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My old man joined up lying about his age and ended up as navigator bomb aimer on Wellingtons. Luckily he developed a hearing problem and was taken off ops to ground crew. None of his friends survived so count myself as lucky to be here apart from that he never mentioned anything else.
My parents were both in London during the war, evacuated then brought back. My dad told me he clearly remembers seeing a Spitfire chasing a V1 overhead, he’d just taken the knee out of his first new pair of trousers for nearly 5 years and was terrified he’d get in serious trouble when he got home but told his mum he done it whilst diving for cover and got away with it! My first job was stacking shelves in Safeway and a guy who worked there had been in the Luftwaffe and was shot down during the Battle of Britain, he lost his family back home during the war and settled in London for the rest of his life, a lovely man. As said above war affects all sides there are no real winners.
My Dad was too young to join up at the start of the war but volunteered to be a fire watcher. So he spent the blitz running around the the roofs of buildings with a bucket of sand putting out incendiary bombs when he was only 14/15, unbelievable to think of this today. One of his big memories was not VE Day but VJ Day. He’d joined up by now and was in Germany after victory in Europe. His unit was being measured and kitted out with jungle fatigues to go and fight the Japanese. A rumour went around that the Japanese had surrendered. No one believed this after seeing the way they had fought to the last man without surrendering. They were even more doubtful when told they’d surrendered because a just one bomb had been dropped after seeing thousands dropped during the war. Of course, they had no idea what an atomic bomb was. This was the big celebration for him and his mates as they were dreading having to fight the Japanese and were going home.
My Dad was too young to join up at the start of the war but volunteered to be a fire watcher. So he spent the blitz running around the the roofs of buildings with a bucket of sand putting out incendiary bombs when he was only 14/15, unbelievable to think of this today. One of his big memories was not VE Day but VJ Day. He’d joined up by now and was in Germany after victory in Europe. His unit was being measured and kitted out with jungle fatigues to go and fight the Japanese. A rumour went around that the Japanese had surrendered. No one believed this after seeing the way they had fought to the last man without surrendering. They were even more doubtful when told they’d surrendered because a just one bomb had been dropped after seeing thousands dropped during the war. Of course, they had no idea what an atomic bomb was. This was the big celebration for him and his mates as they were dreading having to fight the Japanese and were going home.
It is an incredibly proud and emotional experience to be stood in the street and watch (mostly) everyone just stop and quietly remember and respect all those who went to war - those that lost their lives and now, as we have all learnt, those that have come back alive scarred with so many memories and personal experiences.
I always get emotional during that minute as I give myself to think of all the men and women who were taken to war, the thought of leaving behind loved ones and never knowing what was ahead for them. We could never put ourselves in their boots but we can always remember them for all they did and all they gave.
Since TRump got voted in both my sons have asked me if I think they will ever get called up.
Answer I sincerely hope not but it shows its in the minds of the younger generation.
My dad served in the RAMC in India 1943-1945/6 again would never speak of what he saw.
As a youngster I would go to the cenetaph to watch the ex soldiers march by on rememberance sunday. Those marching by went on for hours WW1 & WW2 veterans, this would have been mid sixties.
Never forget and never forget This is the United Kingdom regardless of how disunited it is.
I was born in 1946. My Dad was already in the military, when WWII started. My Grandad died of gas, in WWI, I never knew him. My Dad used to go to the Cenotaph, with his medals on. VE day was always a big thing, in my house, long may it continue.
My old man was in the DDay landings but on this day it’s not him i think about. He had crossed the Rhine by then and at least he had a gun or two. No it’s my Mum that I think of , 24 years old with three young children. For my Mum, the guarantee that there would be no more bombs or V2 must have been profound. Anyone that lives in a house built before 1945 should try to imagine that people would have left their front door 80 years ago with that sense of relief .
My thoughts are that the lack of energy behind this milestone VE Day in suburban London is a disgrace Everything about Victory in Europe should celebrated loudly and proudly every year and these landmark days even more so.
Those who sacrificed so much…… Eternally grateful to them all and such a shame that patriotism is becoming more and more and more diluted with each passing generation.
I'm not what you would call a patriot, but it makes me kinda proud that this small island stood on its own for a time against the might of the German army. Also I'll always have time for the men and women whol lost their lives defending the freedoms we have today.
Important to note that Britain wasn’t on its own though
Important to note that Britain wasn’t on its own though
Indeed, our tiny island stood alone...with 2.5 million from the Indian subcontinent - the largest volunteer army in history (wiki), and the rest of the largest empire in history.
Indeed, our tiny island stood alone...with 2.5 million from the Indian subcontinent - the largest volunteer army in history (wiki), and the rest of the largest empire in history.
Anyone with even a smidgin of knowledge knows that Britain didn't - and couldn't have - won it on its own. The Allies won the war.
My dad was a kid in London when the war started. He was evacuated to the country and hated it, so ran away back to London. Twice. The second time, they said 'sod it' and let him stay. So he had the blitz at night and watched various air battles from doorways during the day. He never really spoke about being scared but, to be fair, he was pretty close-lipped about the whole thing. Some things you don't talk about to your kids, I suppose.
After the war, he fell for a German lass and they ended up emigrating to Canada. Her brother was a bomber pilot: so, when Dad was in the blitz looking up, he was in the blitz looking down. Go figure.
Members of my Dad's family served. One, I remember, was a sergeant in one of the Airborne brigades. He is buried where he fell on Sicily.
Neither me nor my family would've been here today if not for that generation. I cannot thank them enough. My daughter is an Army cadet and she is going to visit a 102 yr old former service woman tomorrow, for a ceremonial flag raising. The young haven't forgotten.
Update - daughter said the 102 year old was 'really cool - she behaved like she was in her 20's!'
The cadets had a whale of a time and spent ages chatting with the care home residents and eating cupcakes.
Really proud of her.
'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!'
My thoughts are that the lack of energy behind this milestone VE Day in suburban London is a disgrace Everything about Victory in Europe should celebrated loudly and proudly every year and these landmark days even more so.
Those who sacrificed so much…… Eternally grateful to them all and such a shame that patriotism is becoming more and more and more diluted with each passing generation.
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