VE Day Had Come - But Why Weren’t They Home Yet?

On the 8^th of May 1945, crowds had gathered across Britain to celebrate VE Day. After nearly six years of war in Europe, the relief must have been huge. But many families were still waiting for their husbands, sons, brothers and fathers to come home.

 

For some, that was still months away. For others, it would be years.

 

I hadn’t realised quite how many servicemen were still needed after the fighting in Europe had ended. In June 1945, the British Army actually reached its wartime peak of around 3.1 million serving personnel, including both men and women.

 

There was still a war being fought against Japan, and British troops in Europe were taking on new responsibilities, including the occupation of Germany and helping to deal with the enormous destruction that was left behind.

 

Demobilisation began on the 18^th of June 1945, but bringing so many people back was never going to be straightforward.

 

Most were placed into groups according to their age and length of service. Those whose civilian jobs were particularly important to rebuilding Britain could sometimes be released earlier, but many just had to wait until their number came up.

 

Even former prisoners of war faced difficulties. Thousands were brought home after being liberated, but returning to Britain didn’t necessarily mean being discharged from the Army. In October 1945, questions were actually being raised in Parliament about men who had spent years in captivity and were now facing the possibility of being sent overseas again.

 

I can’t begin to imagine how those men and their families must have felt.

 

And although Japan surrendered in August 1945, British forces still had responsibilities around the world. Troops were needed in occupied Germany and across Britain’s overseas territories, while the enormous task of demobilisation continued.

 

Throughout 1946, men and women returned to civilian life, but the process was still continuing well into 1947.

 

It makes me think about VE Day a little differently. We remember the celebrations, the flags and the crowds filling the streets, and rightly so. But for many families, the joy of victory must have been mixed with the knowledge that someone they loved was still far from home.

 

And for them, perhaps the moment that mattered most wasn’t the announcement of victory, but the day their loved one finally came home.

 

Did your father, grandfather or another member of your family remain in the forces long after VE Day? I’d love to hear when they finally came home.

 

Have a cuppa and let’s discover history together.

 

 

 

Image info:

Demobilisation of the British Army, 1945. Photograph by Sergeant Bert Hardy, No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit. Imperial War Museums, BU 8067. Public domain.