Celebrating VE Day 75th Anniversary

This page will hold memories and photos from VE day and also the small ways that people will be remembering VE days in their homes this year.

Please send photos or comments to clerk@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk for inclusion.

Piccadilly Square pictured as supporters celebrate VE Day, May 08, 1945. Photo taken by Sgt. James A. Spence, during his service in World War II.
By Mrjspence at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

The British Legion – Remembrance in 2020

The following section is reproduced from the Briitish Legion website. You can see the whole article on this webpage.

This year we’re remembering the impacts that leaving, absence and coming home have on Service men and women, and their loved ones – then and now.

The end of WWII

At the end of the Second World War 3.8 million British men and 400,000 women were demobilised, returning to their homes and families, some for the first time in many years.

To this was added tens of thousands of evacuees, the majority of them children, who returned home to town and cities that needed rebuilding.

Millions of personnel from Commonwealth forces also faced long journeys back to their homes across the world, whilst over 60 million refugees across the world were left displaced needing to rebuild their lives.

These reunions were often joyous, frequently strained and sometimes painful. Resettlement to civilian life was a major concern of post-war governments and a driver of social change in Britain and across the world.

Memories From VE Day

“When the American troops were based at the camp they sent trays of ring doughnuts by train from the camp halt down to Chiseldon station for us kids at the High St school. One Christmas we were collected by army lorry and taken to the mess for Christmas dinner. My present was a game of Chinese chequers. I think the year must have been 1943/4.”

“When we were 11 we left the High St school to go to the Camp. Two old buildings were used by us including one with a big kitchen .We had a great time there. My dad had the paper shop from1955 until 1970. He built the shop that was pulled down to build the new Spar shop.”