Women at war
While millions of men went off to war, women stepped up - either filling crucial roles on the home front or enlisting themselves.
And as Neena, Ruth and Joan recall, when the guns fell silent, many were reluctant to surrender their newfound independence.
Neena's story: 'I didn't want the war to end'
As an ATS girl, Neena was one of just nine women working for the Parachute Regiment – and loved every minute of it.
"I was a secretary for the Officer in charge. We couldn't have been looked after better if we’d been at home. And they were all such brave men. The ones that we worked with had had a very hard time but oh, they used to pull some jokes on us!
"The happiest days of my life were in the army with the other girls. I know it's an awful thing to say, but I look back on the war as a happy and contented time."
Neena, 99, remembers the war, VE Day and what came after
After the war, Neena struggled to find work.
"When the war was over they quickly disbanded the regiment, and I was sent to another office in York for six months before getting my Demob. But oh, I did miss everybody! Of course, we were all very pleased about the war ending. The only thing was all the friends.
"I was only 16 when I went into the Army and 20 when I came out. I left with three months’ pay because jobs were very scarce, and a lot of people had been demobbed before I came on the scene so there weren't many jobs left.
"I ended up working in a factory until I married as there was no secretarial work. Women had taken over men's jobs during the war whereas they hadn’t worked very much before, especially if they were married.
"After the war, everything altered so much. It was a different world. The women didn't want to go back to not having their own money coming in. It all changed."
"I've spoken to lots of women who were in the Army during the war and I've yet to meet one who hasn’t said it was the happiest time of their lives."
Life for Neena's mother had also changed during the war years.
"The thing is, I'd been stationed in Yorkshire for three years and was settling, whereas home was down in Sussex, which was a long way in those days.
"My mother should have only hosted one evacuee, but she had three. Their mother had been killed in the war. The father took the two boys back and asked Mum if she could go on looking after the girl. Mum did it because she loved her so much.
"There were a lot of changes to families through the war."
"Thinking of the anniversary makes me cry because… maybe it’s feeling I want to go back to that time. I know people were being killed, but there was also a sense of togetherness."
Ruth's story: 'I was shocked'
Compelled to join the war effort despite having a good job, Ruth, now 99, applied to the Wrens in Ireland – only to receive a reply on the day peace was declared.
“I was in a reserved occupation as a cashier in a bank, but obviously thought I ought to be doing something else so I applied to join the Wrens. The acceptance letter arrived on VE Day. I was shocked!
“I must have heard the announcement over the radio. I remember we put all the lights on, and put flags up in the garden. We then went on a picnic with a little group - my elder sister, my boyfriend, and one or two others.
"I'd never been abroad, so I went on to join the Wrens in Ireland as I couldn't think of anywhere further the Wrens could go. There were a few tough old birds there. We used to have to scrub the concrete steps. But we also learnt to march, which I quite enjoyed."
Joan's story: 'I cried with sheer happiness!'
A staff sergeant in the Pay Corps, Joan, now 104, was sent home to celebrate in her village pub – and was plied with drinks as she sobbed with joy.
“I can’t say I found out the war had ended at the exact moment, but certainly the exact day. We all went in to do our work when we were told the news and sent home.
“My husband happened to be on leave at the time - he was in the London Rifle Brigade – so we went over to my mother and father's house. We were crying, saying, 'There's no more killing!’
“We went on the village pub and I was crying my eyes out, saying, “I don't believe it! It's gone on too long!” People were giving me drinks - one after the other - so, I suppose I must have been really very high on drinks!
I was crying with sheer happiness. Everybody was happy. It was almost as if they’d suddenly seen a rainbow wrapped around them. It was all over!”
Help us support our VE Day heroes
Neena: 'It's so nice to know there's someone there for you."
"I can't see to read now, and I did used to read a lot. The biggest thing I miss is being able to pick up the newspaper. I always liked a good book.
"The charity sent me a magnifier that reads my letters and anything else I put in front of it, which is a real help. I haven't had to pay a penny towards it, and don't know what I'd do without it. It’s a great boon. Very useful.
"And once a month they organise a get together with local blind veterans. Everything's thought about - they pick me up and bring me home. I don’t need to worry."
As Neena turns 100 the day before VE Day, we are proud to give her the support she needs.
"Everything is challenging. I lose things; I break things; I can't see glass because, you know, I just can't see it. And if people move things then I'm sort of lost. And I find meals difficult - I can't see food very well. Somebody has to cut up my meat.
"So I get a bit cranky, but I have a very nice lady who comes to me through the charity. She always makes a cup of tea, and we have a piece of cake together and then we go for a walk. I can always ring her to have a moan! She's just very, very good to me."
"When I was about 101, I suddenly realised I couldn't see. I go to the charity’s summer lunch and their Christmas meeting, and then we have a meeting once a week on a Thursday morning. We sit and chat and laugh, and just talk in general.
"I don't really have any other support because, quite honestly, I use to be the one supporting other people. I've done a voluntary job for 31 years. I’m 104 so if I’m still around for the anniversary I should be so happy. I keep thinking, ‘Am I going to live to 105?’"
Please support our VE Day veterans.
With the right equipment, training and social interaction, our blind veterans can live safely and happily.
They fought for us. Now it's our turn to fight for them.
Read more about VE Day 80
VE Day 80: Remnants of a brutal war
The joy on VE Day was universal, but as Alice, Derrick and Joan attest, almost six years of war had taken its toll.
VE Day 80: After the Darkness
Read and listen to our Second World War veterans share their remarkable stories of VE Day.
VE Day 80 - Do it for veterans
Celebrate 80 years of freedom while giving blind veterans the freedom to lead independent and dignified lives.
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