My mother, as a fourteen and three quarter year old schoolgirl at a Convent in Ealing, on that day of great rejoicing wrote an account in her school exercise book note of what she saw and did on VE Day entitled “The Most Exciting Experience of My Life.” Amid her recollections of sailors dancing in the fountains at Trafalgar square, of flags and rosettes, of the bright lights everywhere after years of blackout, and the huge crowds cheering as the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, spoke from the Home Office balcony, I am struck by a sober note on which she begins and ends: “At last there would be no worrying about the safety of relations and friends in the forces, no bombs, no buzz bombs, rockets or news of the horrible suffering of occupied Europe,” she begins and concludes “It was not only the day itself which has been so stupendous, but the fact that the war with Germany was over and won.”
The Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, May 2020
Suddenly we came upon a crowd of people gathered round the Home Office, and on looking I saw Mr Churchill, accompanied by his small grandson on a balcony which was decorated with an enormous Union Jack. A hush fell on the crowd as we all listened to what the great man had to say. At the end of his speech a small band below struck up with “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”. The response was terrific. The night was filled with the voices of us all and for minutes afterwards our cheers rang out. When at last Mr Churchill left the balcony we began to wander back towards Trafalgar Square. The air was full of coloured streamers and rows of us were all marching along arm in arm, all friends, all sharing the same great happiness. Many people made a real night of it as they were unable to get home but at last, very tired yet very happy, we joined a queue for the underground. I shall never forget that journey!
Joyce Thorn, 8 May 1945 (Joyce later became the mother of a little boy, Christopher. Her married name was Chessun)
The dreadful Nazi regime had been destroyed, the fighting was over, with the European war ending on the 8th May with the German Forces surrendering un-conditionally and VE Day was declared…No VE Day break from boarding school for us, though we had no lessons and solemnly attended a very special Thanksgiving Service in the Chapel. Afterwards, I went for a cycle ride through the Berkshire and Oxfordshire countryside with friends searching for removable war time relics! Actually I acquired an observer’s metal chair from a deserted Ack Ack site.
Major General Sir Michael Carleton-Smith CBE, DL, 10 May 2020
As I approach my 90 years I remember VE Day. I was 10 and my father dragged our piano out into the street for a very lively street party! During the war we used to shelter in the crypt under our church (Ascension, Pollards Hill) the Vicar used to bring down jugs of tea and for a child it seemed great fun! The house suffered blast damage and a wall fell down. But we survived!
Pam, 3 May 2025 (via iPhone)
