VE DAY COMMEMORATION AT NEWHAVEN FORT
Mayor of Newhaven Cllr Jo Lewry presents a copy of The Book of Remembrance to Mike Tubbs, Chairman of Newhaven Historical Society
© 2005 Geoffery Ellis
Mayor of Newhaven Cllr Jo Lewry reads the names of the 89 persons honoured by The Book of Remembrance.
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Preface page of The Book of Remembrance recording the names of Newhaven residents who perished during World War Two.
© 2005 Geoffrey Elis
Alphabetical list of the persons honoured in The Book of Remembrance
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Memorial page in The Book of Remembrance dedicated to Charles Philip Johns, typical of other entries.
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Julia Burnett & Zoë Campbell ("Wish me Luck" S.G. Productions Ltd)
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Zoë Campbell ("Wish me Luck" S.G. Productions Ltd)
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Julia Burnett & Zoë Campbell ("Wish me Luck" S.G. Productions Ltd)
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
Zoë Campbell ("Wish me Luck" S.G. Productions Ltd)
© 2005 Geoffrey Ellis
A celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Victory of Europe Day, 8th May 1945.
By Geoffrey Ellis
A series of commemorative events took place at Newhaven Fort on Sunday 8th May 2005, the 60th anniversary of VE Day, the Victory of Europe Day, so called as it marked the formal end to the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945. The Allied and German army commanders agreed to an armistice on the Lüneburg Heath in Germany. After six long years the cannons in Europe were again silent and survivors could think once more about their future. (It would be another three months before the Japanese capitulation on 15 August 1945 when the war was finally declared with VJ Day – Victory over Japan).
This year 2005 saw the recording and honouring of the names of the Newhaven people who died as a result of the Second World War in a Book of Remembrance. This was the fulfilment of a wish that had been long held by local people. No memorial was erected in the town after the Second World War (unlike after the First World War) and many of our older residents were afraid that the names of their relatives, comrades and friends would be forgotten and lost. The Town Council undertook to research the names, with the help of the Newhaven Historical Society and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and a handsomely bound and decorated book was produced in time for the 60 th Anniversary of VE Day, which was celebrated by this commemoration on the 8th May 2005. The Mayor of Newhaven, Cllr Jo Lewry presented a copy of the book to the Newhaven Historical Society Chairman Mike Tubb for retention and display in the Newhaven Local & Maritime Museum.
The weather could hardly have been better to commemorate such an auspicious occasion; blue skies, some cloud, and a light breeze. The event was well attended by local dignitaries, veterans of all military and quasi-military services, their families and friends. After a programme of displays by some of the attending groups, refreshments of 40s-style recipes were served. This was followed by a short revue given by Julia Burnett & Zoë Campbell (“Wish me Luck” S.G. Productions Ltd) who provided contemporary entertainment reminiscent of E.N.S.A. - the Entertainments National Service Association, an organisation set up in 1939 by impresario Basil Dean and the British Government to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War 2. Despite many extremely talented entertainers working for ENSA the organisation was necessarily spread thin over the vast area it had to cover. Thus many entertainments were substandard and the popular translation of the acronym ENSA was "Every Night Something Awful". On this occasion though, it must be said that Julia Burnett & Zoë Campbell are to be congratulated for giving an outstanding performance.
Roll of Honour
In Memory of...
David Aldridge Jack Lambert
Sydney Alexander Frederick Langridge
Harry Avis Maurice Langridge
Frank Bartlett John Laughlin
May Bollen Keith Lawrence
Leslie Breden Leonard Lipscombe
Ronald Breeds John Lower
Charles Brown Lionel Lyons
Albert Butler Sister Mary
of Angel Guardian
Clarence Capon George Moon
Jack Challen James Moon
William Classen William Moore
Victor Cockle Amos Mullins
Miles Crosthwaite Charles Nash
William Croucher Jack Payne
Albert Dartnell Peter Penfold
Mary Dartnell Ernest Priest
Reginald Dean Joan Reed
Edward Denyer Leonard Reed
Ronald Ditch Henry Richardson
Victor Dunk James Rookley
George Dunstall George Rowe
Sydney Eager Percy Saunders
Jack Evans Albert Slater
Charles Fish Alan Standen
Charles Grevett Ernest Stevens
Maurice Hardy Owen Stevens
Percy Hardy Robert
Stonehouse
William Hawton William Swain
Victor Hendon Alice Tapp
William Hill June Tapp
Clara Hills Bert Tucknott
Alfred Hilton Doris Tucknott
Harry Hoad Florence Tucknott
Donald Humphrey Hazel Tucknott
Peter Humphries Herbert Tucknott
George Ince James Vaughn
Henry Ince Frederick Watling
James Ireland Desmond Wells
Christopher Jetty Alfred White
Charles Johns George White
Frank Johnson Leslie Wilkes
Robert Kerr Douglas Willard
James Kingshott William Willard
Clifford Winder