26-04-2025
Carlisle to celebrate 80th anniversary of VE Day
Carlisle is set to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day next month with a series of events.
On Thursday, May 8, the city will commemorate the end of World War II in Europe with a range of activities.
The day will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony and a short service at the cenotaph in the city centre at midday, honouring the contributions of service personnel during the conflict.
Later in the day, Carlisle Cathedral will host a Civic Evensong service at 5.45pm, followed by the ringing of the cathedral bells at 6.30pm.
The celebrations will then move to Carlisle Castle, where the public can participate in the lighting of the Lamp of Peace at 9pm.
This will be followed by a rendition of words, songs, and the national anthem until 9.30pm, when there will be the lighting of the beacon.
The ceremony will conclude with the floodlighting of the Cathedral, Citadel, and Devonshire Street by Cumberland Council.
The nationwide celebrations, announced by the Government, will span four days, culminating on VE Day itself, Thursday, May 8.
Communities across the country are encouraged to organise their own street parties, in a nod to how the day was celebrated in 1945.
Victory in Europe Day is an annual celebration that marks the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender, which marked the end of World War II in Europe.
On May 8, 1945, after nearly six years of war, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced a national holiday, addressing the nation on the radio.
However, the day was not celebrated by everyone, as fighting continued in the Far East against Japan for another three months.
Jules Wooding, manager of Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, explained: "Although there were celebrations and rejoicing, many people mourned those that had been killed or worried about those still serving overseas.
"Even with VJ Day later in 1945, life did not return to normal as the impact of the war continued for many years."
The Border Regiment, whose depot was at Carlisle Castle, continued to fight in the Far East in May 1945, with the war not finishing for them until August 15 – VJ (Victory Over Japan) Day.
The 2nd, 4th and 9th Battalions were fighting in Burma, as recalled by George MacDonald Fraser, author, who served with the 9th Battalion.
Within a week of Rangoon's fall came the news of Hitler's death and the German surrender.
The 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment was sent to Norway on Operation Doomsday in May 1945 as part of the German surrender.
Due to bad weather, one RAF Stirling aeroplane crash-landed in the fog near Oslo, killing all those onboard, including 13 from the Regiment.
Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, located in Alma Block within Carlisle Castle, the former Border Regiment Depot, will be showcasing some of its Second World War collections in a series of changing displays scheduled throughout the year.
Residents are invited to join the celebrations in Carlisle to commemorate and celebrate this significant day in history.
The events provide an opportunity for the community to reflect on the past and remember those who served during the war, while also celebrating the peace and freedom that was restored 80 years ago.
