When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.
2025 marks the 80th anniversaries of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) on 8th May and VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) on 15th August 1945. It is an opportunity for the nation to come together to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War (WW2) generation from across the UK and Commonwealth, through a series of national and local events and activities.
In 1945, with Berlin surrounded, Adolf Hitler’s successor Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz negotiated an end to the war with the Allies. The news of Germany’s surrender had been anticipated for some time and people across Britain were on standby to start celebrating the end of the war. The announcement that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast to the British people over the radio late in the day on 7 May. The BBC interrupted its scheduled programming with a news flash announcing that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday, to take place the following day.
At 3pm on VE Day, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a national radio broadcast. In it he announced the welcome news that the war had ended in Europe but he included a note of caution saying: ‘We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.’ He knew that the war was not over as Japan still had to be defeated.
Eighteen soldiers from Hurstpierpoint lost their lives fighting for their country in WW2 and their names live on, engraved on the war memorial, and they are read out every Remembrance Sunday by the children of the St Lawrence C.E. Primary School. They are: Dennis Fensome, Noel Gander, Percy Gander, Frederick Head, Edward Hill, Robert Howell, Edward Hurley, Francis Jago, John Killner, Charles King, Raymond Kingsland, Irene McDonald, Clifford Rowlings, Edward Stickland, Douglas Stone, Edwin Timms, Alfred Webb and Joseph Woolgar.
Seven soldiers from Sayers Common also lost their lives fighting for their country in WW2 and their names live on, engraved on the memory board in Christ Church. They are: Basil Coulstock, William Everest, Albert Everest, William Davey, George Nisbet, John Saunders and Irene McDonald(WAAF).
The Museum Group has displayed a small number of photos in the foyer cabinets next to the Library which show a procession through the High Street leading to a bonfire on South Avenue Recreation Ground, with effigies of Hitler and Mussolini to burn!
During May 2025 the local shops are displaying the background of each soldier, researched by local resident Stewart Hall and the High Street will be dressed in union flag bunting. The Holy Trinity Church will also be ringing their bells from 6.30-7.30pm on 8 May.
