80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan

Lord Hacking Excerpts

Friday 9th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hacking (Lab)]

My Lords, I take part in this debate as one of the few old enough to remember VE Day and the subsequent VJ Day—but not the only one; my noble friend Lord Dubs was 12 years old in May 1945, and I was only seven years old. I particularly remember the wartime conditions that had been part of my life right up to VE Day, such as the blackout requirements. Every house had to have blackout curtains to prevent the exposure of light to enemy aircraft passing above at night. Similarly, every train had to have blackout blinds, and when you arrived at a station you were not permitted to exit the train and open the door until you heard one of the porters shouting the name of that station. If it was the correct station, it was only then that you were permitted to leave the train.

I have one memory of particular significance. I was in our house with my younger brother, who was about three years old; I would have been about five or six. My mother was taking my grandmother to the bus for her to go home. She seemed to be taking an awfully long time, so I flung open the floor and let a good light shine out on to the driveway, up which came not my mother but a policeman. I was terrified. I thought I was going to be sent to prison. It was therefore to my great relief that my mother arrived and I managed to escape imprisonment.

It was my mother who told me that the war was over. This did not mean much to me. Bombing had ceased and the flying bombs, known as doodlebugs, were ceasing. The feeling then in the country was not of great jubilation and festivity, as in London and other towns, but a sense of great relief.

My most poignant memory was the return of the fathers who fought in the war. Several friends of mine had lost their fathers in the war. I remember one day around VE Day that a friend was weeping because his father was not coming home.

My most vivid memory was of the victory parade of 8 June 1946. Marching soldiers, armoured vehicles and tanks all came by, not only from the British forces but from our allies. It was General Montgomery’s heyday. He was wearing his beret, made famous in the Eighth Army in north Africa, and by God he enjoyed taking part in that victory parade.

It was most touching yesterday to see Members of this House returning from Westminster Abbey with a row of medals. One of them was the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, who unfortunately is not in the Chamber at this moment. Indeed, I saw an admiral in full uniform yesterday in the House—I leave it to my noble friends to identify this particular admiral.

I wondered, therefore, whether this debate was relevant today. All those who served in the forces in World War II must be over 100 years old now. Indeed, I think I have heard mention of only one soldier who is still alive. My concern was, as I repeat: was this debate going to be relevant? But the fine speeches from my noble friend Lord Coaker, the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Saltaire—I am glad to get his attention now—and above all the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, have changed that. This debate is relevant, and I endorse every word of those speakers and others who have made it relevant.