Captain Peter Andrews to his family "From time to time a seared white face appeared at an upstairs windows - it was quite clear that the German civilians thought their hour had come; they had never seen the British in this mood before and they obviously expected the worst." Sent from: Flensburg, Germany Date of letter: 10 May 1945
John Gardiner to his wife Sylvia "We were all turned in and fast asleep, and all of a sudden, every ship in the harbour blew off steam… I thought everyone had gone mad. Every ship fired a rocket and there was a huge fire in Devonport." Sent from: Canada Date of letter: 17 August 1943
Gwendoline Maddison to her husband Stan "It was a fine speech, wasn’t it? I like the dry humour he introduces but thought he sounded very tired" Sent from: Lincoln Date of letter: 9 May 1945
Moira McGechie to her husband George "Well, this is it, dearest, and yet I somehow don’t feel just so excited as I did last night. We haven’t done anything very special today." Sent from: Glasgow Date of letter: 8 May 1945
Reginald Day to his family "Last Monday was the Day of the Great Event when the Russians marched into the camp; then the Americans arrived on Wednesday" Sent from: Stalag IVB, Muhlberg, Germany Date of letter: 28 April 1945
John Moore to his family “I shall always remember it - not as one of the happiest days of my life, but as one of the most miserable and depressing. You see, the war’s over and now it’s up to us to show the Germans how smart we can be. So… we have a day of parades and inspections!” Sent from: Hamburg Date of letter: 8 May 1945
Max Baker to his family describing life at sea "I have just about had a gut full of rotten food, filthy mess decks and officers who are treated like lords and yet treat us like pigs, so as soon as this war is over I shall do my best to get out of this pig sty." Sent from: HMT Empire Trooper Date of letter: 25 December 1940
A VE Day programme sent by Kenneth Thomas to his parents "Football. Tiffin. Dinner. Free Bar and Buffet in Cinema." Sent from: India
Gladys Jackson to her brother Wallie "We’re all longing for that day Wallie, when you’re sitting here having a cup of Mum’s tea, still chin up, it can’t be much longer now" Sent from: Willesden, London Date of letter: 4 September 1945
Ruth Heppel to her brother Keith and sister-in-law Jane "When we arrived at Whitehall we joined the crowd, and just by pure luck... Winston passed just by us, sitting on the roof of his car, waving his hat and puffing at his cigar." Sent from: London Date of letter: 10 May 1945
Veronica Jewell to her fiancé John Moverley "All the afternoon we were in and out of the house all day watching everyone get ready for the street tea parties, and of course had to join in the fun, dancing and singing." Sent from: Cardiff
VE Day diary entry of Joseph Henry Franks "What a day, I am home at last to Eileen and it is V.E. Day. I am the happiest man alive I should think today." Sent from: Eastbourne Date of letter: 8 May 1945
Winifred Hunt to her son Maurice "I am always anxious for the postman hoping he has a letter from you." Sent from: London Date of letter: 7 May 1945
Letters between Joan Page and Charles Page "It’s surprising darling how quietly this marvellous news has been taken by the troops out here on the whole." Sent from: Athens, Greece Date of letter: 9 May 1945
Lt Arthur Wear to Ivy "Well the day we have been working for so long arrived at last." Sent from: London Date of letter: 10 May 1945
Cyril Bonner to Joan "Actually the news came through yesterday evening about 9.30... At first nobody in the hotel seemed at all excited and one would almost have thought the people in the lounge were all attending a church meeting instead of discussing victory" Sent from: Ceylon Date of letter: 8 May 1945
Kathleen Jenkins to her husband Geoffrey "Colin quite enjoyed seeing all the flags etc but didn’t know what it was all about. I pray God he will never have to see another war but I don’t feel absolutely certain of it and I’ve got an idea who we shall be fighting too." Date of letter: 10 May 1945
Stanley Poulton to his son Peter "Great news since I wrote last, isn’t it. I went and got very drunk on V.E. night. I didn’t intend to but the pubs kept open till 12 and we kept celebrating till they shut." Sent from: Hungerford, Berkshire Date of letter: 12 May 1945
Sam Townsend to his parents "It is a peculiar sensation to be suddenly faced with the fact that when one goes out you haven’t got to be continually checking up with troops on where the bosch are and to believe that one won’t get shot at again - quite a relief! No blown bridges - no mines - no booby traps - an no more nightmares!" Sent from: Hamburg Date of letter: 7 May 1945
Sqn Leader John Fennessy to his son on his future 21st birthday "You have a right to absolute liberty of action as an Englishman" Sent from: Sealand near Chester Date of letter: 28 June 1945
Eileen Dowling to her husband Charles "Gosh Darling I do wish you had been here to help me celebrate this great victory. The people have just gone absolutely mad with joy." Sent from: Aintree, Liverpool Date of letter: 9 May 1945
Trooper James William Warburton to his mother "I received a letter from Eddie and he told me to keep my head down but it seems I wasn't quick enough" Sent from: Ostend, Belgium Date of letter: 12 April 1945
Albert Lloyd to his family "Well at last after six long years Jerry has had it, and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you all for the way you have all carried on without a moan or grumble (except Chas with his income tax, ha ha)"
Eileen Edwards to her husband Lenin "We shall all be glad when we hear that the European war has ended but I do not forget that there is another war theatre too." Sent from: Wolverhampton
Daphne Lee to her husband Charles "I have just been listening to the 9pm news from London and they announced that Munich has been entered and thousands of Allied Prisoners of War have been liberated and now, yes, I’m sure that you were among them and that you too are now free." Date of letter: 29 April 1945
Lt Colin Ewart Angus to his brother David "Each time I think of the atrocities in the con[centration] camps I wonder where on earth they thought they were heading." Sent from: Hanover, Germany Date of letter: 5 May 1945
Eileen Coward to her pen friend Ronald "This is the kids at their victory party" Sent from: Downham Estate, London Date of letter: 19 May 1945
J W Turner to his parents Frank and Minnie "I remember the glowing accounts of 1918 you used to tell us when we were children" Sent from: Italy Date of letter: 11 May 1945
Romey Spurin to her future husband "What a sight I have seen! Huge bonfires in the streets and such merry making! ... I do not suppose anyone will sleep tonight." Sent from: Nurses' accommodation Guy's Hospital, London Date of letter: 7 May 1945
Monty Northorpe to his family "Keep these dance tickets as souveniers of V day please. I danced from 8 till 12 continuous" Sent from: Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales Date of letter: 9 May 1945
English (UK)English (UK)
