Keir Starmer: My grandad’s post-war silence reminds me of our VE Day sacrifice

Even the late Queen Elizabeth II could not contain her VE Day excitement.

Then a young princess, she slipped into the massed crowds unnoticed, swept up by a ‘tide of happiness and relief’. 

It was a moment of national togetherness unparalleled in the story of these islands. The greatest victory in the history of this great nation.

Today, 80 years later, we have another chance to mark this momentous occasion. 

An opportunity to pay our respects once again to the lion-hearted generation that defeated Nazi evil. 

And to give thanks to those who carry the torch of their service in our armed forces today.

But this year, VE day is also important for another reason. Because as time marches on, we must all now take responsibility for keeping this legacy alive.

I see this in my own family. 

When I was growing up, people who had lived through the war were present in every community. But now, as my children learn about it at school, there are fewer members of that great generation on hand to share firsthand what they and the country experienced.

That’s why this year’s VE day is more than a celebration, it is a moment of national renewal. 

We must come together as one country to honour those fought for our freedom. But we must also share their experience as the defining moment in our national story. Renew the bonds of our history so that future generations inherit them.

Take the story of Stanley Fisher and Mervyn Kersch, two Jewish veterans of the Normandy landings. I spoke to Mervyn earlier this year, and theirs is a harrowing and courageous story. 

Because Stanley and Mervyn went on to see the horrors inflicted on Jews like them at the Bergen Belsen concentration camp, when it was liberated by British forces. 

It is a powerful reminder that our victory was not just a victory for Britain. It was also a defeat of the assembled forces of tyranny, hatred and evil. Nonetheless, for years after, Stanley and Mervyn were too haunted by the suffering to talk about what they saw.

It was the same for Colin Deverall, 101, who I met at Buckingham Palace on Monday. For decades, Colin never told his family about his involvement in D-day.

It was only six years ago, when he told his daughter he wanted to go back to France to ‘see his mates’ that they realised what he meant. 

He wanted to say a proper goodbye to his comrades who never made it back to Britain.

This is the thing about our greatest generation. 

Not only did they sacrifice so much, they often bore their burden in silence.

I think of my own grandfather, who fought during the Second World War. We never did find out exactly what he saw. He simply didn’t want to talk about it.  

But this VE Day and every VE Day, we must talk about them. Because without their bravery, the freedom and joy of today’s celebrations may never have come to pass.

So, let’s hang up the bunting, as we did 80 years ago. 

Let’s light beacons that illuminate every corner of these islands, as we did 80 years ago. 

Let’s come onto our streets, raise our glasses and give thanks to the dedication of our armed forces, as we did 80 years ago. 

But then, when the nation falls silent at noon, let’s also make a solemn vow, together.

That we will all now do our bit to honour the heroes of 1945. And promise to take their stories with us into the future.

Because, as those joyous crowds 80 years ago probably knew, their victory will always be our finest hour.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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