Victory in Europe celebrations, May 1945

Germany surrendered to the Allied Forces on 7 May 1945. Victory celebrations took place throughout the country as 8 May was declared a public holiday. Huge crowds gathered in George Square in Glasgow to sing and dance. Aberdeen celebrated with bonfires, fireworks and open-air dances. Church bells were rung in Wick and buildings were floodlit when darkness fell.

William Paton was a miner who lived in Stoneyburn in West Lothian during the war. His diary for 1945 describes the local festivities.

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Page 1

Transcript page 1

MAY 1945

Mon 7th:- This was a day of great expectations and waiting
in Britain, as it had been announced over the Radio
that Churchill would be speaking at anytime to
announce the end of the war with Germany, which
had already been broadcast from Germany. It was
later announced that he would not speak until
tomorrow at 3P.M. and that tomorrow would be regarded
as the first V.E. (victory in Europe) day. The rejoicing
started after that, and some of the bonfires which
had been built in readiness were lit and a dance
was held in the welfare Hall. Most workers would be
on holiday during the next two days.

Tues 8th 1st V.E. Day Holiday:- I heard
Prime Minister Churchill speaking on the wireless
at 3P.M. when he gave his long awaited and
eagerly expected statement about the surrender
of Germany. He announced that the war
with Germany was over and that Germany had
given in to unconditional surrender. It was
a day of great rejoicing in every town and
village in Britain and many stirring scenes
were witnessed. In Stoneyburn Bonfires were
lit in every street at night and crowds
gathered round them and sang into the
wee sma hours, and a victory dance was

(National Records of Scotland reference: NRAS 4107/6)

Page 2

Transcript page 2

May 1945

run in the welfare Hall. The village was gay
with flags and so were some of the men when
the[y] came out of the 1st house of the pub as they
started to parade up and down the streets and
had a singsong at the Institute. I went down
to Bathgate in the afternoon and went to the Regal
pictures with Jean and Bell. The programme
was interrupted at 9P.M. so that the audience
could hear the king speaking. After we came
home from Bathgate Jean and I went to the victory
dance in [the] Welfare Hall after having heard the
singing and rejoicing at two of the Bonfires.

Wed 9th 2nd V.E. Day Holiday:- I attended
devine service in childrens playground where
the service was conducted by Rev Fraser and the
chairman was Richard Haggerty. At night I went
to Pavilion Pictures in Bathgate and saw Ingred
Bergman in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' a Techni-
colour picture about the Spanish Civil War. I
went to Dance in Welfare Hall when I came back

(National Records of Scotland reference: NRAS 4107/6)