50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations in 1995

50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations in 1995


Theme(s): Celebrating Windrush

How to use this resource: Understanding the VE Day Anniversary and the discussions about the Commonwealth Heads of State from The Caribbean, East Africa and West Africa through the artefacts paint a picture of the involvement of service people from what was then the British Empire during World War 2. All too often World War 2, and indeed 1, are seen through the lens of Europeans as it is seen as a conflict that only involved them, however, they truly were global, multi-racial, and an international struggle with battles being fought and won in Africa and Asia in addition to Europe. In total 4 million African, Caribbean and Asian people experienced these wars and sacrificed their lives but up until recent times their histories have been whitewashed and remained hidden. The topic of Commonwealth Service Persons, World War 2 and the 50th Anniversary of VE day can be used to: History KS3, GCSE and A-Level Gives students an opportunity to consider the impact of different types of war: wars of defence, wars of conquest, wars of religion and civil wars. Students also examine the ways in which civilians and military personnel react to different wars and how this might change in the course of a war as well as the impact of war on people. Finally the impact of war on the relationship between government and people, the things that both unite and divide. Citizenship KS4 Help students acquire an understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed, its political system and how Members of Parliament participate actively in the democratic systems of government

BGA reference: BG/P/16/21

This is a letter from Sir Nicholas Soames MP Minister of State for the Armed Forces dated 13th February 1995 to Mr Bernie Grant MP concerning the participation of Heads of State from the Caribbean at the 50th Anniversary of VE day in May 1995. This letter was sent in reply to a letter from Mr Bernie Grant MP dated 16th January 1995. Mr Bernie Grant MP sent the initial letter following his Early Day motion at the end of 1994 about the VE day celebrations. In this he asked the House to condemn the Government, which at a meeting on the 3rd November 1994, had decided to exclude Caribbean and African heads of state from the celebrations, thus failing to recognise their contribution to the liberation of Europe.  

How can the artefact support your teaching and students’ learning

Understanding the VE Day Anniversary and the discussions about the Commonwealth Heads of State from The Caribbean, East Africa and West Africa through the artefacts paint a picture of the involvement of service people from what was then the British Empire during World War 2.

All too often World War 2, and indeed 1, are seen through the lens of Europeans as it is seen as a conflict that only involved them, however, they truly were global, multi-racial, and an international struggle with battles being fought and won in Africa and Asia in addition to Europe. In total 4 million African, Caribbean and Asian people experienced these wars and sacrificed their lives but up until recent times their histories have been whitewashed and remained hidden.

The topic of Commonwealth Service Persons, World War 2 and the 50th Anniversary of VE day can be used to:
History KS3, GCSE and A-Level

Gives students an opportunity to consider the impact of different types of war: wars of defence, wars of conquest, wars of religion and civil wars. Students also examine the ways in which civilians and military personnel react to different wars and how this might change in the course of the war as well as the impact of war on people. Finally the impact of war on the relationship between government and people, the things that both unite and divide.

Citizenship KS4

Help students acquire an understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed, its political system and how Members of Parliament participate actively in the democratic systems of government.

Linking the artefacts to the present day
  • The Windrush Scandal- how the Caribbean soldiers who wanted to make Britain their home were treated after WW2
  • Understanding that WW1 and WW2 were fought by soldiers from the Empire
  • Understanding the history Remembrance Day and its exclusion of soldiers from the British Empire and later the Commonwealth until recent times
  • In February 2019, it was revealed that more than half a million African soldiers who fought in the British Army during WW2 were paid up to three times less than their white counterparts
  • The ongoing recognition of African, Caribbean and Asian service personnel such as the revealing of a plaque commemorating the contribution of African-American soldiers in World War Two in June 2019.
  • The recent controversy over pensions for Ghurka soldiers
  • Cases of deportation of black ex servicemen