• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Recent Issues
      • September/October 2023September/October 2023
      • July/August 2023July/August 2023
      • May/June 2023May/June 2023
      • January/February 2023January/February 2023
      • March/April 2023March/April 2023
      • November/December 2022November/December 2022
      • More…
  • Authors
      • Stuart OlyottStuart Olyott
      • Tony BrownTony Brown
      • Wayne ProbertWayne Probert
      • Sophie KillingleySophie Killingley
      • Sarah EbenezarSarah Ebenezar
      • Kerry OrchardKerry Orchard
      • Tom OlsonTom Olson
      • AnonAnon
      • John SnyderJohn Snyder
      • Ceri DouglassCeri Douglass
      • More…
  • Sections
      • Bible
      • Church
      • Comment
      • Faith
      • History
      • Life
      • Mission
      • My story
      • Prayer
      • Remembering
      • Reviews
      • Theology
  • Subscribe

Reflections on VE Day

David NorburyDavid Norbury3 minute readMay/June 2020, page 34

75 years ago I was not present at the VE Day celebrations. I arrived just two years later. But my mum and dad were there – but they were not together. Dad was in Italy as Sergeant Instructor in the Royal Artillery. He had been in the Battle of Tripoli but was injured by shrapnel. He recuperated in Jerusalem, then travelled onto Italy. Mum was teaching in Liverpool. She was the only female teacher in a boys school and travelled from North Wales to Liverpool every day. If there was an air raid, her responsibility was to ensure that the boys remained in the air raid shelters they were allocated – even if it meant dodging between shelters while the raid was on! Mum and dad loved each other dearly. I have some of their letters. One or two are written so that they can only be read in a mirror! It must have taken a long time to read and to write!

From North Africa, on May 20th 1943, my Dad wrote to ‘My own Darling Ellen’:

Now listen – they can send me to any country in the world, even Hollywood, and I would never want anyone, only my Ellen, you my dear girl are life to me, and unless you are not with me, well I just feel like jumping in the river, but I can’t do that, there are no rivers around here… no-one, no-one, only you is ever going to be my wife.

It was tough for them. They exchanged telegrams. But they could say only the briefest of messages. I have the originals. One of the telegrams was from Dad’s father and simply reads:

Sorry to tell you Mother died my thoughts are with you God bless you Dad Norbury

 

In the middle of a terrible war, and with sadness all around, nothing could stop their love. The telegram dated 28th August, 1942 reads: ‘Loving birthday greetings All my love’. Then, 12th February 1944 reads: ‘Be home on Wednesday Night about eight All my love’

Victory

Victory was coming. I have a copy of the original ‘Special Order Of The Day’, dated April 1945, from Field Marshall Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander reading:

Final victory is near. …You must be prepared for a hard bitter fight; but the end is quite certain – there is not the slightest shadow of doubt about that. You, who have won the battle, you have fought, are going to win this last one. Forward then into battle with confidence, faith and determination to see it through to the end.

On May 14th 1945, just a few days after VE Day, Brigadier Block sent a circular letter to my Dad and CMTC (Citizens Military Training Camp), congratulating them on their ‘important part in winning the war’. He attached a circular from Field Marshall Alexander which contained these words, ‘You will look back with pride on your contributions to the victory in Italy.’

How did they get through it all? I have a copy of a prayer suggested by the Padre for couples to remember each other every day. It ends, ‘ We pray Thee speed the day when we may meet in peace.’ And they did! Here I am to prove it! Dad passed away when he was 55. Mum passed away almost 3 years ago at the age of 97 and two months.

They are but one of the incredible stories of soldiers, their wives and families caught up in a war they did not start, but had to fight – at home and abroad.

And now 75 years later we battle against Covid-19. We are in it together. The battle is incredibly tough for so many. But what endured through the Second World War and beyond is love; common or garden love; magnificent love. Love will endure well beyond Covid-19.

Love never fails

Love never fails. Those great words of wisdom are Bible words. So are these: God is love.

Re-visiting a time I did not know, circumstances I could hardly imagine and emotions so battered by life has made a big impact on me. Where would I be without their love? Where would I be without the incredible love of God – bigger than all my failures?

Mum and Dad sacrificed for our futures – like so many others. God sent his Son who sacrificed his life on the cross of Calvary to rescue me and everyone who puts their trust in him.

My mum and dad had the delight of being there on VE day. The final victory had been won. But, great as that was, Jesus Christ did so much more. He defeated death and the grave. He has won the greatest final victory.

In a cynical world which often claims to believe nothing, the words of 1 Corinthians 13 verse 7 are still so true.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

And what about you? Who do you love? Who do you think loves you? Knowing that someone loves you is so wonderful, just like my mum and dad in the midst of the war. Whether some person loves you or not, one old hymn says it all.

And yet I know that it is true:

he came to this poor world below,

and wept and toiled, and mourned and died,

only because he loved us so.

 

But, even could I see him die,

I could but see a little part

of that great love which, like a fire,

is always burning in his heart.

 

And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;

O light the flame within my heart,

and I will love Thee more and more,

until I see Thee as Thou art.

Found this helpful? Like, share or tweet

Want more like this? Get the latest articles direct by email every week:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your personal details are safe. We won’t spam you, or pass your details onto anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time.

About the author

David Norbury
David Norbury is a member at Llanelli Free Evangelical Church and Chair of the Evangelical Movement of Wales Management Board.

Read next

'How Good Is The God We Adore!'
by Anne Davies
Geraint Elfyn Jones
by David Norbury
Going the Distance
by David Norbury
7 likes
The Wonderful Name Of Jesus
by Alex Madden
Serving God’s People At Bryn-y-groes
by Gwydion and Catrin Lewis
John Blanchard
by David Norbury
Our future all unknown
by David Norbury
10 likes
The Three Cries Of A Poor Man
by Mick Moffett

Primary Sidebar

Like us on Facebook

Evangelical Magazine

Latest issue

Other popular articles

  • What is ‘praying in the Spirit’ and how do we pray in this way? by Stuart Olyott
    97 likes
  • Golgotha - Why was Jesus crucified outside the city? by Mark Barnes
    32 likes
  • Success Is Our Only Option by Sammy Davies
  • Until we meet again by Alun Ebenezer
    182 likes
  • Sharing Jesus with Mormon Missionaries by Tony Brown
    48 likes
  • Winter In Your Soul by Anon
  • Sharing Jesus with a Jehovah’s Witness by Tony Brown
    107 likes
  • Why was Jesus baptised in the River Jordan? by Mark Barnes
    76 likes
  • Door-to-door with a difference by Sheila Stephen
    18 likes
  • Mount of Olives: The Suffering and Glory of the Messiah by Mark Barnes
    30 likes

The Evangelical Magazine is published by the Evangelical Movement of Wales.
Waterton Cross Business Park, South Road, Bridgend CF31 3UL.
Registered charity number 222407. View our privacy policy.