8th May 1945: VE-Day!

On the 7th May 1945, at 2.41am, German commanders signed the total surrender of Germany to the Allies at Rheims in France. Hostilities were to cease at one minute past midnight on the 8th. The war in the Pacific continued until August 1945 but, in Europe, the war was over.

The BBC made an announcement on national radio on the 7th May 1945: ‘… Germany has signed an unconditional surrender bringing to an end six years of war in Europe, according to reports from France.
> This evening the Ministry of Information has confirmed that an official statement declaring the end of the war, will be made simultaneously in London, Washington and Moscow tomorrow.
> The day has been declared a national holiday to mark Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). The following day (9 May) will also be a national holiday …’ – at http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/7/newsid_3578000/3578325.stm

So the 8th May 1945 was declared VE-Day or Victory in Europe day, and both the 8th and the 9th May were public holidays. People celebrated VE-Day in Allied countries all over the world, and all over Briitain. VE-Day was celebrated in various ways in Colchester, including at the garrison, and in the surrounding villages and military airbases. Wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the Allied Victory in Europe at 3.00pm on the 8th May: hostilities were to cease at one minute past midnight, although the Allies had started sounding the ‘cease-fire’ on all fronts on the 7th. The banner headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror on the 8th May simply said ‘VE-Day!‘.

Roman Circus House, which houses the Trust’s offices and the Roman circus centre, was built in 1937 as the NAAFI of the Le Cateau (Artillery) Barracks of the old Colchester garrison. The 27th Army Field Regiment (Royal Artillery), consisting of 21, 24, 37 and 47 Batteries, was stationed in the Le Cateau Barracks in 1939: they joined I Corps of the British Army on the outbreak of WW2 and went to France in November 1939 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. They served in the Battle of France in 1940 and were evacuated from Dunkirk. After service in Britain, the 27th A.F.R. were moved to India in 1942 and to Burma in 1944 Burma, and they were in Burma on VE-Day.

In his speech to the crowds in London on VE-Day, Winston Churchill said:
‘… This is your victory!
It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land.
In all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this.
Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the independent resolve of the British nation.
God bless you all… My dear friends, this is your hour…’ – at www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/YrVictry.html

Tomorrow (9th May), we are holding a special open day at Roman Circus House to celebrate VE-Day on its 70th anniversary. It is also our small tribute to everyone who served in the Allied forces or contributed in the Allied countries during WW2. The Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, and Sir Bob Russell, will be attending the event.

The open day is 10.00am-4.30pm, and the outdoor concert is 2.00pm-4.30pm. Admission is free. WW2 veterans are welcome to come and enjoy complimentary tea and biscuits. Full details of the event on this web-site at www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?p=19373 .

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