Victory in Europe
Victory in Europe (VE) Day, 8 May 1945, was a day of great celebration, marking the end of six long, lean, brutal, heartbreaking years of war. True to form, East Enders showed the rest of the country how it was done – they did not wait for the official announcement, instead starting their merrymaking as soon as the Third Reich surrendered on the 7th of May. Bunting and flags made from scraps were hung up and down streets, which were closed for parties. There was music and dancing, and people shared whatever food could be scraped together, given the dearth and the rationing.
At first, there was confusion as to whether one or two national holidays would go ahead. The newspapers had to step in and clarify.
Church bells rang in the victory, and bonfires were lit. People scarred by bombing and loss eagerly awaited their loved ones, those not casualties of the war, returning from the battlefield. Now, finally, they could look forward to their lives returning to normal, although they had forgotten what normal entailed. Or what normal would mean in a country devastated by war.
In Victory Days for West India Dock Road, Divya, Charity, Ruth, and the other residents of the street celebrate the end of the war with a street party, Divya conjuring up a feast despite the rationing. They tentatively look forward to a future that they cannot envision. There is joy and hope and wonder as together, they begin the long process of recovering and healing from the scars of war.
Celebrate VE Day with the Residents of West India Dock Road!
