VE Day 80th Anniversary: Reflecting on Life During Wartime
As the UK prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, individuals who lived through the era are sharing their experiences of life during World War Two. One such person is 94-year-old Mary Grist, who recalled her memories of the day the war ended in Europe.
According to the BBC, Mrs Grist was 14 years old when the news of VE Day broke, and her main recollection of the day is "all the excitement" during the celebrations. She stated, "When war broke out, schools shut and children were divided into groups and evacuated, taken away from their family but not of their own free will."
Mrs Grist, who lived in Highbury, London, with her parents and older sister, moved to live with her aunt and uncle in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, alongside her mother and sister. Her father, a pastor, remained in Highbury for work. However, she described Aylesbury as "not a happy situation" as her aunt and uncle "didn’t know really how to deal with us."
As reported by the BBC, Mrs Grist said this led to awkward situations with their relatives, but they pressed on and joined in with locals where they could. She added, "My aunt was an important person in the county but we were just in fear of her and kept away from her."
Upon returning to London, Mrs Grist said they found that "much had changed." Her father sometimes checked up on damage that had occurred during bombings. One of her clearest memories of war before leaving London is when she was on her way to junior school one morning "and a strange thing happened as we came to the top of the hill that led to the school."
According to the BBC, pupils were running away from the school saying "school’s shut, the school’s been bombed." Mrs Grist stated, "We were cheering, so thankful, everything was lovely for us [as there was] no school. But the other side was when you said goodbye to your friends at the end of the school day and by the next morning the number in our class had dropped completely. That was after a very large bomb had fallen."
The BBC reported that Mrs Grist also recalled days when she and family members would slip out to get something and it was only afterwards that they realised "we had come so close to death." She said, "It was a time that really captured thoughts and feelings and you can’t go through an experience like that without it affecting you in some particular way."
As the UK prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Mrs Grist emphasised the importance of keeping memories of the war alive. The BBC stated that the four-day celebration will include a flypast, concert and a Westminster Abbey service. Mrs Grist said, "It is definitely important [for everyone] to keep the memories alive."
The commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day will take place from 5 – 8 May, and various events will be held across the UK. As the BBC reported, Mrs Grist’s story is just one of many that will be shared to remember the sacrifices made during World War Two.
In reflection of her experiences, Mrs Grist told the BBC, "These memories are all we have now and we do reminisce from time to time but these days family and friends we experienced it with are not so [geographically] close to one another."
Mrs Grist’s account, as reported by the BBC, serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of war on individuals and communities. As the UK comes together to commemorate VE Day, stories like Mrs Grist’s will ensure that the memories of those who lived through the war are kept alive for future generations.
