UK veterans remember VE Day 75 years on

Ken Hay remembers the 8th May 1945 not just because it was Victory in Europe Day, but because it was also the day he and his brother were reunited.

Hay and his brother were fighting in Normandy when he was captured and taken to Poland. He was rescued by British and American forces days before VE Day and returned to the UK.

Unknown to him, his brother had been wounded and had also returned home.

"When I heard footsteps, I turned around and there was my brother running down the road to get home and he had spotted us up at front, we just threw our arms around each other. The last time I'd seen him was out in a field in Normandy, when I got captured and he got back, I didn't know he'd got back. He was always my hero… so, I think we cried".

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in World War Two, known as VE Day.

Hay remembers the celebrations that night.

"We were taking in and everybody was waving, dancing and so on. And then somebody, some girls called out: "Hey Soldier give us a kiss!" All the women were sort of coming around kissing you, I never had anybody kissing me since. Everybody was coming up and kissing, "well done", shaking hands and so on, it was a very joyous moment."

There were due to be many commemorative events staged this year to mark the anniversary but across Europe these have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hay says the current situation has brought some familiar elements to the war.

"During the war you spoke to people in the street that you didn't know, now it's all happening again… you know it's back again, I don't know if it will last, I hope it will.

"I sit on the side of my bed to say my night prayers each night, and included in that are those who have died from the virus those who are seriously ill, they got to find a vaccine but when?! So, all they can do is hope, and pray," Hay said.