大象传媒

Introduction

The official commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two for the county of Cumbria took place at the seaport of Whitehaven on the weekend of 25 and 26 June 2005. These commemorative events were incorporated into a Maritime Festival.

The World War Two commemorations included music and dancing from the war years in a 鈥楤litz Ball鈥�, a 鈥楤attle of Britain鈥� flypast, a 鈥榁ictory Parade鈥� with more than a thousand war veterans marching and a 鈥楽ervice of Thanksgiving鈥� for all the victims of World War Two. It was estimated that more than 250,000 people, including the younger generations, attended the commemorative events. They came not just from Cumbria, but also from all over the U.K., and overseas, reflecting the international impact of the war.

Staff and volunteers from the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� project were on hand to publicise the importance of wartime memories being recorded for posterity. The 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� team were also on hand to help people have their wartime memories written down and added to the archive. Leading the CSV group of volunteers were Jemma Bellingham and Joan Armstrong from 大象传媒 Radio Cumbria.

This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer at the festival for the team of story-gatherers for the 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� project from the CSV Action Desk of Radio Cumbria . It concentrates on some personal observations of those parts of the festival that were the official World War Two 60th Anniversary commemorations for the county of Cumbria.

The 'Blitz Ball'

On Saturday 25 June 2005, a 'Blitz Ball' told the story of World War Two in music, songs and dancing to the assembled crowds. Those who remembered the music from the 60 years ago showed younger members of their families or their younger friends how to party! For those who lived through the war years it brought back some real memories. For those born after the war, it was a history lesson. For everyone it was an entertaining re-enactment of some wartime events.

A variety of acts went through the full repertoire from the 'Declaration of War', an Air Raid, a wartime dance, VE Day and VJ Day celebrations, a street party and a 'Last Night of the Proms'. There was music in the style of Glenn Miller and Victor Silvester and songs made famous by Vera Lynn and Anne Shelton. One entertainer, by the name of Steve Stephens, performed both George Formby and Frank Sinatra songs.

鈥楾he WW2 Victory Parade鈥�, 60 years on

The central part of the official 60th Anniversary commemorations for Cumbria was a 鈥榁ictory Parade鈥� on the morning of Sunday 26 June 2005. Most of those taking part were former service men and women of the war years, plus other civilian groups such as the Women鈥檚 Land Army and the Bevin Boys Association. This Parade was mainly organised by a team from the Cumbria county Branch of the Royal British Legion, led by Mr Tony Crane from Kendal, who should be recognised for their efforts.

Those marching in the 60th Anniversary 鈥榁ictory Parade鈥� made their way to St Nicholas鈥� Church Gardens on Lowther Street in the town centre. Most of those marching came from all over Cumbria. There were also veterans and Standard Bearers from outside the Cumbria county boundary, including Basildon, London, Blackpool, Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh and Rosyth. It was given out that there were a total of 37 Standard Bearers representing different British Legion Branches or Associations. Wherever they came from, the people of Cumbria gave all these visitors a warm, enthusiastic welcome.

During the parade, it was notable some of the loudest cheers went to representatives of the US Navy who were marching. It was the town of Whitehaven, Cumbria that John Paul Jones, founder of the American navy, led a raid in 1778 during the American War of Independence. In World War Two the help of the American armed forces and industrial production was essential to the Allied victory, so it was fitting that the United States should be represented in the Victory Parade.

With over a thousand wartime veterans marching I was unable to record the names of everyone who took part, although I did note some down. Among those marching were the following veterans, who can be seen on the photograph to go with this article: Jim Jolly, Jack Farrell, Joe Toner, Louis Williams, Roy Rodgers, Alan Aitkenhead and Leo Smith. However, every person who marched should be honoured for his or her contribution towards final victory. Some of the World War Two veterans were able to take part in the march in a wheelchair and were assisted by a younger relative or a friend. Others were able to take part in the parade by sitting in an open-air double-decker bus from St Nicholas' Church to the harbour side.

Over the years, I have seen a number wartime commemorative events in France, Belgium or the Netherlands. Places like Caen, Antwerp and Arnhem have always honoured the contribution of the Allied men and women who gave so much towards the Allied victory of World War Two. Many of those who took part in this 60th Anniversary 'Victory Parade' have marched in front of enthusiastic flag-waving crowds overseas. On this occasion, there was a difference. It may have taken all of 60 years, but the veterans were marching in front of cheering crowds of people from their own land. This must have been a very uplifting scene for all those taking part.

A Service of Thanksgiving

Following the 鈥榁ictory Parade鈥� of World War Two veterans from St Nicholas鈥� Church Gardens to the Slipway on Whitehaven鈥檚 harbour side, a multi-denominational (Christian) 鈥楽ervice of Thanksgiving and Remembrance鈥� took place on the main stage. A group of assembled ministers of religion, civic and military representatives were assembled on the stage to honour the service men and women and others from the war years in this wartime commemoration.

This moving and emotional service was dedicated to the memory of all those who were caught up in the violence of the war. In particular, the service commemorated those who died or were wounded in the war, those who went away from home in the service of their country and who later were lucky enough to return.

As the service began, many of this latter group of people had just marched with fellow comrades, just as they had often done during the war years, and were standing or sitting in the crowd. It was really only those in the crowd who were of the wartime generation who could really understand the full significance of the victory and the value of peace. Whatever their role in the war years, whether it was in the Forces, on the Home Front or even a schoolchild, everyone was united for this service of thanksgiving. For those in the crowd who could not see the stage there was a large screen to watch the proceedings.

When the parade arrived at the harbour side the Sergeant Major in charge of it, 鈥榮tood down鈥� all those marching were either stood at ease or a seat was found for the war veterans who needed one. This was the approximate order of service of the commemorative service:

1. One of the ministers read out an opening prayer

2. The WW2 veterans and the crowd sang the Hymn 鈥極 God our help in ages past鈥�

3. One of the ministers read from the Bible (Ecclesiasticus 44:1-14)

4. A bugler than played the 'Last Post鈥�. At the same time, the 37 various 鈥楽tandards鈥� of the Royal British Legion branches and Associations were lowered.

5. One of the veterans read out the fourth verse from Laurence Binyon鈥檚 poem 鈥楩or The Fallen鈥�:

鈥淭hey shall grow not old as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them鈥�.

(The crowd then repeated the last line of the fourth verse, "We will remember them").

6. One of the ministers then began an 鈥楢ct of Commitment鈥�:

鈥淟et us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations鈥�.

The assembled World War Two veterans and others present then continued with the following:

鈥淟ord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all mankind, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit, give us wisdom, give us courage, give us hope and keep us faithful now and always. Amen鈥�.

7. One of the ministers then led the crowd in 鈥楾he Lord鈥檚 Prayer鈥� (鈥淥ur Father鈥︹��)

8. One of the ministers then led the veterans and others present in three prayers for the R.A.F, the Army and the Royal Navy.

9. The WW2 veterans and others in the crowd then sang the hymn 鈥楨ternal Father, strong to save鈥�.

10. The Reverend John Bannister, Church of England Rector of the parish of Whitehaven then gave a 鈥楤lessing鈥�.

11. The Lord Lieutenant of the county of Cumbria, Mr James Cropper FCA, then addressed the veterans and others in the crowd, particularly about the significance of World War Two. Mr Cropper said that a 鈥楾hank You鈥� should be given to those people whose sacrifice had led to the final victory of the Allies and the relative peace that had been enjoyed by his generation and others since 1945.
[NB - The Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria is the Queen鈥檚 Representative in the County. He is responsible for any visits to Cumbria by members of the Royal Family, and representing Her Majesty at celebratory or anniversary events to take place within the County, such as this one commemorating the end of World War Two].

12. The crowd then sang two verses of the National Anthem:
(鈥楪od Save our gracious Queen 鈥︹��)

13. The parade was then brought to attention by the Sergeant Major and the Standard Bearers and veterans marched off to huge cheers and applause from the crowd.

[NB 鈥� A 鈥楶rayer for Meditation鈥� by Horatio, Lord Nelson was also said. As well as the 60th Anniversary of World War Two, 2005 is the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Lord Nelson led the British fleet at Trafalgar].

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Immediately following the Service of Thanksgiving, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight appeared in the skies above Cumbria. The purpose of the Memorial Flight was to celebrate the Allied victory in 1945 and to support the 60th Anniversary commemorations of the end of the war. Taking part in the flight above the skies of Cumbria was a Hurricane flown by Group Captain Johnston and a Spitfire flown by Squadron Leader Skinner, both volunteers from the RAF.

Unfortunately a Lancaster bomber that had also been due to take part in the event had been grounded due to an oil leak. The commentator stated that the ground crew was extremely disappointed that they were unable to take part in the Cumbria鈥檚 official WW2 Anniversary Memorial Flight, and passed on their apologies to the large crowd.

The commentator went on to explain the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a unique living tribute in memory of all those members of the RAF who flew and lost their lives during World War Two. For many of the veterans who were watching from the harbour side, it reminded them of the invaluable air support the RAF gave the ground troops and the Royal Navy during the war.

In addition to the Battle of Britain fight, the Red Arrows Air Display team performed their routine immediately after the Battle of Britain memorial Flight had finished. Then, a few hours later a modern-day Tornado GR4 from the RAF XV Squadron also paid a tribute to the World War Two veterans with another display above the harbour.

During the war, Cumbria had a number of RAF airfields and a number of pilots lost their lives in training crashes in the county. These RAF personnel who lost their lives in Cumbria during the war years were among those honoured and remembered on this day of remembrance of the final victory of World War Two.

Sunset ceremony

In the afternoon following the WW2 60th Anniversary Victory Parade, many of the veterans from the war years were able to talk over shared experiences with old comrades and younger people who wished to hear what it was really like to live through World War Two. The official 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� team from Radio Cumbria were able to promote the project of recording any wartime memories for posterity.

Towards the end of the proceedings, the British Army 鈥榃aterloo Band鈥� and the local Whitehaven Sea Cadets marched to the Sugar Tongue on the harbour for a very moving 鈥楽unset Ceremony鈥�. They were accompanied by many of the World War Two veterans, their families and friends and the Mayor and Mayoress of Copeland, Councillors Norman and Yvonne Clarkson.

The band played music from the war years and military tunes, much appreciated by the assembled crowd. One of the veterans then read out the following appropriate and moving epitaph:

鈥淲hen you go home, tell them of us and say,
鈥楩or your tomorrow we gave our today鈥�."

[NB- these words are attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds (1875-1958), from 鈥業nscriptions Suggested for War Memorials'].

Finally the band played while the British flag was lowered, marking the official end of the wartime commemorations at the festival. This was a very moving moment for all those present representing as it did the end of yet another official chapter in honouring the wartime generation.

Although this was the official opportunity for people in Cumbria to say 鈥楾hank You鈥� to the wartime generation, there were many visitors from other parts of the U.K. and overseas. During the 鈥楽unset Ceremony鈥� I was standing next to a group of young visitors from Dunkirk in northern France. While none of them had personal memories of the war, they still remember the sacrifice of what happened on the beaches close to their homes during the war. Other international visitors came from the USA, Belgium and the Scandinavian countries. It was a fine tribute to those veterans of World War Two that their achievement of final victory is still recognised 60 years after the end of the war.

Conclusion

The official county of Cumbria 60th Anniversary 'Victory Parade' of was the largest gathering of World War Two veterans seen in the county for many years. Cumbria will probably never see another one quite like it. It may not have been on the scale of national events held in London, but nevertheless everyone who played a part in these WW2 Victory celebrations in Cumbria should be proud of their achievement.

Having seen a number of World War Two commemorations in other countries, this 'Victory Parade' organised by the people of Cumbria and attended by veterans from all over the country was at least as well organised as any that I have seen. World War Two veterans I spoke to said they had been proud to have been honoured and recognised by a large enthusiastic crowd.

Many of the wartime veterans who attended the festival talked over past experiences with former comrades, or they reminisced about previous get-togethers over the post-war period. The weekend was an opportunity for others to learn about the war and to pay tribute to all those who lived through the war years. Hopefully, the festival contributed to Britain's 'Thank You' for victory in 1945 and it has ensured at least some memories of the war years will be remembered for many more years.

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