent, who were among 60,000 Australians to serve in the conflict between 1962 and 1975, but remain without acknowledgement because of a technicality. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Navy veteran Bob Braithwaite finally received his medal last week after multiple applications and rejections. After joining up as a teenager, he served 120 days in Vietnam before having to return because of injury. "It's very hard, very hard," Mr Braithwaite told AAP from his home in Adelaide in the lead-up to Vietnam Veterans' Day. "You weren't recognised as a full veteran in my books ... you could say it felt like being a car with only three wheels." Conscripted into service and sent to fight in a deeply unpopular war, the veterans awaiting recognition completed at least 60 days in-country, serving under harrowing conditions. Because their national service obligations ended before they reached the 181-day threshold, they were sent home and denied the campaign medal - and the recognition and respect many of their comrades received. Made to feel like they had not done enough, some were labelled "short-timers" and have since carried the burden. Mr Braithwaite takes medication for PTSD and undergoes a twice-yearly psychological check-up. "You'd go to a hotel on Anzac Day to have lunch and celebrate with your wife and a couple of close friends and the guys with the full medals would kind of look at you a bit funny, and you'd think, 'oh, OK, I haven't finished the process to become a full veteran'. "But the stigma has slowly worn off ... and we seem - the older we get, the fewer we get - to get more appreciation for what we've done." Christopher Anderson said some of his fellow veterans felt more closely aligned with Vietnam Veterans Day than other memorial days such as Anzac Day. "It is still an experience that is close to the hearts of those who participated," he said. "Many of us lost good friends." The broader community and RSL failed to treat veterans well or welcome Vietnam vets when they returned. Then-RSL NSW president Ray James, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was among those to deliver a formal apology on Vietnam Veterans Day in 2023. Some 3000 Australians were wounded throughout the conflict and 524 died during or as a result of their service in Vietnam. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Australians who fought in Vietnam have been acknowledged at ceremonies around the nation to mark the 59th anniversary of the costliest battle of the contentious conflict. The end of the Vietnam War, Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century, was commemorated on Monday, the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. Services throughout Australia included a major gathering of servicemen and women in Sydney's Martin Place. But for many a different battle drags on. Bernie Cox attended in Sydney and told AAP people had gained a greater appreciation for what veterans of the conflict faced. "People can see the injustice of the whole thing," he said. After being conscripted to serve in Vietnam, he faced "animosity" attending university after he returned home. "Even some of those people now would say that was a bit unfair," he said. Relatives of Mr Cox served in World War I and World War II. "I just thought that's what Aussie kids did, join the army ... it's normal," he said. He found out that wasn't necessarily the case after being conscripted. "I got a bit of a shock, it wasn't such a great adventure in the end." Having not always felt fully recognised, 2500 Australians excluded from receiving the Vietnam Campaign Medal continue their struggle to be acknowledged despite increasing public awareness of what veterans went through. The Vietnam Veterans Association and the RSL are calling on the federal government to award the honour to the contingent, who were among 60,000 Australians to serve in the conflict between 1962 and 1975, but remain without acknowledgement because of a technicality. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Navy veteran Bob Braithwaite finally received his medal last week after multiple applications and rejections. After joining up as a teenager, he served 120 days in Vietnam before having to return because of injury. "It's very hard, very hard," Mr Braithwaite told AAP from his home in Adelaide in the lead-up to Vietnam Veterans' Day. "You weren't recognised as a full veteran in my books ... you could say it felt like being a car with only three wheels." Conscripted into service and sent to fight in a deeply unpopular war, the veterans awaiting recognition completed at least 60 days in-country, serving under harrowing conditions. Because their national service obligations ended before they reached the 181-day threshold, they were sent home and denied the campaign medal - and the recognition and respect many of their comrades received. Made to feel like they had not done enough, some were labelled "short-timers" and have since carried the burden. Mr Braithwaite takes medication for PTSD and undergoes a twice-yearly psychological check-up. "You'd go to a hotel on Anzac Day to have lunch and celebrate with your wife and a couple of close friends and the guys with the full medals would kind of look at you a bit funny, and you'd think, 'oh, OK, I haven't finished the process to become a full veteran'. "But the stigma has slowly worn off ... and we seem - the older we get, the fewer we get - to get more appreciation for what we've done." Christopher Anderson said some of his fellow veterans felt more closely aligned with Vietnam Veterans Day than other memorial days such as Anzac Day. "It is still an experience that is close to the hearts of those who participated," he said. "Many of us lost good friends." The broader community and RSL failed to treat veterans well or welcome Vietnam vets when they returned. Then-RSL NSW president Ray James, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was among those to deliver a formal apology on Vietnam Veterans Day in 2023. Some 3000 Australians were wounded throughout the conflict and 524 died during or as a result of their service in Vietnam. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Australians who fought in Vietnam have been acknowledged at ceremonies around the nation to mark the 59th anniversary of the costliest battle of the contentious conflict. The end of the Vietnam War, Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century, was commemorated on Monday, the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. Services throughout Australia included a major gathering of servicemen and women in Sydney's Martin Place. But for many a different battle drags on. Bernie Cox attended in Sydney and told AAP people had gained a greater appreciation for what veterans of the conflict faced. "People can see the injustice of the whole thing," he said. After being conscripted to serve in Vietnam, he faced "animosity" attending university after he returned home. "Even some of those people now would say that was a bit unfair," he said. Relatives of Mr Cox served in World War I and World War II. "I just thought that's what Aussie kids did, join the army ... it's normal," he said. He found out that wasn't necessarily the case after being conscripted. "I got a bit of a shock, it wasn't such a great adventure in the end." Having not always felt fully recognised, 2500 Australians excluded from receiving the Vietnam Campaign Medal continue their struggle to be acknowledged despite increasing public awareness of what veterans went through. The Vietnam Veterans Association and the RSL are calling on the federal government to award the honour to the contingent, who were among 60,000 Australians to serve in the conflict between 1962 and 1975, but remain without acknowledgement because of a technicality. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Navy veteran Bob Braithwaite finally received his medal last week after multiple applications and rejections. After joining up as a teenager, he served 120 days in Vietnam before having to return because of injury. "It's very hard, very hard," Mr Braithwaite told AAP from his home in Adelaide in the lead-up to Vietnam Veterans' Day. "You weren't recognised as a full veteran in my books ... you could say it felt like being a car with only three wheels." Conscripted into service and sent to fight in a deeply unpopular war, the veterans awaiting recognition completed at least 60 days in-country, serving under harrowing conditions. Because their national service obligations ended before they reached the 181-day threshold, they were sent home and denied the campaign medal - and the recognition and respect many of their comrades received. Made to feel like they had not done enough, some were labelled "short-timers" and have since carried the burden. Mr Braithwaite takes medication for PTSD and undergoes a twice-yearly psychological check-up. "You'd go to a hotel on Anzac Day to have lunch and celebrate with your wife and a couple of close friends and the guys with the full medals would kind of look at you a bit funny, and you'd think, 'oh, OK, I haven't finished the process to become a full veteran'. "But the stigma has slowly worn off ... and we seem - the older we get, the fewer we get - to get more appreciation for what we've done." Christopher Anderson said some of his fellow veterans felt more closely aligned with Vietnam Veterans Day than other memorial days such as Anzac Day. "It is still an experience that is close to the hearts of those who participated," he said. "Many of us lost good friends." The broader community and RSL failed to treat veterans well or welcome Vietnam vets when they returned. Then-RSL NSW president Ray James, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was among those to deliver a formal apology on Vietnam Veterans Day in 2023. Some 3000 Australians were wounded throughout the conflict and 524 died during or as a result of their service in Vietnam. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046
