65th Anniversary Of VE Day

[Mid A 15]

I've just watched the coverage of this, tucked away on BBC 2 with little or no informative advertising as far as I could see, and couldn't help contrasting with the vacuuous nonsense spouted by the two shiny suited spivs and the condescending Scot whom dismisses anybody expressing disagreement as a bigot which has dominated the media of late. Through no fault of their own many young people know little or nothing of the sacrifices made by their grandparents, great grandparents and even great great grandparents.

No wonder we no longer have a country worthy of the name and our real government is in Brussels. Anybody would think that there are only 3 political parties given the prominence the three stooges have been privileged to receive.

[englishangel]

Now don't be so mealy mouthed Andy, say what you really think.

My son (now 24) became interested in military history at the age of 9 when visiting his grandparents in 1994 for the D-Day 50th anniversary. My parents lived about 200 yards from one of the South coast beacons.

The following year he came with me when I voted in the local elections and as we walked in he said, "I suppose this is why Grandpa fought in the war."

[midget]

Well done EA. One of the younger volunteers in the Hospice shop yesterday seemed to know b****r all about the war, VE day, the election or anything else. Part of the trouble is that they teach "interesting" topics with no background. When my daughter was teaching about the war, she asked me to send her my recollections of being evacuated, and my sister to send a bit about D Day (she was in the WAAF) The kids were apparently very interested in REAL peoples experiences.

[englishangel]

My Mum lived in Orkney as a teenager in the War and we took her back 22 years ago (my how time flies) when James was but a tot. I found it fascinating, so I'm sure he would love to go back now.

[J.R.]

It doesn't really matter if you support armed conflict or are a pacifist.

Our guys and girls die and get mutilated for their country.

The people who start it all sit behind nice mahogony desks in Whitehall.

Three cheers for the people of Wootton Bassest (sp?) who receive our dead bac k with great dignity !

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I remember VE day at CH ---- L M Carey walked into the Day room and remarked, conversationally -- "The War's over -- you needn't do any more Prep "

The Founder's Statue, in the Quad, was dressed in a red bathing costume and held an orange in his outstretched hand, some idiot painted the faces of the supporting OBs GREEN, ------- I checked on the 60+ re-union -- and some traces STILL remain !

For VJ Day I was in Picaddilly and listened to Zoe Ball (?) singing "I'm gonna get lit up when the lights go on in London "from a balcony in Coventry Street.

Literally ---- Happy Days !!

[midget]

We were all tucked up in bed when DR came into the dorm, which was something unheard of. There had been a lot of shouting out in the street, and someone asked if the war was over. The answer was absolutely typical. "Go to sleep now girls".

The following day we were divided into groups, mixed Wards and forms, for a treasure hunt round the school, with all the thrill oof an entertainment by the staff in the evening. I remember Miss Baillie singing Lile Marlene, and Miss King et al. "playing" Papier mache musical instruments.

[Fjgrogan]

Surely it was generally known before VE Day that the war was over in Europe? I was born on 4 May 1945 and have always understood that that was the day when the Germans surrendered in NW Europe, but it then took a few days to organise the formal signing of the surrender on VE Day. I have always felt that it must have been rather wonderful for my parents to know that their first child would be brought up in peacetime - I was also the first grandchild on both sides of the family. The nurses at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, where I was born, were all granted two extra days off to celebrate, but they had to be taken that week, which meant that the hospital was short staffed, and my mother claimed that they were more concerned with bedmaking than feeding babies! My father, who was in the Navy based at Chatham, was not allowed leave to be at the birth - his CO said 'You were there for the laying of the keel; you do not need to be at the launching'! My younger brother, having been told all his life that I was born the day the war ended, still seems to think that my birthday is on 8 May, but only ever sends a card on the big anniversaries. Thus on my 50th birthday Europe celebrated and I got a card from my brother, and again this week on my 65th!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I hate to be Hysterical (Historical ?) about this, but the War did NOT end on VE day.

Holders of the Burma Star Campaign Medal, were still fighting, and Dying long after that, as were those who were prisoners of the Japanese, whos horror tales seem , now, to be largely forgotton !


BTW this is not a "Wind-up" but a reminder that SOME of us are still not friends !

[J.R.]

I hate to be Hysterical (Historical ?) about this, but the War did NOT end on VE day.

Holders of the Burma Star Campaign Medal, were still fighting, and Dying long after that, as were those who were prisoners of the Japanese, whos horror tales seem , now, to be largely forgotton !


BTW this is not a "Wind-up" but a reminder that SOME of us are still not friends !

Exactly, Neill ! A certain country STILL hasn't gone the whole mile aND FULLY apologised for the way they treated our troops as POW's !

[sejintenej]

I hate to be Hysterical (Historical ?) about this, but the War did NOT end on VE day.

Holders of the Burma Star Campaign Medal, were still fighting, and Dying long after that, as were those who were prisoners of the Japanese, whos horror tales seem , now, to be largely forgotton !

BTW this is not a "Wind-up" but a reminder that SOME of us are still not friends !

Neill; I don't think that there are many people in Britain who consider May to be the end of the war.
a) VE day is clearly only the fall of one major enemy.
b) It is the 11th November which gets the real attention in Britain, as well it might. I'm not sure of the exact date of VJ day; it is seen as recording the end of hostilities in two world wars but many died after VE / VJ Day as a result of war.

Indeed until recently VE and VJ days were hardly noted.


There still exist a few small "wars"; ISTR that some town in the North-east signed a peace treaty recently because the town had independently declared war decades / centuries ago. It could have been with Spain or perhaps Imperial Germany (ie WWI) - I forget who.

[englishangel]

It was Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Crimean War.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%25 ... n/art38768

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I shall really be in trouble over this "Wind-up" ---------

Yorkshire has always been very patriotic ------- on 3rd Sept 1939, when Britain declared War on Germany ----






Yorkshire were in, on the very same day !!!


I'm VERY glad that TBA can't access this !

[sejintenej]

It was Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Crimean War.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%25 ... n/art38768

Congratulations on finding that. The reason why Berwick is thought to be still at war is an illustration of the detailed technicalities which make Britain so interesting.
There is a question of the definition of "war"; I don't think anyone declared war over the Falklands (No JR! not the Malvinas). We still have a couple of anti-Welsh laws which, whilst not actually war related as such are close to it (Welshmen cannot remain inside the walls of Chester at night and Welshmen can legally be killed in a certain other city). I suspect that Berwick has a couple of ancient bye-laws going back to the forays from north of the border. I know that there is one anti-Ulster one from the days of John which probably has never been cancelled / replaced and then there are the Pale Laws which have similar effects.

[midget]

My husband was in Burma on VE day. He says they were told of it, and then all confined to barracks, just in case!!