Victory 80 years on – Voices from the Northern Ireland War Memorial (May 2025 CHS Meeting)

The final talk of the season for the Comber Historical Society celebrated VE Day memories with a presentation of oral histories from Michael Burns, Research Officer at the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum.

VE Day, the 8th and 9th of May 1945, marked the official end of the Second World War in Europe, with two days of celebrations in honour of peace, including bonfires, street parties, dances, and firework displays held across Northern Ireland. At 3 pm on 8 May, crowds gathered in public spaces, while families huddled around their wireless to hear Churchill address the nation.

Michael shared oral history interviews of VE Day memories in Belfast, including those of Barbara or Barri Adair, who celebrated at City Hall; Marcella Ward, who recalled dancing on Ravenhill Avenue; and Lily Rodgers, who met her husband while dancing in the street (he was on leave with the RAF), and they were married for over 50 years. A chance discovery in a biscuit tin five years ago also saw the audience treated to video footage of VE Day celebrations on Royal Avenue.

The celebrations, of course, weren’t confined to just Belfast, and VE was marked across Northern Ireland in towns large and small. Michael shared his grandfather, Tommy Foy’s, memories of VE Day rejoicings in Portadown, Co. Armagh. Closer to home, Ena Hanna from Ballygowan remembers the dancing and decorations. Eveline Carlisle from Comber decided to go to the ‘big town’, Newtownards, for the party, where the Telegraph tells us there was music by loudspeaker, dancing in the street, and a bonfire in the Square.

As an end to the VE Day celebrations, a thanksgiving service was held in St Anne's Cathedral, and a Victory Parade was held in front of City Hall, with Basil Brooke noting in his diary his attendance at both events. The War in Europe was now over, and while it was celebrated across NI, Michael showed us that it was also a time to reflect on what had been lost in the nearly six years of global warfare. As the allies pushed towards Berlin, more information was being released to the public about the Holocaust and Hitler’s final solution. Colin Walker from Bangor remembers watching the liberation of Belsen in the cinema.

The relief that the war was over was widespread, but Michael showed that for many, it was just another day. The most immediate impact was the lifting of the blackout, followed by the slow return of serving loved ones. Still, rationing continued until the 1950s, and indeed, some rations were even more restrictive than in wartime.

We extend our deepest thanks to our own Michael Burns for such an engaging and timely talk, and we are grateful for his sharing these excellent oral histories with us.

The Comber Historical Society’s 2024-2025 season has concluded. Our next meeting will take place in September 2025, and details will be shared on our website (comberhistory.com) and Facebook page soon.

Finally, the CHS committee wish to offer their sincere condolences to Eleanor Johnston on the passing of her husband, CHS Life Member and former CHS Chairman, Dr Don Johnston. He will be greatly missed.