How South West Herts celebrated VE Day

Before we step back to 1945, however, I’d like to invite anyone reading this who has any pictures or memories of VE Day which they’d like to share to please send them to me for the next readers’ special which will be in two or three weeks. You can drop things into the office, email them or post them (please don’t send anything by post if it’s very valuable to you) and while I can’t promise to use them all, I’ll certainly use as many as I can.

OK. Now back to the Watford Observer of May 11, 1945 for edited highlights of how West Hertfordshire celebrated the end of the war in Europe.

“Expectation of the great glad news of the European victory found towns and villages throughout West Herts well prepared to celebrate the joyous occasion. With Monday’s announcement that Tuesday and Wednesday would be observed as VE days, decorations were immediately put up and events planned swung into operation.

“Foremost were thanksgiving services – mainly of a united character. There were also parades, fun and frolics in parks and on village greens, bonfires (organised and unorganised), street teas for children, fireworks and all sorts of improvised festivities. They were two days of rejoicing, sometimes restrained at the outset, but simple and hearty in the overflowing gratitude that the German menace had ended.

“They were real public holidays, the whole community uniting in, to quote the Prime Minister’s significant phrase, ‘a brief period of rejoicing’.

“For a quarter of an hour before the advertised start time, 11am, of Watford’s thanksgiving service every seat was taken in the large Town Hall. Still there were long queues awaiting admission.

“People stood all along the gangways round the inner walls; the exits remained open and the corridors on either side were crowded; the folk overflowed to the stage; they sat in the gangways in the balcony; they filled the entrance vestibule.

“One purpose pervaded the great concourse. It was Watford’s response to the offer of a religious service with which to commence the peace celebrations – a gathering for an act of thanksgiving to Almighty God for deliverance from the terrors of war in Europe, for victory over an enemy which personified greed, aggression, oppression and cruelty.

“As Mayor’s chaplain, the Rev. W. J. Grant (Baptist) conducted the service. After the hymn Now Thank We All our God, Canon Reginald James (vicar of St John’s) led in a bidding prayer, with suitable congregational responses. Here are some of his significant sentences:

“‘On the day war was declared, God gave witness to us of His love and protection over us by the exhibition in the sky of a beautiful rainbow and also of His power to carry out His promise by a great crashing thunderstorm. On the day this European war ended once again the rainbow appeared and a thunderstorm of over four hours kept most of us awake last night’

“This series of prayers concluded by the full-voiced congregation reciting with obvious fervour the general thanksgiving.

“The Rev Samuel Magor (Methodist) declared that he could not understand the type of mind that said God should be kept out of the struggle or that God should not be brought into it. ‘For my part (he said) I have never been able to keep God out of it. From the day we declared war in September 1939 until today I have never ceased to pray each day that God would give us victory and, what is more, that He would make us worthy of it.’

“Watford High Street was a mass of red, white and blue. Flags were flying from business premises and everywhere it was possible to bedeck was bedecked. The Town Hall was decorated with bunting and drapes and the Union Jack was flying from the flagstaff as it was from all municipal buildings. Churches also flew the Union Jack. From Shrodells the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes and the Hammer and Sickle fluttered proudly over the premises.

“There were some decorations that really were outstanding. The Junction station was almost hidden beneath a mass of bunting, flags, pennants and drapes, and the Clarendon Hotel, opposite, had twined red, white and blue round the pillars at the entrance and draped the colours wherever possible.

“The smaller streets were just as gay. Almost every house flew at least one flag – many several more. Bunting stretched from building to building and pictures of the ‘Big Three’ were plentiful.

“Watford Corporation illuminated every public building possible and many private concerns also floodlit their premises. Among the floodlit buildings was the Peace Memorial Hospital, the Town Hall, which created a blaze of light to be seen from the middle of High Street, the Gaumont cinema and the Junction station. Arc lamps by the roundabout shined with a vivid blue light, making the grass in the centre appear a queer colour.

“Fairy lights were strung along some of Cassiobury Park walks in red, white and blue, and each lamp standard along the walks had 11 small lamps attached, making a vivid glare.

“The Park Gates were much admired. The two towers at the sides were bedecked with red, white and blue lamps, and stood out for a considerable distance.”

Onto VE Night – and how the town celebrated in Cassiobury Park.

“On VE Night fully 10,000 people – possibly more – came to Cassiobury Park to celebrate. A notable feature, however, was the orderly celebration. Although there was such cause for rejoicing, people appeared to be remembering the loved ones they had lost and the loved ones still fighting the Japanese. They enjoyed themselves – but with restraint.

“The Valetos Modern and Old-Time Orchestra started the ball rolling at 7.30 with music for dancing, with Mrs R. F. Waller as MC. An enclosure was formed round the stand by the spectators and within this space couples danced gaily to many old and tried favourites.

“As the evening wore on, so the atmosphere became freer. Fireworks were let off spontaneously and drew scores of kiddies, several of whom afterwards had to be announced as ‘lost’ from the microphones. Streamers and favours were tossed into the air and small groups began singing on their own accord. When the band struck up The Lambeth Walk nearly everyone joined in, and the shouting and singing could be heard all over the park.

“At 8.30 the Valetos were relieved by the British Legion Band And the Rev O.C. McDowall Morgan (vicar of St Andrew’s) led community singing. It was undoubtedly a success – and, if noise is the criterion of enjoyment, then the crowd had the time of their lives with such old favourites as Tipperary, Pack Up Your Troubles and many more. The King’s speech was relayed and while His Majesty spoke, the crowd was hushed. Then two verses of Abide With Me were sung.

“More singing followed, and then, at the canal end of the park, a bonfire was lit and more fireworks were let off. Many people had come specially for the advertised firework display and when it was announced the Ministry of Home Security had frowned on this, thousands went home disappointed.

“On Wednesday night the eagerly awaited fireworks display took place in Garston and Cassiobury parks. Watford Corporation spent the maximum amount allowed by the Government and the supply of rockets, Catherine wheels, crackers, and all the other varied types of fireworks – some of them dating back to pre-war days – came from Brock’s factory at Hemel Hempstead.

“The huge crowd gathered to watch the displays the first ever seen by some of the children. These ‘first nighters’ were a trifle scared by the bangs and flashes at the outset but were soon calmed and cheering vociferously. Although the displays were small compared with pre-war days, they were enjoyed by everyone and voted a huge success. Watford Corporation received more verbal bouquets after the displays than they had done for many a long year.

“It was impossible for any traffic to pass along the High Street on Wednesday night. Some person or persons unknown lit a huge bonfire right in the middle of the road by Water Lane. The dense crowd joined hands and banded round it singing and dancing.

“Some vehicle was heard careering down the High Street towards the scene at a terrific speed. Much to the crowd’s annoyance it turned out to be the Fire Brigade, plus fire tender. In true crowd-like manner the people just gathered round their blaze and refused to let the Brigade put it out! Completely ‘flummoxed’ all the latter could do was to go back again. Satisfied, the crowd continued their singing and dancing.

“The police present could only good-humouredly prevent a complete riot.

“Many side streets in west Watford had bonfires usually with Hitler ‘guyed’ on top. In Willow Lane he was duly ‘hanged’ from a streamer of flags across the road.”

It was a similar picture outside the town centre over in Garston Park, north Watford, where residents gathered “in their hundreds” for community singing and dancing.

“At first couples were slow taking the floor,” the report says, “but later the people overcame their shyness and danced for joy.”

Over in Bushey, although the Urban District Council did not organise any specific events for VE Day, the spirit of festivity, jubilation and triumph was alive and well.

“Flags and bunting made the streets gay. almost everyone was wearing a favour or a red, white and blue cap. Some women even appeared in red, white and blue striped frocks. Children were dancing along the streets waving Union Jacks – we saw one small boy with a flag as big as himself and every time the wind caught it, it wrapped itself around him. He emerged smiling every time though.”

“As night fell, so lights blazed forth. Street parties were held and scores of people danced round roaring bonfires in jubilation.

“But Bushey will really celebrate on Sunday. A mammoth thanksgiving service has been arranged by the council in the grounds of Bushey House at 3pm.”
Over in Rickmansworth, “rejoicing at the end of the war in Europe was deep and sincere among the people of Rickmansworth and Croxley Green, but it was restrained rejoicing. There were no ‘jollifications’ or wild scenes.

“Everyone was happy, everyone seemed more carefree than for years, but the keynote of the whole district was one of thanksgiving rather than jollification.

“The grimmest feature, however, was on Scots Meadow. Here someone had erected a most realistic-looking gallows, and from it dangled a life-sized effigy of Hitler.

“Despite all the outward show of colour Rickmansworth which, by the choice of its own residents, had planned no programme of celebrations, except public meetings of remembrance and thanksgiving, was aware of the fact that the country cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Typical of this was a scene enacted in the council chamber on Monday evening. A town planning meeting was in progress when the news was brought in that it has been announced on the wireless Germany had surrendered. These tidings were received with satisfaction but the meeting went on and finished its business.”

Although there was no organised festivity, Hemel Hempstead’s spontaneous celebrations reached a pitch of hilarious jollification on Tuesday night. In every part of the borough could be seen the glow of bonfires, and until the early hours of Wednesday morning the crackle and crush of fireworks rent the air.

“On almost every piece of waste ground was a pyre for burning at dusk. Each bore a notice such as ‘Lighting at 10 o'clock, please bring fireworks.’ And fireworks there were in abundance, appearing mysteriously, but perhaps not surprisingly, in the home of pyrotechnics.

“Novelty was introduced by a man wearing a tall top hat and a huge pipe riding a penny farthing bicycle through the streets.”

Many Berkhamstedians heard the BBC newsflash at 7.45pm on Monday but their reaction to the news did not immediately drive them out of doors. The High Street was practically deserted just before public houses closed in central parts of the town.

“VE Day dawned bright and clear, and people came out of their houses.

“At 7.30pm, the High Street was packed in the vicinity of the Town Hall. Somebody produced a large Nazi flag. With ‘whoops’ and ‘boos’ the Army Cadets descended upon it, stamped on it and tore it. Later it was spread in the road and became a carpet for buses and cars, bicycles and feet.”