Sea cadets and schoolchildren were invited to a street party on the deck of a Royal Navy destroyer to mark one month from the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
On HMS Duncan, the ‘last and best’ of the Royal Navy’s six T45 destroyers, local schoolchildren were hosted for a full spread put on by navy chefs.
The warship, which recently returned from a deployment to the eastern mediterranean, opened up its hangar and was decorated in Union Jack bunting and the ship’s flags for their guests.
Commander Dan Lee, the ship’s captain, told the children and other guests that it was important to commemorate the sacrifices of the Second World War to highlight “what we fought for.”
Commander Lee’s speech referred to ongoing global conflicts and the freedoms secured 80 years ago by WW2 veterans, in particular freedom of speech.
Second World War veterans were unable to attend the event but schoolchildren were invited to write “VEMail” to them to keep alive the spirit of intergenerational remembrance.
Two letters, written by the children on the ship’s deck, were read out to the crowd, where they said how thankful they were for the sacrifices of the veterans.
VE Day celebrates the formal acceptance of Germany's surrender that concluded the Second World War in Europe.
On May 5 - bank holiday Monday - there will be major celebrations in the capital, including a military procession by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force personnel from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.
The RAF will also conduct another of their famous fly-pasts over central London to conclude the procession.
Communities across Britain are now being encouraged to host street parties on May 5 in the lead up to VE Day to ensure the commemoration and celebration reaches all corners of Britain.
Actor and broadcaster Ross Kemp told GB News: “It's very easy to forget that the freedoms that we enjoy in this country came at a price, and the veterans that are still alive, they won't be alive, sadly, in ten years’ time.
“So 80 is a big benchmark, and I think we should let them know that we appreciate the sacrifices that they and their colleagues made for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have.”
HMS Duncan and its sailors proudly shared their links to the Second World War.
While Duncan was only launched in 2010, the modern destroyer is the seventh ship to sail under the Royal Navy ensign with that title.
The fifth Duncan — one of their proud predecessors — sunk five Nazi U-boats during the Second World War.
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On HMS Duncan, the ‘last and best’ of the Royal Navy’s six T45 destroyers, local schoolchildren were hosted for a full spread put on by navy chefs.
The warship, which recently returned from a deployment to the eastern mediterranean, opened up its hangar and was decorated in Union Jack bunting and the ship’s flags for their guests.
Commander Dan Lee, the ship’s captain, told the children and other guests that it was important to commemorate the sacrifices of the Second World War to highlight “what we fought for.”
Commander Lee’s speech referred to ongoing global conflicts and the freedoms secured 80 years ago by WW2 veterans, in particular freedom of speech.
Second World War veterans were unable to attend the event but schoolchildren were invited to write “VEMail” to them to keep alive the spirit of intergenerational remembrance.
Two letters, written by the children on the ship’s deck, were read out to the crowd, where they said how thankful they were for the sacrifices of the veterans.
VE Day celebrates the formal acceptance of Germany's surrender that concluded the Second World War in Europe.
On May 5 - bank holiday Monday - there will be major celebrations in the capital, including a military procession by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force personnel from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.
The RAF will also conduct another of their famous fly-pasts over central London to conclude the procession.
Communities across Britain are now being encouraged to host street parties on May 5 in the lead up to VE Day to ensure the commemoration and celebration reaches all corners of Britain.
Actor and broadcaster Ross Kemp told GB News: “It's very easy to forget that the freedoms that we enjoy in this country came at a price, and the veterans that are still alive, they won't be alive, sadly, in ten years’ time.
“So 80 is a big benchmark, and I think we should let them know that we appreciate the sacrifices that they and their colleagues made for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have.”
HMS Duncan and its sailors proudly shared their links to the Second World War.
While Duncan was only launched in 2010, the modern destroyer is the seventh ship to sail under the Royal Navy ensign with that title.
The fifth Duncan — one of their proud predecessors — sunk five Nazi U-boats during the Second World War.
Find Out More...