As the nation gears up to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, a recent study of 2,000 adults has revealed a concerning lack of knowledge about VE Day – a defining moment in British history. Shockingly, 46% of respondents didn’t know when VE Day took place, and one in 10 were unaware of what the term stands for.
Even more revealing is the fact that 47% of those surveyed have little to no understanding of how their ancestors might have celebrated that momentous day on 8th May 1945. However, despite this knowledge gap, 25% of people expressed a wish to own photos of their relatives marking the historic event, while 38% said they want the traditions of VE Day to be passed down and preserved for future generations.
Pat Owtram was just 18 when she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) and went on to become a wartime codebreaker. She vividly recalls the profound emotions of that historic day and speaking of her experience, she described VE Day as “unforgettable.”
“It came as a huge relief,” she said. “I remember the cheers and tremendous excitement of the crowds as I joined them outside Buckingham Palace.” Yet for Pat, the celebration was bittersweet, her father was still a prisoner of war at the time, and her joy was mingled with a longing for his safe return.
Pat described VE Day as the beginning of a brighter chapter for a war-weary nation. “Six long years of war in Europe were over,” she reflected. “I felt I’d played my part in the Wrens and looked forward to my father coming home.” For Pat, preserving these memories is crucial, “Keeping these memories alive is so important – and having access to wartime records really matters. They help us remember, understand, and pass these powerful stories on for future generations.”
The research was commissioned by family history platform Findmypast to celebrate the launch of a new VE Day photo archive. The public is being encouraged to share their own family connections and the stories behind wartime images to help create a powerful collective record of those who lived through WWII.
Historian Lucy Worsley OBE has described VE Day as one of the most meaningful moments in British history. She explained that photographs from that day serve as powerful reminders of the emotions felt across the nation.
“They capture that feeling of immense relief and hope,” she said, “but it’s only if we take a deeper look into the stories behind these smiles that we can understand what this moment truly meant.”
Lucy urged the nation to honour this milestone anniversary by delving into their family histories. “From your great granny on the Home Front operating industrial machinery to your great-uncles under fire on the Normandy beaches. On this special 80th anniversary, let’s make sure these wartime stories come to light and are remembered.”
Two-thirds of British adults have either celebrated VE Day in the past or plan to mark this year’s anniversary. Many will do so with moments of silence, listening to or watching war stories, or sharing memories of ancestors who contributed to the war effort, but there’s concern that many people aren’t aware of its signifcance anymore.
Jen Baldwin, a representative from Findmypast, echoed these sentiments, citing concerns that knowledge of VE Day is fading despite ongoing celebrations. She pointed out that newspapers and others records offer information to help Brits uncover and understand more about their relatives’ experiences.
“This new collection reveals how millions flocked to the streets to celebrate, but the stories behind many of those smiling faces are not widely known.
“We want everyone to help us create a collective record of the nation’s wartime family stories – from the eve of war to VE Day celebrations – to preserve these precious memories for generations to come.”
