Remnants of a brutal war
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While millions celebrated the end of the war, many also felt the weight of loss - the countless lives sacrificed and years of relentless hardship.
As Alice, Derrick and Joan discovered, the war could be utterly unforgiving.
Alice's story: 'They'd lost their brothers'
Elated to see an end to her long shifts at Bletchley Park operating the famous code-breaking machines, Alice also felt heartbroken for her grieving friends.
"I remember we were walking down the corridor, getting ready for an evening watch. Our friend, Pam, came towards us looking so excited, saying, 'The war's over!'
"We couldn't believe it for a moment, and then… oh, we cried and laughed and danced down the corridor! No more night watch!
"It was such a revelation! We just broke into laughter and then some tears. We had mixed feelings because five of us were great friends and it was sadness for two because they’d lost their brothers in the war."
Alice, now 99, remembers Bletchley Park and VE Day
Alice was just 17 when she volunteered.
"I was just an ordinary Wren but after our probationary period five of us were allocated the role of ‘Special Duties X Category,’ which sounded so exciting.
"We didn't realise it meant Bletchley Park, Station X.
"When we arrived, we were shown Alan Turing's ‘Bombe’ machines, and we saw what we’d be doing. I was a bit dismayed actually - I didn't realise I'd be coping with machines.
"But we had no choice because by then we'd signed the Official Secrets Act, so that was our job until the end of the war."
Operating the Turin-Welchman Bombe was a round-the-clock job.
"We had to watch the machine the whole time. It had to be kept going continuously, so it was a three-watch system: day, evening, and night.
"If it stopped, it could mean either a short on the machine or a broken code. Then we had to strip it, and we were issued with the instructions on how to ‘feed’ the machine.
"We worked on mainly Army and Air Force codes, but the machine did the work really, not us. We knew it was important, but we didn't really know what was going on. We were very restricted when it came to knowledge.
"It wasn't until I went back to Bletchley Park for a reunion after the war that I understood what went on there and why it was so important."
"After the war ended Winston Churchill ordered the machines to be dismantled, so we had to continue for about three or four months to do this."
Derrick's story: 'I was a prisoner of war'
Centenarian Derrick was a prisoner of war and forced to join the famous 'Long March' to Germany. He was liberated just before VE Day.
"We had to march to Berlin... I mainly remember how cold it was. We used to go to sleep in these barns and dig a little hole in the hay, or whatever. You get into threes - one of you puts the blanket down then the two get in beside him, and their blanket would go over the lot.
"We learnt not to take our boots off. If it was cold at night you couldn't get your boots back on as they were like iron until they'd thawed out. So, you slept with your boots on.
"There were no facilities, no food, except whatever the Germans could scrounge on the way. It was just a case of keeping going."
Joan's story: 'It was the biggest single loss of life'
While serving in Italy, Joan, now 100, was thrilled to head home to celebrate the end of the war – only to narrowly escape a horrific tragedy.
"I joined the ATS after school and trained as a Morse code operator. I’d been in Italy for two years when we heard the war had ended.
"We were flown home in a Lancaster Bomber, which had been converted. We had, I think, ten days leave, which was rather nice, not having been home for two years.
"When we were due to go back, I couldn't go as my mother was taken very ill so my leave was extended. Well, sadly, the plane crashed. There were 26 women on board, all killed. It was the biggest single loss of life of women during the war. And to think I was nearly on it."
"It's important to commemorate the anniversary. I'll be thinking of the friends I lost, all 26 of them."
Help us support our VE Day heroes
Alice: 'The charity has been marvellous'
"Blind Veterans UK has been marvellous. They loaned me a talking magnifier which has become my lifeline as it means I can still read. In the same way that no memory of VE Day is the same, no blind veteran is the same either. We all have our different requirements and Blind Veterans UK helps us all."
"Losing my sight was like a mist came over me one day, and it's been there ever since. I felt rotten because I had to give everything up. The charity gave me a letter reader, as well as a special kettle. The staff call me and it’s nice to meet other veterans. The best thing is that they really look after me."
"Now my sight is going, the charity has given me a large magnifier, which is very good of them. I use it for reading my mail and all sorts. I also go to get-togethers and someone comes to visit too, which is very pleasant. Someone’s there if you want advice. They're very kind about getting you the support."
Please support our VE Day veterans.
With the right equipment, training and social interaction, our blind veterans can live safely and happily.
They fought for us. Now it's our turn to fight for them.
Read more about VE Day 80
VE Day 80: After the Darkness
Read and listen to our Second World War veterans share their remarkable stories of VE Day.
VE Day 80 - Do it for veterans
Celebrate 80 years of freedom while giving blind veterans the freedom to lead independent and dignified lives.
Derrick's story: 'I was a prisoner of war'
After being held in a camp and forced to march to Germany, Derrick was finally liberated just before VE Day.
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