SECOND World War veterans have been sharing their memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, 80 years ago.
The Star and Garter residents recalled celebrations and festivities which took place on May 8, 1945, following Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to Allied forces in the war, and the end of fighting in Europe.
Some also paid tribute to sacrifices made by those who served during the war, and reflected on the difficulties which continued after VE Day.
Bill had joined the RAF in 1943, aged just 15, and was serving at RAF Halton in May 1945.
Now a resident at the charity’s Home in Solihull, he said: “It was fairly obvious we were getting close to it [Nazi surrender] the day before.
“That evening a group of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force came up to our wing and there was dancing in the barracks’ square.
“That was highly unusual because the barracks’ square was holy ground that you didn’t go on, and we weren’t supposed to associate with women!
“The following morning they announced we had the day off and we could do what we like.
“Myself and a couple of friends went to Wycombe and we spent VE Day there. By the time my celebrations had ended the last bus had left for Halton, so I stayed the night, with a couple of RAF friends, at my mother’s, who lived nearby. The joyous nature of that day is hard to describe, it’s was an absolutely splendid occasion. But I was just a young lad, I didn’t dwell on what had been achieved or what had been lost. We had other thoughts.”
It was also a special moment for Bill’s father, Jack.
He had served in the trenches during the First World War, and was injured in the Somme. During the Second World War he joined the Home Guard as soon as it was formed. Bill recalled: “He did more than his bit for his country over the two World Wars.”
Margaret was in Birmingham and aged 13.
Now 93, she said: “It was fantastic. There were street parties everywhere. I remember all the tables in the streets.
“Wives and mums used to go around the street collecting coppers (loose change) towards the street parties. I remember my mum going round all the houses collecting money for the party. It was so exciting!”
Other residents at the home which cares for veterans and their spouses with disability and or dementia also remembered celebrations and festivities.
Sue was at teacher training college in Cheltenham.
Just 18 at the time, Sue said: “They put out bread and sandwich filling and we had the day off, everybody did what they wanted. We went into town, there was jollifications and flags were going up and church bells were ringing and there was more or less a street party.
“It was a gloriously sunny day in Cheltenham. Everybody was rejoicing.”
Despite being just six at the time, Pat, who went on to serve in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, has vivid memories of VE Day.
She uses Royal Star and Garter’s Telephone Friendship Service, and also visits the Tudor Coppice home for Day Care and short breaks.
She said: “I was living in Bournemouth and we had a street party, I remember the flags and tables all the way down the streets.
“We played games and someone was playing a piano that had been rolled out of one of the houses.
“But only the children ate, the mums, and few dads that were about, stood behind us.
“I offered my mum some food but she refused it. I was too young to realise but things must have been really tight.
“And I was also told Daddy would be home soon. He’d joined the Army just after I was born, and was in the Royal Artillery in North Africa.”
For Stan in Solihull, VE Day was memorable for another reason for the Army veteran.
He was 13 and in Birmingham, and said: “We were in the swimming baths when someone came in and said, ‘The war’s over’. We all ran out, we never even dried ourselves!”
The next day Stan cut short his celebrations after feeling unwell.
He said: “In the afternoon I felt terrible, so I went in and lay down on the settee. My dad fetched a doctor and I was taken to hospital, I had diphtheria! I was delirious for a few days, and I spent 12 weeks in hospital. So I only caught the first half-day of celebrations for VE Day!”
