VE 80 - Share your story

Sidney Passfield

Served in the Essex Yeomanry. He was involved in the D Day Landings, supporting the Canadian Army for the Battle of Caen and he fought through Europe. Unfortunately he didn't speak much of the war until later life.

Edie Butcher

Remembering my Nan, Edie Butcher (back, right.) She served in the Women's Land Army in Leicester. We enjoyed listening to many stories of her time, working the farms.

Walter Berry

Walter was from Askam in Furness, Cumbria. He served in the Royal Army Service Corps, was rescued from Dunkirk in 1940, and went on to serve in Italy sometime between 1943 –1945. Throughout his Army career he was awarded the Italy Star, The Defence Medal, The 1939 –1945 Star and the War Medal 1939 –1945.

Trooper Glyn Davies

I’m remembering my grandfather, Trooper Glyn Davies, who served with the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) — now part of The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (Welsh Cavalry). He was a tank driver and mechanic, serving in the North Africa and Italy campaigns during World War II. I often wonder what it must have felt like to return home after witnessing such devastation — the relief, the sorrow, and the weight of memory. My grandfather was a true gentleman — kind, humble, and quietly strong.

Frederick Victor Nicholas

Grandad Vic became a Welsh Guard at 18. He was part of a battalion sent to France early in WW2, and subsequently evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk. He went on to have a long career with the forces, but never talked about the war. A lovely man who we were very proud of.

Colin Thackery

On VE day itself, I was in Coventry with my grandparents. And we heard a lot of all the jollification going on! I'd been in London all through the Blitz and we were left with bomb sites all over London. It was a great relief to think that we didn't have to dodge bombs anymore, it was wonderful.

Joyce Wilding

The actual day we had off, so I drove up to London. There were four or five of us who went up, and I mean, the first thing we did was to get into Piccadilly, and we joined a crocodile, you know, that was doing the hokey-cokey or the pally glide down Piccadilly, and everyone was just singing, cheering. I remember masses of American soldiers climbing up lampposts. It was chaos, really, but joyous chaos.

Joseph Connor

Aged 18, Joseph served as a Trooper in the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment driving a Humber light armoured vehicle for three years from 1942 to 1945. Joseph was involved in frontline action in France including the allied invasion of Normandy. His job was to go forward as part of the recce team, fire and pinpoint enemy positions and report back to his unit. Sometimes he was the front vehicle going towards German held positions.

Dennis Ronald Dawson

Served with the RAF in North Africa

George Oversby

My dad, George Oversby, was a Flight Sergeant in WW2. He was Wop/AG (wireless operator/air gunner) flying ops in RAF Bostons with the Middle East Air Force based in Egypt seeking "targets of opportunity". When the Allies got a hold in Italy proper my dad's squadron was disbanded as "surplus" and he was retrained as a dispatcher in Dakotas (for which he had a lifelong admiration) and moved to a base in India from where supply drops were made to to the army still in combat in places like

George Bernard Albert Gulliver

George Bernard Albert Gulliver, Born 26th October 1932 , West Ham, Enlisted at EL Ballah, M.E.L.F 1952, George was transferred to the reserves after two years national service. George passed away 14th Feb 2004 he was always raising funds for veterans and was well known in the community.

Sid Sallis

Sid had joined the Army in 1942 as a driver and served a total of five years. When an injury sustained in the boxing rink put him out of action for D-Day, Sid joined the 1st Airborne Division and on 20th September found himself flying over Arnhem dropping supplies to British troops on the ground.

Ken O’Sullivan (L/Cpl)

Ken was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers (1944-48). As my Grandfather he recalled VE Day to me on many occasions but his recollections of the war as a teenager, in particular the Blitz in Liverpool, were also striking.

Sgt Arthur Allendale Lansley

Arthur served from 1933-1945 A real gentleman and much respected by young and old. He never spoke of his service only after his death did we piece together his story through photos,poetry and anecdotes. Arthur was a keen footballer and managed to have cartilage removed whilst in India, with the quip " who says you die in Hospital" he survived a gunshot shot wound and a bout of malaria. A very courageous soldier in the Africa campaign. He spent time in the Middle East and was part of the Africa

My father Bill

My father Bill was a driver in 911 General Transport Company, RASC, and was sent to the Middle East in 1941, where he stayed until 1945. My mother chose not to celebrate VE Day because my father was still deployed. She felt she couldn’t join in the joy without him by her side. That speaks volumes about love and commitment during war.

David Wright

We marked every single moment of celebration, of course. We waved our flags on VE Day and VJ Day, but at the same time we knew the war was still going on. When it finally ended there was relief because so many people had sadly been lost, but we also wondered what was coming next.

Paul Williamson

On VE Day I went to London to celebrate and there was an enormous crush along the Embankment, like there is on New Year’s Eve when people gather to see the fireworks. We watched the VE Victory March in Charing Cross Road feeling terribly relieved that the war was finally over and we were no longer in danger. No more of our friends would be wounded or killed. However, we were also in no doubt that we would still be living lives of hardship.

Stan

We were in the swimming baths when someone came in and said "The war is over". We all ran out, we never dried ourselves!

Bob

I was around 10 years old at the time of VE Day. I remember walking to school and watching people put up Union Jack flags on the street. We all had special lunches and parties in the playground.

Les Fryatt

Les was part of the advance in Europe, spending time in Belgium and Holland before crossing the Rhine. He was in Germany for VE Day and recalls listening to Winston Churchill’s broadcast over a tannoy. Les was finally demobbed in 1947 and returned home to find a dramatically altered London. He recalls: “Things slowly became more stable, but building a future was a real concern. You had to stand on your own two feet.”

Mervyn Kersh

People were dancing and hugging complete strangers. There was an uncontrolled outpouring of relief and joy. And that was just in Bruges!

Ken Hay MBE

We were walking down 'monkeys parade' when we heard a woman shout out "Hey soldier, give us a kiss..." I've never had so many kisses in my entire life, it was great! I'll never forget it.

Sargent K.S.Shepherd 41Commando RM & Captain H Shepherd RAOC

The family who a father and 2sons all safely came home against all odds. On the right of the main picture is my late father Sargent K S Shepherd 41 . Dad with his unit saw action in the Sicily & Salerno landings & the following year with D Day landing in Sword. Center picture is Captain H Shepherd military service 1915-1952, WW2 was as part of the BEF escaped the beaches of Dunkirk and later served in the Western Desert . Left of picture was the younger brother Eric Shepherd Royal Marines.

Francis Swaisland

My Grandad… survived WWII but sadly died at a young age of 55 so I never knew him. He served in both the Merchant and the Royal Navy.

George Brown

My Grandad… he lived to a ripe old age of 84 but never spoke about his time during the war. Only when my Nan died 3.5 years ago, and we cleared the house, did I find his service record which showed he stayed in the RAF, stationed in India, until August 1946. Lots of research still to do.

Sidney Butcher

Sid served in India, Burma, north Africa and Italy. We are all very proud