VE Day in Markfield

“Yesterday morning at 2.41 am, at General Eisenhower’s headquarters, General Jodl, the representative of the German High Command, and Grand Admiral Dönitz, the designated head of the German State, signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe.” – British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, 8 May 1945.

What is VE Day?

VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day. It marks the day in 1945 when Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Western Allies, ending the Second World War in Europe. The war in Europe had raged for six long years. It had claimed millions of military and civilian lives and caused untold damage across the continent.

Whilst VE Day marked the end of the fighting in Europe, the war was still not over. The forces of Imperial Japan kept resisting until atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, known as VJ Day. This marked the end of the fighting in the Second World War.

VE Day is celebrated on 8 May every year. Street parties, especially on big anniversaries, have been one of the most popular ways people celebrate VE Day.

Bunting, usually in the red, white and blue colours of the Union Jack, is hung across town and village centres. The picture shows a plaque and bunting for the 80th anniversary in 2025, at Markfield Library. These plaques were also tied to lamp posts on Main Street.

VE Day is also a time of reflection and commemoration. Over 600,000 men and women of the British Empire lost their lives in the conflict. Many millions more were injured or scarred by their wartime experience. Church services or commemorative events at war memorials and war cemeteries are very common on VE Day.

VE Day 1945 in Markfield

On VE Day in 1945, there was a celebratory bonfire on The Green. A current resident was very young at the time. She recalled being woken and hearing her mum saying "she won't remember" and her Auntie saying "yes, she will". They took her down to the Green in a pram. She remembers the huge bonfire and fireworks and lots of happy people.

The wooden hut up on Hill Hole quarry for observing passing enemy aircraft was remembered as being burnt to the ground. Some of the villagers knew who set it alight, but would not tell anyone. Although the Leicester Evening Mail of 16 August 1945 reported that the observation post was burnt to the ground during the later VJ Day celebrations - was this the same fire, or a different one?

Streamers were strung outside the Bull’s Head pub. A parade was organised by the Parish Council. The Snibston Colliery Band played at the parade and also on New Row, which is the long terrace on Hill Side built for the quarry workers.

Street parties and parties ‘in the fields’ were arranged. New Row had a party. Mrs Dalley-Burchnall at the Manor House on Forest Road had a big party in her field, for which trestle tables were borrowed from the churches and school. Wartime rations were of course very much still on, so ‘everyone mucked in’ with the jellies and fruit, etc.

There was a big party for some of the children in the village institute. Perhaps this was part of the Victory Parade and Gala advertised in the Leicester Daily Mercury of Friday 11 May, taking place on Saturday 12 May. It was at the Memorial and Miners' Welfare Institute on Main Street and would raise funds to support the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The primary school log book entry for 7 May 1945 notes that news of the surrender arrived after school had finished for the day. Later, the Government announced that Tuesday 8 May would be observed as VE Day and would be a national holiday, along with Wednesday 9 May. So, the school on The Green closed for two days!

The Hinckley Times of Friday 4 May 1945 carried an article eagerly anticipating VE Day being declared, reporting that arrangements were in place ready for the celebration.

Schools were to close for the remainder of the day of the announcement and the day after. We see from the Markfield log book that the closure was actually two whole days, as the announcement was later in the day.

Pubs and clubs in the Hinckley and Bosworth area were to be allowed to open all day and to close at 11pm, rather than the usual 10pm. Dance halls could stay open until 1am.

It seems some premises may not have had any alcohol available, perhaps due to wartime shortages, or increased demand!

VE Day in May 2025

2025 is the 80th anniversary of VE day and was specially marked locally, nationally and internationally.

Bunting could be found at various Markfield locations, including Main Street, the community library and the Methodist Church.

Anniversary circular plaques were attached to the lamp posts on Main Street and the fence at the library.

Looking back five years for a moment, the 75th anniversary in May 2020 was in the early days of the Covid pandemic restrictions. Markfield neighbours held small gatherings out of doors, observing social distancing requirements!

At nearby Desford over the weekend of 4 and 5 May, a Festival of the Forties was held. This was commemorating, educating, and celebrating all that was done during the 1940s to secure Victory in Europe.

Pubs were allowed to stay open on VE Day 2025 until 1am, rather than the usual 11pm.

The balloons and bunting were inside Markfield Trinity Methodist Church.

Sources for this article

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Everything to know about VE Day - CWGC

• Let Us Go Forward Together In Markfield 1939 – 1945, by Di Lockley

• British Newspaper Archive / FindmyPast

• Mercenfeld Primary School collection of school logbooks

• Local residents' recollections