VE Day, eighty years on

On 8th May 1945, guns in Europe fell silent. The date marked not just the end of World War II on the continent but the beginning of a road to recovery. The day became known as Victory in Europe Day – VE Day – and as its 80th anniversary approaches, it offers a moment to reflect on the celebrations of 1945, the challenges that affected both Scottish soldiers and citizens, and how the country has honoured this day since.

The end

By mid-April 1945, it was clear that an end to World War II was near. Adolf Hitler was dead and German forces were surrendering across Europe. On 7th May, Germany signed its unconditional surrender with victory to be declared by the Allied Forces the following day. Across the continent, people gathered to commemorate a moment that was both triumphant and tragic; a celebration that death and destruction wrought across Europe was finally at a close, but also a sombre acknowledging of all that was lost. In towns and cities across Scotland, people awaited a special 3pm address by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, hoping for words that would confirm what they had wished for so long: war in Europe was over.

Even before those words were spoken, news of Germany’s surrender had reached the home front. Edinburgh was already erupting into cautious celebration with people pouring onto Princes Street and Cowgate where bonfires were lit. George Square in Glasgow saw similar scenes with nearly 100,000 people gathering to sing and dance. The Daily Record noted that the city had gone ‘daft with joy’.

Those in Aberdeen celebrated with fireworks. Ships on the Clyde sounded their horns. Effigies of Hitler were burned as bunting adorned with Union Flags – and the Saltire – waved from windows. Dunblane Cathedral was floodlit for the first time in its 700-year-old history to mark German surrender with church bells ringing out in unison across the country. The war had taken its toll and whilst many were still mourning loved ones lost, there was a triumphant sense of gratitude and not-so-quiet jubilation.

While civilians partied, lots of Scottish service personnel were still on duty. Scottish regiments stationed in Germany and across Europe marked the day with toasts and moments of quiet remembrance. Ada Mobbs spent VE Day at work, manning radar defences. Speaking to The Sunday Post in 2020, she said it was just a normal day, “Four of us were on duty, and there was no sort of excitement – though I remember, somebody managed to get four sticky buns from somewhere.”

Others internationally were still engaged in peacekeeping, clean-up, or rebuilding operations, working to stabilise regions reeling from war.

War in Asia

For those serving in the Far East, VE Day passed unnoticed: the war was not yet over for those fighting in Asia. Though not on the doorsteps of Scottish civilians in the same way European fighting was, Scottish regiments including the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the Cameron Highlanders played key roles in these conflicts.

On 15th August 1945, following the atomic bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki the earlier week, Japan surrendered. Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s acceptance of the Allies’ terms, bringing World War II to a close. Veterans Jimmy Mowatt from Laurencekirk and Willie Morrison from Glasgow were there when a Japanese officer announced “The war is over and I hope you get back soon to your loved ones.”

Back on home turf, celebrations broke out again though on a smaller scale. The response to Victory in Japan Day was more subdued than that of VE Day but it remained a significant moment for those who had fought in the Pacific.

Victory

Victory brought relief – but not right away. The return of soldiers from both Europe and Asia was staggered, with many not setting foot on Scottish soil for months. Families anxiously awaited letters and telegrams and homecomings were bittersweet; many returned to find places they once knew permanently changed. Everyday life was still dictated by wartime restrictions with rationing remaining a reality for almost a decade after the war.

Bomb damage in built-up areas took years to rebuild and factories that had been dedicated to wartime production had to be repurposed leading to employment instability for lots of Scots.

Post-war recovery was not easy. When veterans did return, many carried both physical and mental scars of war. For some, integrating back into civilian life proved to be an impossible challenge. For Scottish women, who had enjoyed employment in munitions factories, farming, and the armed services, peacetime employment opportunities were scarce once more.

Despite hardship, Scotland’s famous Blitz spirit endured. The end of the war did signal the start of huge political and social change. On an international level, the United Nations was established in October 1945, welcoming a new age of cooperation and peace. At home, the victory accelerated welfare and social reform. Clement Attlee’s Labour Party founded the NHS just a few years after. The post-war introduction of free school meals and housing helped improve conditions for families; reforms like these reshaped Scotland’s social landscape for generations to come.

Never forget

Both VE and VJ Day have been commemorated every year since. The 50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995 saw celebrations across Scotland. In the capital, services reflected on the collective joy experienced half a century earlier.

The COVID-19 pandemic hampered but did not deter 75th anniversary celebrations in 2020. Traditional gatherings were replaced with virtual ones, doorstep moments of reflection replacing grand parades. It was a reminder that communities will still come together to honour the past, no matter the distance or barriers.

For many veterans, these anniversaries have been a chance to share their memories and ensure their stories are passed down to younger generations. The upcoming 80th anniversary may well be the last major milestone where surviving veterans are able to take part. Legion Scotland is playing a crucial role in ensuring their voices are heard, organising a concert tribute at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall as well as pipers playing at locations across Scotland.

Other planned celebrations include lighting of Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace, the raising of a unique VE Day flag, and parties of celebration throughout the day in the streets, gardens at home, and all manner of locations throughout the country.

Today

8th May 2025 marks VE Day’s 80th anniversary. The immediate celebrations of 1945 giving way to a more humble recognition of service and sacrifice, the significance of the day a marked moment to remember those who fought and fell, to honour the resilience of a generation, and remind ourselves of the hard-won peace it is our duty to protect.

Veterans who remember VE Day firsthand are now few but their legacy and sacrifices will never be forgotten. Together, we ensure that their stories and the lessons of the past endure.

Written for Legion Scotland to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.