Victory and Voices: Three Argylls Soldiers Remember VE Day

On the 8^th May 1945, better known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces. Celebrations erupted not just in Europe, but all across the world, now that the years of war were over, despite the war over the Pacific still being very much active. At 3pm, Winston Churchill announced, “”we may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead”. VE Day, still remembered today, may have impressions of commemoration, reflection, and perhaps a bit of partying, but the mood varied for those who were serving overseas.

The museum archives stores and cares for thousands of photographs, letters, postcards, leaflets, diaries (to name but just a few sources) that belonged to Argyll soldiers throughout the regiments history – including accounts of VE Day.

This month, we take a look at three Argylls from three different battalions who served during World War Two and read what their perspective was of the days surrounding VE Day.

Thomas Raymond Ward MC, 1^st Battalion

Major Ward joined the Argylls in 1940 at Stirling Castle and after infantry and Officer training, he was posted to the 1^st Battalion in Egypt. Major Ward was involved in well-known battles such as El Alamein and he won a Military Criss (MC) at the Battle of Gothic Line at Tuscany in 1944. His citation for his MC mentions that he commanded and ordered an attack against the Germans which others had previously failed. During this attack he exposed himself to enemy fire. Throughout this action he displayed leadership and tactical sense of high order, but it was thanks to his personal example of cool and unruffled courage and his inspiring example that the attack was a success.  

On VE Day, Major Flower found himself in Italy and below is a typed account of his diary recollecting the events that happened.

He writes: “On the 6^th, an open air Thanksgiving service was held, and on the 8^th we celebrated VE”. A huge bonfire in the main square of Costa di Revigo, with the men of the Argylls and the Frontier Force Rifles. Happy comrades in arms. Drink flowed freely, food was plentiful, and the Highland Reels alternated with Indian War dances. A good time was had by all, including the local residents.”

In other accounts by Ward, he notes that they “indulged in exuberant merry making”. He also wrote that in his excitement to join VE Day celebrations, he was nearly involved in car accident. After taking a Company Jeep, Ward got caught up in traffic. Trying to avoid this, he moved into the other side of the road, and nearly had a head on collision with US Army truck. Luckily, he was able to squeeze into the correct lane again.

Ray Ward passed away in 1999, after which his sons found a manuscript of his experience. This was published under the title, The Mirror of Monte Cavallara.

Major Desmond Flower MC, 5^th Battalion

Major Desmond Flower was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in March 1941, after joining the army in the previous August. In August 1941, he was sent to the 5^th Battalion were he spent the rest of his war service. After a month in the 5^th Battalion, the battalion was converted into the 91^st (A and SH) Anti Tank RA.

Whilst in service, Major Flower would carry out an action which he would later receive a Military Cross for. At the time, Captain Flower, took over command of a Battery which was under heavy shell, mortar and Machine Gun fire. Captain Flower rallied the troops who were without a troop commander, sergeant and higher ranks. His citation notes that he was an inspiration to all his ranks, and with complete disregard for his own safety went from one S.P gun to another devising means to engage the German tanks and infantry and at the same time reorganising the gun crews.

This MC, alongside Major Flower other medals, are now cared for by the museum.

Out with his service, Flower had worked for the publishing company Cassels. With his literary skills, he was asked to write the History of the 5^th Battalion 1939-1945. The diary notes for VE Day, where the battalion found themselves in Lübeck, Germany, mentions, “V.E Day night, 8^th May, was rather noisy, and both Guardsmen and Scotsmen expended a great deal of ammunition, largely signal pistols, which terrified the natives, and by some miracle, killed no one.”

In a personal letter home to his father, Major Flower writes about VE Day in a different tone:

“So this is VE Day; I don’t know what it is like with you, though I imagine you and Beatrice are sitting in the sun in your garden. Here it is lovely and warm, and I have spent the afternoon in a motorboat, messing around the estuary looking at a sunken destroyer and U-Boat and a 2 man sub depot.

Well, we have finished the fighting. Of course we are glad but it does make life in the army seems fairly pointless: there is an immediate reaction of boredom – no next battle to look forward to and get ready for. … Once we fall into a permanent location which will be either tomorrow or the next day, we can settle down to a long summer of sports and games, bathing, boating etc.

I have nothing to look forward to now except coming home. I am delighted that your letter home got in and I shall look forward to the next with the greatest excitement! I cannot tell you how much I am longing to get back to the office.”

Further in his letter, he writes that he has wrote to his mother asking for books and footballs, which is something that the Army Welfare should be providing but they are busy dealing with prisoners. However, his men need something to do and that, “the real way to deal with boredom is prevention not cure.” He mentions that he has missed out on the opportunity to pick up any loot and now has, “…no gun, no camera, no wristwatch, no binoculars.”

He signs off his note to his father with, “There has been so much news recently that is cancels itself out almost, I cannot think of anything to tell you. Hurry up and get me home! That is priority me!”

The image below shows a VE Day Salute, Kiel 1945. Whilst Flower would not have been here, it shows the machinery that he would have worked with during his service and other celebrations happening in Europe.

Sergeant Charles Hemsley, 7^th Battalion

On the 8^th May Sergeant Charles Hemsley, whilst in service in Germany, simply wrote in his diary, “This is VE day”. On Wednesday 9^th, he writes, “Went to the pictures “This is the life”. And whilst this could be interpreted as a relief that hard times are over, it was more likely that he went to view the 1944 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Felix E. Feist.

The week before VE Day he scribbled across both the 1^st and 2^nd of May, “Rumours of Peace + no sleep”. What follows on the days after VE Day is quite interesting as he notes that he carries on with guard duties and not note any large celebrations or any sign that he would be going back home anytime soon. He last writes in his 1945 diary on Saturday 19^th May.

Unlike Major Flower, however, it seems Sergeant Hemsley did manage to get his hands on some loot. In the museum collection, we have a WW2 German Luftwaffe presentation dagger bearing a Nazi insignia and scabbard that Sgt Hemsley picked up during his service. We believe this piece was manufactured in Solingen, Germany.

Despite the films of scenes of crowds on the streets, and gathering across the globe to celebrate VE Day, for many it was a bittersweet moment. Many lost relatives or friends, hardships were still rippling across Europe and for many service personnel, they were lost after the experience they had from the previous years.

For the men of the 2^nd Battalion who had served and were taken prisoner at the Fall of Singapore, their war was far from over. Many of these men wouldn’t be liberated until the 12^th September 1945, even after VJ Day was announced. Later this year, the museum team plan to commemorate these men.

Written by Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer