Remembering the date

 May 8th 1945                                May 9th 1945

Victory in Europe Day                  Liberation Day

Ever since 1945 annual celebrations have taken place across Britain and the Channel Islands following the sudden relief felt by most people alive at the time.  Huge happiness for the future had arrived; great sorrow as they remembered family members were lost during the Second World War; and tired relief even though some of the difficult times still lay ahead.

In special years commemorations were held in 1950, 1970, then 1985. As the key years lay behind us, and more of us forgot the date until too late, we were beginning to realise for an increasing number of young people the year 1945 and the date 8th May meant little or nothing to them.  Not only had they not been born in 1945, an increasing number of their parents weren't around then either.  More families weren't in a position to talk about the events.  The question turned from being "what did you do in the war dad/grandad?" to "Did anyone in our family know anything about the war?" to "What was this 1945 thing?"

Probably not surprising; after all, no-one today remembers celebrations at the end of 19th century wars and battles, nor even the First World War.

But in St Albans the Herts Advertiser did their best.  All the printing was in black and white on very poor quality paper.  The skills required to produce quality photographs were just not there yet, as you will see in these re-prints below.  In 1945 everyone knew the name of the Mayor (it was Mr William Bird, whose house was in Beaumont  Avenue at the time).  Masses of uniformed (mainly) men standing guard outside the Town Hall with crowds of residents gathered behind.  The jubilation was guarded and restrained.

May 8th 1945 in Market Square; Mayor William Bird gave a formal speech.
COURTESY THE HERTS ADVERTISER

But the fun came in the suburbs with a certain amount of dressing up and instant drama along the streets; everyone seemed to let down their hair.

COURTESY THE HERTS ADVERTISER

In parts of our district families hailing from Guernsey had been living here, having left their island (and from Jersey) just days before the enemy began its occupation of the islands.  So when 8th May arrived and the surrender signed off it was not until the following day, the 9th, that "our dear Channel Islands" could be freed.  So in Britain the date was known as Victory in Europe Day (VE), because that is what it was – though there was a lot more still to do – and tomorrow the Channel Islands will be commemorating Liberation Day, because that is what it was for the islanders.

In Liberation Square, St Helier, Jersey they selected something altogether more permanent in Philip
Jackson's highly symbolic sculpture.  Islanders are daily reminded of their return to freedom.

Islanders in Guernsey carry their reminder of freedom daily in their pockets.

So, friends and families, wherever we are, we'll hopefully have conversations, not just today and tomorrow, but every 8th and 9th May.