VE Day Celebrations

The only kind of commemoration of war that seems valid to me is the kind that commemorates both sides. Both sides suffer.

Glorification is the last thing that is being portrayed here. Just gratitude for all those who gave their youth and lives, men and women, and to thank.God for their sacrifice and our freedoms courtesy of their loss...We should all be eternally grateful!

Allira thanks for your post which was unnecessary as I had already said I didn’t watch

My dad fought at one point with the ghurkas who he had so much time and respect for, my West Indian father in law fought with us , one grandad was in Africa and Italy the other was 16 and riding a motorbike to the front line as a messenger boy
None are short of courage

However I personally think we should be linking with other countries on both sides for a celebration of PEACE
That would be a huge move in the right direction and that I would love to watch

You seem to have missed the word Defence.

Calling it a glorification of war is an insult to all those who fought for your freedom.
But I suppose that is what they fought for, so that those who completely misunderstand what they did and are remembering now, can speak their mind.

I am not a great fan of hereditary privilege either 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.

BlueBelle

grandma70 I wasnt going to comment on this thread but you have said it for me I am very uncomfortable with this kind of thing
I understand it is jubilation for the end of a dreadful war but it feels like a ‘we won, you lost’ kind of message and I don’t like it at all so no I didn’t watch it We as a country have done some awful things through history but they are always erased
My Dad and both grandads were in WW1 and WW2 God bless them
I d rather some big peace celebration with all countries joining forces to rejoice

Like you I have reservations about this "celebration".

We tend to forget the part played by the Russian army during the final part of WWII.

There are still wars going on all over the place so not much has been learned.

BlueBelle

grandma70 I wasnt going to comment on this thread but you have said it for me I am very uncomfortable with this kind of thing
I understand it is jubilation for the end of a dreadful war but it feels like a ‘we won, you lost’ kind of message and I don’t like it at all so no I didn’t watch it We as a country have done some awful things through history but they are always erased
My Dad and both grandads were in WW1 and WW2 God bless them
I d rather some big peace celebration with all countries joining forces to rejoice

No-one is forcing you to watch or take part.

That is what freedom means, the freedom they fought for so that you can choose.

Anniebach

People died,people suffered terrible injuries, women ran
homes with husbands and sons at war, I look on today as a remembrance to these .

Yes, me too.

And a thank you to all of those who fought for our freedom.

I don't think we should close our eyes to the atrocities that were carried out by the Nazis (and the Japanese too) and I'm sure those who survived the concentration and POW camps would think that these celebrations are also a remembrance of the relief they felt to be liberated at the end of their ordeal.

I am sorry people feel these parades are self-congratulatory and a 'we won, you lost' celebration. They are not victory parades but a celebration of a nation's courage and fortitude, and a remembrance of the sacrifice and suffering so many endured. And an opportunity to admire the skill and precision these combatants show in their display, besides the days and months in fatigues in the dust and the dirt and the mud of armed combat. It is good to take pride in people's courage.

People died,people suffered terrible injuries, women ran
homes with husbands and sons at war, I look on today as a remembrance to these .

Grandma70s
The 101 year old lady who was interviewed said much the same thing as you.
The pomp and ceremony do seem a bit like a celebration, but they did remind us of all the forces involved and also, how many lost their lives in the evil that is war, to achieve the victory which gave us an end to the war.
I thought the most interesting bit was listening to people talk about their contribution to winning the war, even those who didn’t actually fight. A bit like reading the anecdotes on here.
(My MIL riveted Halifax Bombers).

BlueBelle

grandma70 I wasnt going to comment on this thread but you have said it for me I am very uncomfortable with this kind of thing
I understand it is jubilation for the end of a dreadful war but it feels like a ‘we won, you lost’ kind of message and I don’t like it at all so no I didn’t watch it We as a country have done some awful things through history but they are always erased
My Dad and both grandads were in WW1 and WW2 God bless them
I d rather some big peace celebration with all countries joining forces to rejoice

Hear hear.

grandma70 I wasnt going to comment on this thread but you have said it for me I am very uncomfortable with this kind of thing
I understand it is jubilation for the end of a dreadful war but it feels like a ‘we won, you lost’ kind of message and I don’t like it at all so no I didn’t watch it We as a country have done some awful things through history but they are always erased
My Dad and both grandads were in WW1 and WW2 God bless them
I d rather some big peace celebration with all countries joining forces to rejoice

I enjoyed watching it. It was a bit samey samey because we seem to have had several of these occasions of late, but no less poignant for those who lost someone in the war.

I watched it, though I am uneasy about these military parades.. WW2 was a necessary evil - something had to be done about Hitler - but it was still an evil, as is all war. Thousands if not millions of ordinary innocent people died, on both sides. We should lament, not have these military commemorations which, however much they deny it, always seem to me a bit self-congratulary (is that a word?).

That said, I like seeing London looking so splendid, and I love the horses! It was nice to see the royal children, too. Prince George always looks worried, poor child, but Louis is a tonic.

How lovely to read all these family anecdotes. Both my Mum & Dad served in the forces during WW2, they spoke about it with my children who I know are proud of their grandparents.

It's up to us to make sure our children and grandchildren don't forget and carry on our proud traditions.

Particularly the King who had to stand more but also the POWales did very well to have the stamina to do this stuff.
They have both had/ are having chemo? as I understand it , which is draining during and for some time after.
Was a great show.
I loved the contrast between the brown uniforms of the women soldiers who were marching behind the glamorous multi-coloured Scots in their different kilts / headdresses etc.
I remarked to OH that it was like ducks and drakes ( no offence excellent military ladies).

Thank you Ww2. Yes it was for us, like many many other families, a difficult time. Even my maternal uncle who was 15 at the time did the post round during the school holidays, and it was he poor boy, who delivered the telegram to my mother telling her of my father's death. The postie had to actually give it to the person concerned to make sure they received it! He years later told me that it was the worse thing that he ever had to do in his whole life as he obviously knew what it was, and it was just before Christmas!!! You do sometimes wonder how families got through it all.

My father was a wireless operator in Coastal Command, firstly Catalinas then Sunderlands. They were involved in the Murmansk run, protecting the convoys from German U boats and the Luftwaffe. It was always so cold he was allowed to smoke a pipe so he could keep his fingers warm by holding the bowl.

My grandfather and uncle were both in the Merchant Navy doing the Atlantic runs.

We were very lucky not to lose anyone in the family.

jaberwok that is a somber read.

It is very sobering to remember how many made the supreme sacrifice as combatants and how many civilians were bombed and did not live to see VE day.

I still have the gold RAF wings broach, worn by my mother.

Absolutely loved this semi solemn occasion. As always an excellent display from our armed and civilian forces. Said a silent prayer for my long dead father, killed over the Netherlands before I was born, a Navigator in a Lancaster, also my mother's cousin, killed in.North Africa, and lastly my much loved stepfather who was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore, and who spent 3 + weary years as a POW. Such brave men and so very young.

Watched some of it, I fetched the washing in to iron in front of the tv.

Yes, I noticed Sophie swaying to the music!

The Duke Of Kent looks very frail, but the Princess Royal made sure he was included.

Thank goodness for her, the Wales’, the Edinburghs, all there supporting the King and Queen.

I wonder what they were having for the afternoon tea?