“75 years ago today World War 2 ended in Europe.  After a series of surrenders of forces in specific locations a final declaration was signed early in the morning of 7 May 1945 near Reims in France when General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces and hostilities finished the following day, 8 May 1945.  One day’s Public Holiday was granted in the UK before attention turned solely to the battles in the Far East.

To mark this historic event, Potters Bar & District Photographic Society had planned to hold an exhibition at The Galleria in Hatfield, just a stone’s throw from the De Havilland factory that produced so many aeroplanes during that war.

To replace the physical display the Society has added this page to its website to present an on-line version of the exhibition.  The photographs were selected to represent 1940s themes.

One of our members, and former Society President, Marion Dale, was 13 at the time.  She says “the whole town [Lewes in Sussex] took part in street parties.  My mother made jellies from blackcurrant juice and gelatine which had to be melted in boiling water, it came in great lumps ugh!”. 

However the celebrations were tinged with sadness for all our family as my father never returned from France in 1940”.

This is the original photograph taken on the day by the local newspaper featuring Marion (centre row white blouse) with her sister behind her.

We hope that you enjoy the pictures.”