VE Day remembered

Published 08:00 on 6 May 2020

This week some 75 years ago, the people of Great Britain became increasingly excited about the immediate cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Axis Forces and in particular, Germany. The German Military Government had signed their surrender document in Reims in France on 7 May. The UK public was now awaiting the formal announcement at 3:30pm on the 8th of May 1945 by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to confirm that the Allies had accepted an unconditional surrender from Germany covering all German Forces. In short, the War in Europe had ceased.

As the day wore on, people gathered in their communities the length and breadth of the land. In hamlets, villages towns and cities, they gathered in their tens, hundreds, thousands and in the case of London, their millions, to collectively bear witness to the fact that Allies had prevailed over the Axis powers, and celebrate the lifting of the burden of fear from their shoulders. Not totally lifted however, as the War with Japan continued unabated, with the Japanese Government only reluctantly suing for Unconditional Surrender on the 15th of August 1945.

At 3:28pm that day, prior to the Prime Minister's address, the Nation silently stood and bowed their heads to observe a two-minute silence to remember the loss and sacrifice Great Britain and its allies had made over the previous 6 years of war. Originally, the signal to commence the Official Silence was to be the sounding of the 'Blitz' air raid warning sirens, but perhaps thankfully, following medical advice, the trigger for the 'Silence' was changed to a peal of bells from every church in the UK. This was significant as this was the first time that bells had been rung after a six years moratorium within the Realm.

However, following the completion of the Official Silence the celebrations commenced in Great Britain, the USA and in the free parts of Europe! Within the smaller towns and villages such as Emsworth and Havant, the bunting was hoisted, all the household tables were brought out into the streets, and that staple of all British celebrations, the 'Street Party', was about to begin. The primary aim of the parties was to give the children the best time conditions allowed. Rationing was firmly in place and housewives, mums and family members used up carefully hoarded precious rations to bake cakes for the kiddies.

If you look at the film newsreels of the street parties taken on the 8th, you may notice certain things: the children look completely bemused at the amount of food available for them to eat. Their mums were wearing their best frocks but with pinnies on them to ensure it stayed 'best', no glasses of prosecco here for the ladies, just cups of tea and of course, a total absence of men. Their fathers, husbands, brothers, sons were, in the main, still overseas on active service, some not returning until late in 1947.

On the night of the 8th May street house lights were allowed to be illuminated, bonfires were lit and many younger children saw their first firework displays.

In the following years the British people had to endure a further period of hardship, food and fuel shortages coupled with some of the severest winters that century. The happy memories invoked by the VE Day gave all those involved lasting fond memories to sustain them through a further ten years of tough times.

Finally...

On Friday 8 May 2020, the government is inviting people across all generations and communities to join us in a national moment of reflection and remembrance at 1100 hrs, as we pause for a Two Minute Silence to honour the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation and to reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world. There is no right or wrong way to take part in the Silence, some may wish to stand at their windows, step outside their homes while remaining distanced from others, or simply sit in a quiet moment of reflection. We are truly grateful for the great sacrifice so many people made both during the War and, of course, in recent weeks.

Cameron March MBE

Rear Commodore (House)