Box VE Day, May 1945 – August 1946: The Full Story
Alan Payne, May 2025
Alan Payne, May 2025
Fancy dress parade on VE Day plus 1 (courtesy Anne Browning Pothecary)
In June 1945, Rev Arthur Maltin spoke about his relief that the war was coming to an end: May 1945 was a wonderful month. The War in Europe ended after five years and eight months. It was difficult to realise that it was over and we had won. Our heartfelt gratitude was shown in different ways. Some just breathed a deep sigh of relief; others let off steam by making merry; and there were many who had lost those dear to them who shed a silent tear.[1] He expressed the views of most people.
Anticipating Victory
The cessation of hostilities was expected. Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945 and the public heard the news a day later. The same day the Home Office wrote to local councils asking them to plan Celebration of the Termination of Hostilities in Europe. Permission was granted to install temporary floodlights (street lights were still out), to light bonfires, extend pub opening hours (they soon ran dry), and have dancing into the night. Red, white and blue bunting could be bought without clothing coupons.
Then no announcement. Silence. It was regarded as a total anti-climax, everyone on tenterhooks waiting for the inevitable, the wireless keeps announcing the news won’t be long.[2] At 8pm on 7 May the BBC stated that an announcement would be made tomorrow. Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, to cheer the royal family and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In Box, people tuned into the radio from 3.20 to 4pm to listen to Bells and Victory Celebrations.
But the war wasn’t over as Churchill declared on the wireless that afternoon: We may allow ourselves (only) a brief period of rejoicing (as Japan) remains unsubdued. Most soldiers were still abroad, some still in POW camps, many missing, others fighting in the jungles of the East. Victory over Japan didn’t happen until three months later, on 15 August 1945.
The cessation of hostilities was expected. Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945 and the public heard the news a day later. The same day the Home Office wrote to local councils asking them to plan Celebration of the Termination of Hostilities in Europe. Permission was granted to install temporary floodlights (street lights were still out), to light bonfires, extend pub opening hours (they soon ran dry), and have dancing into the night. Red, white and blue bunting could be bought without clothing coupons.
Then no announcement. Silence. It was regarded as a total anti-climax, everyone on tenterhooks waiting for the inevitable, the wireless keeps announcing the news won’t be long.[2] At 8pm on 7 May the BBC stated that an announcement would be made tomorrow. Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, to cheer the royal family and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In Box, people tuned into the radio from 3.20 to 4pm to listen to Bells and Victory Celebrations.
But the war wasn’t over as Churchill declared on the wireless that afternoon: We may allow ourselves (only) a brief period of rejoicing (as Japan) remains unsubdued. Most soldiers were still abroad, some still in POW camps, many missing, others fighting in the jungles of the East. Victory over Japan didn’t happen until three months later, on 15 August 1945.
Organising Box VE Day Celebrations, 8-13 May 1945
Box organised two days of commemorations with Church Service and procession to War Memorial on 8 May and a procession on VE Day Plus 1 on 9 May. Arrangements were organised by James Browning, treasurer, Cecil Fildes, secretary, Harry Miller, transport, Norman Martin, electrical and the lighting, and Mrs Crowdy and Mr G Abrahams who arranged gifts for the children and prizes for contest winners.
The parish magazine of June 1945 described the event: The village celebrations were wonderful... VE Day and the following day were carried through in the best of spirits and everyone who could contributed to make it a success. The schoolchildren’s choir sang, the King’s speech was relayed by tannoy. There was a fete, bonfire, fireworks display and dancing until after midnight on the cricket pitch to the accompaniment of wireless music.
Box organised two days of commemorations with Church Service and procession to War Memorial on 8 May and a procession on VE Day Plus 1 on 9 May. Arrangements were organised by James Browning, treasurer, Cecil Fildes, secretary, Harry Miller, transport, Norman Martin, electrical and the lighting, and Mrs Crowdy and Mr G Abrahams who arranged gifts for the children and prizes for contest winners.
The parish magazine of June 1945 described the event: The village celebrations were wonderful... VE Day and the following day were carried through in the best of spirits and everyone who could contributed to make it a success. The schoolchildren’s choir sang, the King’s speech was relayed by tannoy. There was a fete, bonfire, fireworks display and dancing until after midnight on the cricket pitch to the accompaniment of wireless music.
Residents’ Memories of VE Day
Genevieve Horne (nee Brunt) recalled VE Day plus 1:
Local people in fancy dress processed from the Lower Rec field, to Mill Lane, then Fairfield (now developed as Bargates) and back via The Ley. Back on the Recreation Field, the Pioneer Corps held a Sports event where almost the entire population of the village gathered. Later in the afternoon, fancy dress prizes were awarded. Stanley Brunt, dressed up in a kilt, won the “owner of nicest knobbly knees contest”.
Genevieve Horne (nee Brunt) recalled VE Day plus 1:
Local people in fancy dress processed from the Lower Rec field, to Mill Lane, then Fairfield (now developed as Bargates) and back via The Ley. Back on the Recreation Field, the Pioneer Corps held a Sports event where almost the entire population of the village gathered. Later in the afternoon, fancy dress prizes were awarded. Stanley Brunt, dressed up in a kilt, won the “owner of nicest knobbly knees contest”.
Mrs and Miss Maltin, Jean Richards with Anne Browning in the pram VE Day +1 (courtesy Anne Pothecary)
Anne Browning recalled it as:
A rather improvised event in the years of deep austerity. Mrs Jo Ody suggested that our family could borrow an old pram which was in the stables at Slades. I was sixteen-years-old but I volunteered to be the baby and was wedged into the pram. Station-master Wilf Clothier did most of the pushing which was very difficult because the pram had metal wheels and didn’t like steps. Jean Richards was the nanny and Ruth and Mrs Maltin (vicar’s wife) are seen admiring me in the photograph. For all this effort, we received third prize, which was half a dozen eggs.
The entertainment continued into the evening. Child actress, Edwina Brunt, performed a comedy dance and fling at the Old Folk's Party organised by the Women's Institute in the Bingham Hall to which convalescent soldiers had been invited.
A rather improvised event in the years of deep austerity. Mrs Jo Ody suggested that our family could borrow an old pram which was in the stables at Slades. I was sixteen-years-old but I volunteered to be the baby and was wedged into the pram. Station-master Wilf Clothier did most of the pushing which was very difficult because the pram had metal wheels and didn’t like steps. Jean Richards was the nanny and Ruth and Mrs Maltin (vicar’s wife) are seen admiring me in the photograph. For all this effort, we received third prize, which was half a dozen eggs.
The entertainment continued into the evening. Child actress, Edwina Brunt, performed a comedy dance and fling at the Old Folk's Party organised by the Women's Institute in the Bingham Hall to which convalescent soldiers had been invited.
VE Sunday, 13 May
Thanksgiving services were held on both Tuesday 8 May and the following Sunday. It was estimated that seven hundred people tried to attend at 11am on Sunday 13 May and Leslie Bence and Mr Fortune of the Admiralty organised a loudspeaker to relay the service to the congregation seated outside in the churchyard. Those outside had the service interrupted by several military planes which were still flying overhead and blotted out the words. Then there was a silent procession to the War Memorial for those who wanted. Arthur Weeks played Last Post.
Thanksgiving services were held on both Tuesday 8 May and the following Sunday. It was estimated that seven hundred people tried to attend at 11am on Sunday 13 May and Leslie Bence and Mr Fortune of the Admiralty organised a loudspeaker to relay the service to the congregation seated outside in the churchyard. Those outside had the service interrupted by several military planes which were still flying overhead and blotted out the words. Then there was a silent procession to the War Memorial for those who wanted. Arthur Weeks played Last Post.
Welcome Home Committee (courtesy Genevieve Brunt). Left to Right:
Back Row: Messrs Couzens, E Cox, Bezant, Mays, Cogswell, G Abrahams, Rev AF Maltin, Williams, L Bence, W Clothier;
Middle Row: C Lancaster, B Swan, W Dermott, Bradfield, C Lambert, A Adams, Burningham, Baxter, Burton, H Miller, RW Chaffey, L Butt, Mr Hayward, Chapman Webb;
Seated: Mrs Crowdy, J Browning, CW Oatley, CH Fildes, Mrs Dermott, Mrs Holmes.
Welcome Home and Peace Commemoration Fete, Bank Holiday Monday 6 August 1945
Three months later many servicemen had returned home from Europe and a more organised celebration was planned. It was a curious irony that the peace commemorations were on same day as atomic bombing of Hiroshima. To fundraise for the event, the Box Pantomime group went around Kington St Michael, Calne and Corsham Court putting on theatrical shows in the summer of 1945.
Organising the events did not run smoothly and there was a conflict between two different organising committees, the Peace Commemorations Committee led by Charles Oatley, James Browning and Mr CH Fides and the Welcome Home Committee organised by Mrs E Holmes for soldiers returning from Europe. These differences crystallised on what to provide as a permanent memorial of peace for the village. It was decided that any memorial should be non-military and funds were eventually allocated two-thirds for a village peace memorial and one-third to the Welcome Home Fund Committee. The memorial which eventually emerged was the restoration of the stables opposite The Queen’s Head which was converted into a public lavatory (the building now called The Old Sweet Factory).
Three months later many servicemen had returned home from Europe and a more organised celebration was planned. It was a curious irony that the peace commemorations were on same day as atomic bombing of Hiroshima. To fundraise for the event, the Box Pantomime group went around Kington St Michael, Calne and Corsham Court putting on theatrical shows in the summer of 1945.
Organising the events did not run smoothly and there was a conflict between two different organising committees, the Peace Commemorations Committee led by Charles Oatley, James Browning and Mr CH Fides and the Welcome Home Committee organised by Mrs E Holmes for soldiers returning from Europe. These differences crystallised on what to provide as a permanent memorial of peace for the village. It was decided that any memorial should be non-military and funds were eventually allocated two-thirds for a village peace memorial and one-third to the Welcome Home Fund Committee. The memorial which eventually emerged was the restoration of the stables opposite The Queen’s Head which was converted into a public lavatory (the building now called The Old Sweet Factory).
"The Old Sweet Factory" was previously a public toilet (courtesy Carol Payne)
Peace Parade and Fete, 6 August 1945
Mr Chapman Webb organised the Peace Day Procession which started in Henley Lane, down to the old Fete Field, along to the War Memorial, through Box High Street, the Market Place, the Bassetts and the Recreation Field. Charles B Cochran, the world-famous stage producer, opened the event and judged a ladies’ beauty contest. He had produced Noel Coward plays in London in the 1920s and 1930s and theatrical shows in America. It was claimed that five thousand people attended the celebrations and it was the last event ever held on Fete Field before Bargates was built there.
CB Cochran had wanted to attend the celebrations as a tribute to his friend, the actress Maisie Gay who had run the Northey Arms 1933-1936 and lived in Kingsdown at Whirligig ever since. But she was too ill to participate and died in September 1945. Charles Cochran recalled her after her death: In her genre, Maisie was unique and irreplaceable. a wonderful character-drawer. He added a very moving tribute to her that She built a small house at Box and had been in bed ever since she went there. She had periods of unconsciousness and on one occasion when I visited her, she wandered right back to her theatre days and said, "Don't worry, Mr Cochran, I shall be ready in time.”
Mr Chapman Webb organised the Peace Day Procession which started in Henley Lane, down to the old Fete Field, along to the War Memorial, through Box High Street, the Market Place, the Bassetts and the Recreation Field. Charles B Cochran, the world-famous stage producer, opened the event and judged a ladies’ beauty contest. He had produced Noel Coward plays in London in the 1920s and 1930s and theatrical shows in America. It was claimed that five thousand people attended the celebrations and it was the last event ever held on Fete Field before Bargates was built there.
CB Cochran had wanted to attend the celebrations as a tribute to his friend, the actress Maisie Gay who had run the Northey Arms 1933-1936 and lived in Kingsdown at Whirligig ever since. But she was too ill to participate and died in September 1945. Charles Cochran recalled her after her death: In her genre, Maisie was unique and irreplaceable. a wonderful character-drawer. He added a very moving tribute to her that She built a small house at Box and had been in bed ever since she went there. She had periods of unconsciousness and on one occasion when I visited her, she wandered right back to her theatre days and said, "Don't worry, Mr Cochran, I shall be ready in time.”
OD Harris, the ventiloquist dummy "Shakespear" and Edwina Brunt (courtesy Genevieve Brunt)
It poured down on Monday 6 August. Despite the rain villagers made a determined effort to celebrate and children from Hawthorn were ferried by char-a-banc to Box Halt. There were numerous stalls. Mr J Reed of Northey Arms ran a refreshment tent, the WI sold lemonade, a Rabbit and Poultry Show was put on by the Box Hill Rabbit Club, the Bath Imperial Spa Band played from 1pm until midnight. Oscar Drew Harris (Maisie Gay’s partner) produced a children's review of Jack in the Box, which featured Edwina Brunt. He put on a ventriloquist show in the Bingham Hall with his puppet called Shakespeare, assisted by Pauline Hutton. Dancing lasted from 9pm until midnight and featured Box's Own Victory Song "For ever and a Day", words and music composed by Marjorie Haywood of the Queen's Hotel and sung by Betty Franklin.
Victory Anniversary concert in 1946 organised by OD Harris (courtesy Genevieve Brunt\)
Victory Celebrations, 8 June 1946
An official commemoration of victory was held the following year but it was a very different event with military processions and parades held in major cities. There was little celebration of this event in Box. Rationing continued with petrol, soap, clothing and bacon still controlled by wartime vouchers and new restrictions beginning with bread in 1946 and potatoes 1947. There were shortages of eggs, no bananas, bath water limited to five inches depth. The euphoria of peace was replaced by economic realities of few houses for returning soldiers, out-dated sanitary arrangements with people still burying night soil in the garden. A winter of discontent emerged in 1946-47 when snow caused major disruption and shortages of coal and electricity followed in 1947.
There were objections to using The Rec from the cricket club and others and it was proposed to go back to using the old Fete Field for a gathering. There was simply no general agreement and different organisations planned their own events, including the Home Guard and ex-Servicemen. OD Harris organised a concert for children in the Bingham Hall.[3]
An official commemoration of victory was held the following year but it was a very different event with military processions and parades held in major cities. There was little celebration of this event in Box. Rationing continued with petrol, soap, clothing and bacon still controlled by wartime vouchers and new restrictions beginning with bread in 1946 and potatoes 1947. There were shortages of eggs, no bananas, bath water limited to five inches depth. The euphoria of peace was replaced by economic realities of few houses for returning soldiers, out-dated sanitary arrangements with people still burying night soil in the garden. A winter of discontent emerged in 1946-47 when snow caused major disruption and shortages of coal and electricity followed in 1947.
There were objections to using The Rec from the cricket club and others and it was proposed to go back to using the old Fete Field for a gathering. There was simply no general agreement and different organisations planned their own events, including the Home Guard and ex-Servicemen. OD Harris organised a concert for children in the Bingham Hall.[3]
Conclusion
A different society began to emerge with the Atlee government after 1945, nationalised public services and NHS. It was hoped that universal benefits paid for out of taxation would abolish the five evils: Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness.
Changes came in Box when the wartime vicar, Rev Arthur Maltin left to be replaced by Rev Lendon Bell. Box turned to its past to find a peaceful and rural existence. In 1945 Eric Bayliss and Bill Peters started planning a Horse Show in the centre of the village, held in the field over the By Brook with horse trailers going down Valens Terrace and over the brook before the building of Selwyn Hall and the bungalows at the bottom of the terrace. Like the plans of the government in 1945, it was a fine aspiration but ultimately proved to be unrealistic.
A different society began to emerge with the Atlee government after 1945, nationalised public services and NHS. It was hoped that universal benefits paid for out of taxation would abolish the five evils: Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness.
Changes came in Box when the wartime vicar, Rev Arthur Maltin left to be replaced by Rev Lendon Bell. Box turned to its past to find a peaceful and rural existence. In 1945 Eric Bayliss and Bill Peters started planning a Horse Show in the centre of the village, held in the field over the By Brook with horse trailers going down Valens Terrace and over the brook before the building of Selwyn Hall and the bungalows at the bottom of the terrace. Like the plans of the government in 1945, it was a fine aspiration but ultimately proved to be unrealistic.
References
[1] Parish Magazine, June 1945. The majority of information in this article is derived from the Parish Magazine of 1945-47
[2] Courtesy Peter Hennessy
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 15 June 1946
[1] Parish Magazine, June 1945. The majority of information in this article is derived from the Parish Magazine of 1945-47
[2] Courtesy Peter Hennessy
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 15 June 1946