V-E Day anniversary
Some of us..will never FORGET.
I remember it well.
As a matter of fact we did start dancing in the streets (of Stafford-bombed out from life near the Manchester Ship Canal) the sreets were full of people and I had an old
school Bell, which I was ringing-during the war no Bells were allowed to be rung during the war because they were kept only to be rung for an invasion.
I had it eventually taken off me-although it was passed from one to another before hand- by some Yanks.
WE shall be having our own celelbrations re a family affair.
A family that might never have been,- and many did not survive-had the men folk not have returned from the fighting.
Anne
Senior military figures join growing disquiet over V-E Day anniversary
Senior military figures have joined the growing disquiet over a lack of V-E Day celebrations this year.
By Peter Hutchison
Published: 7:30AM BST 05 May 2010
Winston Churchill during the Second World War
The 65th anniversary of victory in Europe falls on Saturday but is being overshadowed by the General Election.
The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that with many veterans in their late 80s or 90s campaigners felt that a special effort should have been made this year as it could be the last anniversary for many.
However, there has been little publicity surrounding the date and yesterday military figures also suggested that more should be done.
Colonel Bob Stewart, a former British Army officer and United Nationscommander in Bosnia, said: “We were saved in the Second World War by the skin of our teeth only.
V-E Day was hugely significant to our population and of course we are not doing enough to commemorate it.”
Major General Patrick Cordingley, a retired British Army Officer, said: “It should be marked because it is quite special.
They won’t be around much longer so the more we can do to commemorate them and make them feel special the better.”
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former Commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said: “It’s very important that we commemorate these events partly because most people who took part in them are soon going to be leaving us.
It adds so much to the commemoration if you do it while all the people who took part are present.
“It’s something we should be doing with as much spirit and energy as
we possibly can.”
Large celebrations took place across Britain for the 50th anniversary in 1995, including a concert in Hyde Park in London, while street parties were organised in towns and villages.
Veterans suggested that something on a similar scale should have been organised this year to pay tribute to the 580,406 British and Commonwealth Forces and 67,073 civilians who lost their lives during the Second World War.
Andy Smith of the UK National Defence Association, which boasted Winston Churchill’s grandson as a former president and campaigns for the armed forces, said: “It is disappointing that the anniversary of V-E Day looks to be such a low profile event, and worse still that it might be completely overshadowed by the political horse-trading that looks set to follow this Thursday’s General Election if we end up with a hung parliament.”
Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “If there is to be government support for the celebrations, it should be made clear far enough in advance for veterans to be able to make their plans.
It would be sad if veterans were unable to attend because of government confusion.”
A commemoration service will take place at the Cenotaph in central London on Saturday, which will be attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
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