VE Day Celebrations

I dipped in and out but watched the fly past and felt very emotional. About half an hour later the Lancaster flew over my house. Felt emotional again sonething about those planes

No of course the people of Japan did NOT deserve what happened to them, but as I understand it the Japanese just simply would not stop fighting despite having been warned again and again that last resort would be the bomb. Invading Japan would have cost thousands of allied and Japanese lives and prolonged the war for months. Also the Japanese vowed to kill every POW if the allies attempted an invasion. It was a truly shocking business but the Japanese were incredibly cruel, the horror of the rape of Nankin is virtually unreadable. My stepfather never spoke of it, but nothing Japanese was allowed in our home for many many years, and food particularly rice
was eaten meticulously. Likewise the Germans most certainly did not deserve what happened to them at the end of the war. My mother joined a group in the early 1950's which was to do with peace and reconciliation, this led to us having a German girl to stay with us, and us going back to Germany to meet her family, who had a horrible war, Father being sent to the Russian front for refusing to execute Jews We became firm friends until our parents deaths.

I watched part of the coverage when Sophie Raworth spoke to veterans. I loved the lady, with the most cut-glass accent ever, who was a mechanic on Lancasters and who lost someone she loved. She was an antidote to any sign of triumphalism, though to do Sophie justice that was missing from the BBC coverage.
I was four and a half on VE Day. My aunt took me and my little sister to watch the local parade. Mum couldn't come because she was 8 months pregnant with my next sister. She made us little white Viyella dresses smocked and embroidered with union flags in red and blue. All I can remember about the parade was seeing my Dad, marching at the head of his Home Guard company. On the way home, my aunt bought us ice cream cones, the first we'd ever had. How could I ever forget that?

I watched but had to go out so missed the fly past. I thought the whole event was beautifully stage managed as always. I thought Timothy Spall’s reading of Churchill’s speech was very emotional as was GSM ‘Vern’ Stokes asking the veteran’s permission to begin the parade. The poor man looked terrified! I thought GSM Stokes had retired after the Queen’s funeral - good to see he’s still running the show. My father was in Italy and the Western Desert during the war. I have his medals and his cap badge. He wasn’t bothered about his medals but was very proud and protective of his cap badge as it was the only thing that had gone right through the war with him.

Most poignant here as it’s going to be 80 years since liberation of the Channel Islands also this year.
Can’t really begin to comprehend how those here felt to be under enemy control for the duration awaiting the end of the war. Some people got away, some stayed. Some sent later to prison camps in Germany for disobedience.
So many stories, so much hardship.

Jaberwok

No of course the people of Japan did NOT deserve what happened to them, but as I understand it the Japanese just simply would not stop fighting despite having been warned again and again that last resort would be the bomb. Invading Japan would have cost thousands of allied and Japanese lives and prolonged the war for months. Also the Japanese vowed to kill every POW if the allies attempted an invasion. It was a truly shocking business but the Japanese were incredibly cruel, the horror of the rape of Nankin is virtually unreadable. My stepfather never spoke of it, but nothing Japanese was allowed in our home for many many years, and food particularly rice
was eaten meticulously. Likewise the Germans most certainly did not deserve what happened to them at the end of the war. My mother joined a group in the early 1950's which was to do with peace and reconciliation, this led to us having a German girl to stay with us, and us going back to Germany to meet her family, who had a horrible war, Father being sent to the Russian front for refusing to execute Jews We became firm friends until our parents deaths.

Perhaps not a lot of posters know that there is a German cemetery in the Midlands where there are the graves of German nationals who lost their lives in the United Kingdom during the two World Wars.
I first knew about this when I was a teenager and met a German student who was over here with a group who came to tend the graves.
My father, who'd fought in two World Wars, said this young man was very welcomd to come to our house for Sunday lunch as the past was the past and not all Germans were bad people.

Unfortunately, I had an accident and could not get in touch with the German student (no mobile phones in those days) so we never met again, but we corresponded for a while.

The courage and bravery of the people we have heard about today is truly humbling.

We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for all that they did to enable us to have the freedom we take for granted today.

I think the events were very respectful.

Apart from one uncle who survived Dunkirk, my family had little personal connection to WW2.. My father was in a ‘reserved occupation’. He was a grammar school master, teaching French and German, and was never called up. My parents certainly didn’t regard ordinary Germans as enemies. They had German friends, one or two of whom I remember, and these Germans loathed Hitler as much as we did.

Greta8

I didn't want to watch it personally. However I have been remembering my Dad who served on the Atlantic convoys both to Murmansk and Archangel. He talked about the intense cold and also the lovely welcome they had from their Russian Navy counterparts when they docked - I think some Russian vodka was involved!

Bless you Dad - a life well lived - he couldn't stand the glorification of war (or the Royal family) and his daughter feels exactly the same. Each to their own - thanks to my Dad and the selfless acts of that generation we have that freedom of choice. Remembering them all today.

My dad was in the 8th Army. Went all through North Africa, Sicily, Monte Casino etc and eventually to Belsen. Like most of those involved, he rarely spoke about any of it. He too hated the glorification of the Royal Family or any inherited/undue privilege.

I watched it and got emotional as always. My Dad was a ground mechanic and attached to Monty in the desert. He got the African star and the Italian star. My uncle was a Flying Officer rear gunner and I am a ex WRAF. They both were lucky that they came back. My Dad died age 94 in 2014 and my Uncle died with Alzheimer’s. I think of all the poor souls who lost their lives and their families left to grieve.

Whitewavemark2 I have the silver wings sweetheart brooch that my Dad sent to my Mum..

Greta8

I didn't want to watch it personally. However I have been remembering my Dad who served on the Atlantic convoys both to Murmansk and Archangel. He talked about the intense cold and also the lovely welcome they had from their Russian Navy counterparts when they docked - I think some Russian vodka was involved!

Bless you Dad - a life well lived - he couldn't stand the glorification of war (or the Royal family) and his daughter feels exactly the same. Each to their own - thanks to my Dad and the selfless acts of that generation we have that freedom of choice. Remembering them all today.

I feel that Remembrance day has more meaning for many, I certainly still find it very moving. It doesn't involve all the parading about in fancy uniforms and does include people from all wars.

I love it all, but sometimes find it too emotional to watch for long. My father was on convoy duty in the North Sea in the war and my Uncle was a soldier rescued from the beach at Dunkirk. He went back on D Day. I have no idea how as he was still shell shocked, but like so many he did his duty.

Bless 'em all.

I'm hoping they will put as much effort into VJ day, although I doubt it as that part of the war always gets forgotten as if it never happened. Trying to cover Churchills mistake.

My father got wounded twice during the early years of the war so he wasn’t a soldier for long. His first wound was in the head. However, the wound that nearly killed him was when they were on their way to Belgium when he was giving out the pay. He was shot in the back on his shoulder with shrapnel just missing his heart. He told me that when he was discharged a person said to him he didn’t think he would come out alive.
This naturally affected him for the rest of his life.
What did upset him was when the doctor and a soldier came to his aid, they both got killed

The other thing I remember was the flight helmet - lined leather with a chin strap - dad used to wear. he used to wear it when riding his bicycle after the war😄😄

Could you write your memories in a journal of some sort so your precious family history isn't lost? If you don't feel that your son is interested at the moment he may well be one day. Especially when your grandchildren start asking questions.

I asked my mother what we did on VE Day. She said we didn’t do anything as my Dad was in the Pacific. We waited till VJ Day to celebrate the end of the war.
I can have sympathy with the soldiers who relieved Belsen and the other dreadful prisons My Dad was on a ship which repatriated men who had been prisoners of the Japanese.
We have a great deal to be thankful for. I hope we can pass it on to future generations and that they will learn for the future.
A big thank you to all our veterans.

My father was a Battle of Britain pilot. We have a letter that he wrote to his mother on the day that war broke out. He tells her not to worry because he had had the proper training but young men following him would not. This, sadly, proved to be true.

My mother used to follow him as he was moved and in one lodging the neighbours complained about him. He used to fly low over the house to let her know he was still alive!
My mother was a cheerful, friendly person and she used to spend time with pilots who had been badly burned and did not want their families to see them.

Sweetheart brooches have been mentioned. I have a gold one and also one that was made from the metal from a German plane that had been shot down.

My uncle was rescued from the POW camp just outside of Nagasaki. He saw the bomb go up.

The Americans rescued the British soldiers and they were sailed across the pacific and the trained across Canada - all the while being cared for and returning to good health.

I have a number of letters written between my aunt and uncle. One letter she got from him contained a tiny slip of his photo he had hidden away under the sticky enclosure.

On his return to his Cornish village he was presented with a pair of silver candlesticks by the whole village who had collected for them for his bravery.

His brother, who was much older than him had died in Passchendale in WW1. That family sacrificed a huge amount.

I hope some thought is given to Poland.
It wasn't a day of freedom there was it...

Must say I have been profoundly irritated by posts on MN by people saying they dislike the celebrations because they are ‘glorifying’ war. Presumably they are too stupid and ignorant to understand that far from ‘glorifying’, VE Day is celebrating the end of so much death and suffering because of a war nobody wanted - goodness knows Chamberlain bent over backwards to try to avoid it. In those days many were still mindful of the appalling carnage of WW1.

My mum used to get a bit cross over VE day. She'd say something like people thought that the war was over when it was still very much active elsewhere.
Her brother was sent to Burma after VE day and was killed there the following December fighting the Japanese.

Cossy

Yes, DH and I are watching, it’s very humbling and I truly hope it’ll strike those who veer towards the far right!

Amazing woman talking at the moment who is 101! Very wise words!

And far left

Cadenza123

My mum used to get a bit cross over VE day. She'd say something like people thought that the war was over when it was still very much active elsewhere.
Her brother was sent to Burma after VE day and was killed there the following December fighting the Japanese.

I agree, let's hope there is as much recognition for V.J day.
Two of my friends had brothers who were Japanese P.O.W while everyone was celebrating in Europe.