So, a spot of celebration is in order.
I did my best with the 'bunting'. Some flags tied together and held in the window with a bit of string.
Mum and Dad remeber VE Day well, and this is a vague approximation of their VE Day tea. Marmite sandwiches, jam sandwiches, a bit of cake and a pot of tea. I'm not sure they had cherry tomatoes in 1945 but hey, ho.
I got a bit dressed up for the occasion in my British re-enactment uniform. RTR beret and best belt with the brass freshly polished. We'd been planning on going to my nephews 1940s themed VE Day party, but obviously that isn't happening because of the lockdown.
It seemed a shame to miss out on the opportunity to dress up, although it was a bit of a hot day for the full wool BD and wool shirt. At least I didn't also have the long johns on...
Time for some refreshing British ale.
Among other things, I am the custodian of our family's medals. One day I mean to get them properly mounted, but for now I did them hastily on some card backing. I am fairly sure the ribbons on the 1939-45 Stars are the wrong way round, but that is how they were given to me and I'm not going to start fiddling. I hope I got the order right at least.
From top to bottom, left to right.
Teds 1939-45 Star, Burma Star. I only have the ribbon for his War Medal.
Toms 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Italy Star, War Medal
Tom is also eligible for the Arctic Star, as he served on the Murmansk convoys but we haven't applied for it yet.
I would like to thank everyone who took part in the titanic struggle to maintain our freedom, and in particular my relatives who served in the army, navy, air force (and ARP!).
Tom, Phil, Stan, Joe, Pickle.
A very special mention for Lance Corporal ESW Rapier, Royal Corps of Signals who lost his life in 1944 at the age of 32.
My grandfather.
Hello Martin- Recently we remembered ANZAC Day- here in Sydney- this consisted of going to the end of the driveway of our Homes at 6:00am with a hand held candle in the dark...in the distance people could hear the Last Post being played. This gesture was so successful that it may take on in forthcoming years. Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great Kev.
DeleteNow that's a tasteful and meaningful commemoration. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSitting, drinking tea, you reminded me a lot of Montgomery. Perhaps anyone in BD and tank beret would.
Cheers
Andrew
I haven't got quite as many cap badges as Monty!
Delete"I don't have much time for the appropriation of VE Day by little englanders and the current incumbent of 10 Downing Street, but the defeat of Nazi Germany end the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945 is certainly something to celebrate" - 100% approve of this! Hope you enjoyed your tea.
ReplyDeleteIt was very nice thanks. Mum said back in 1945 the only drink options were very strong tea so some rather strange reconstituted orange juice (made from powder I guess).
DeleteWell said Martin! I think the current jingoistic flag wavers have lost sight of what and who it's commemorating. Sadly I have no knowledge of my parents VE day; Dad would have been somewhere in the vicinity of Bremen or Hamburg with 52 Lowland (6 Cameronians) with my mother in Northumberland with the Land Army.
ReplyDeleteMum and Dad said it was all fairly sombre. My mother's neighbour had lost both sons in the RAF and her husband in WW1, while my grandmother had recently received official notification of my grandfather's death after a year posted as missing. They said the only people celebrating were the young people in Trafalgar Square. Amazingly Dad's house had been repaired after it was damaged by a V1. I'd imagined him being bombed out.
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