The Wartime Memories Project

VE Day, the 8th May 1945 brought peace to Europe after five long years of conflict. Sixty Years on we will be reliving those celebrations and remembering those who gave their lives in the Second World War.
We would like to hear your recollections of Victory in Europe Day 1945 and also how you celebrate the 60th anniversary.
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Dear Everybody, The news is simply great and we are all eagerly awaiting the announcement of the end of the war in Europe. The fall of Berlin was celebrated here last week. If only the news from San Francisco were better.

Except from a letter to his family from Mr Young, British Liaison to the Free French, British East Africa Command.

I was a small boy of two when my Dad joined the army - as a gunner in the Royal Artillery, Yorks & Lancs regiment. Shortly afterwards he went to fight the Japanese in Burma (via South Africa and India) and I didn't see him again until I was seven and a half years old. He finally returned home in autumn of 1945. Memories of the war included dashing down into the coal cellar in our home in Leeds, during the air raids.

I well remember VE night. I was in tucked up and fast asleep in bed when my Mum wakened me to look out of my bedroom window. A large group of neighbours were gathered together at the bottom of our street of terrace houses, dancing, singing, shouting and celebrating. Mum amd I joined them, with me still in pyjamas and dressing gown. What seems now like just a few days later, Mum took me on the tramcar, after darkfall, into Leeds center, to see all the shop windows ... fully lit up ... the first time I'd ever seen so many lights at night time!

Mr. Terry Whitaker

My Uncle, who died recently, kept a journal. He was 18 in 1945 and worked in Newcastle as a teacher. He had applied for a deferement as he had been called up to be a Bevan Boy.

His entry reads: Tuesday 8th May 1.15 pm

V.E. Day

The war in Europe is over, Germany has unconditionally surrendered to Great Britain, Russia and America, and the allies

His Majesty the King broadcast at 9.00pm this evening and earlier at 3.0pm, the Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, declared the end of the European War. People have gone mad in London and all over the kingdom there has been celebrating. In Newcastle, here, the Chronicle Office, St Thomas's Church and the Odeon Cinema were floodlit - the lantern was lit in the Cathedral & lights on the Monument. The ? cinema had coloured lights & floodlights played from the roof onto the dancing crowds below. We walked through the town after visiting relations in Wallsend - and saw all the sights.

Earlier in the day we went to the Cathedral Square to hear the Lord Mayor read the surrender (in the rain) then we went to a service in the Cathedral. And so at the end of this momentous day let us say 'Long live England!' and 'God save the King!'

Deb Spence

Showers not working - Johnny and I went to Commandant to get showers going - heated water all had hot showers - many had lived dirty possibly for months because couldn't get it to work. Just lay on grass in group of 50. Radio loud - heard Churchill say "the war would finish at midnight". 2pm 8th May 1945. Close to toilets - still had Red Cross parcels - eg. tea. Took door off toilet for fire to heat water for tea. Prisoners stripped wood off - building gone between guard walking around. Buried wood under greatcoats. Guard couldn't believe it.

Ossie Phillips, POW, Bischofhopfen.

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The Wartime Memories Project - VE Day Memories