Flintshire residents recall wartime memories at VE Day event
Flint town hall played host to a commemorative celebratory event today (Thursday, May 8) - 80 years on since Victory in Europe was secured in the Second World War.
A proclamation was read the Reverend Dr R J Hainsworth on the steps of Parish Church of St Mary and St David, in the town centre to mark the event.
The event saw the town hall covered in Union Jacks, poppies and drawings and other displays by local schools.
Pupils from Ysgol Gwynedd and St Mary's Catholic Primary School attended to serenade guests with wartime songs, as well reading poems they had written and information on local people who fought during the war.
Ysgol Gwynedd pupils pictured with Flint town mayor cllr Mel Buckley, and deputy mayor, cllr Russell Davies. (Image: Newsquest) In attendance at the town hall were numerous people who lived through the Second World War, or had family members who served.
Ray Jones was aged two when Victory in Europe was achieved.
Recalling the war, he said: 'I remember my mum telling us to get under the table when the bombing raids happened where they were targeting the ironworks in Mostyn.
'They used to drop any leftover bombs and our house was shook by bombs. My mother used to say they'd issue everyone with a gas mask, and they were awful for children – especially babies. My father-in-law was a warden during the Second World War, he said they used to put lanterns on the River Dee so the bombers thought they were buildings.'
Ray Jones (Image: Newsquest) Talking about how important it is to commemorate the anniversary of VE Day, Ray said: So many people lost their lives, they fought for freedom. Nearly every family in Flint has a family member who was involved in the war. My uncle served in the navy, his ship was bombed and he ended up in the water – but he survived. A lot of lads didn't.
'I can't imagine there's anything worse than live rounds flying over your head. And these were young, normal everyday lads.'
Margaret, from Sandycroft, was a child during the war. She lost her older brother, Joe Jones, during the war – killed at Dunkirk aged 26. He was buried in France.
'It's wonderful to mark the anniversary,' she said. 'The war was horrendous, people you knew who lost their lives. I don't remember much about it, and I was too young to fully understand what was going on.
'My brother was killed at Dunkirk while he was on a motorbike - he was a messenger. I have a photograph of his grave from when my cousins went to visit it. It's beautifully laid out.
'I can remember my mum getting the telegram about his death – she was screaming up and down the garden.'
The VE Day banner at Flint Town Hall. (Image: Newsquest) Dorothy Massey, whose father served in India during the Second World War, said: 'He never spoke about it, I don't think he wanted to remember it.
'It's great to see all the drawings by the school kids on the walls – showing how much it means even to the younger generations of today.'
Kenneth Massey, Dorothy Massey and Susan Turner. (Image: Newsquest)
Kenneth Massey's uncle was a prisoner of war in Japan. 'He didn't speak much about it either,' Kenneth said. 'But he kept a diary.'
Rosemary Sheady's father, Robert Davies, served with the Welsh Fusiliers during the war.
She said: 'He was 16 when he joined the army and started in the barracks in Wrexham but moved to Weymouth where he met my mother who was in the land army.
Rosemary Sheady, holding a photo of her father Robert Davies, pictured alongside her partner, David Roberts (Image: Newsquest) 'His twin brother was in the Far East, but I didn't know much about him. I was born on August 22, 1945 – so my life would have been very different had we lost the war.
'It's so important to remember what they did for us. I remember my dad used to come in and say: 'Feel daddy's legs', and I could feel where the bullets had gone in. There was 10 of them in a group and dad was the only one who survived.'
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Patricia Hyndman's uncle, Fred Sheady, was killed in action during the war. 'It's a quite a sad, but happy day,' she said. 'It's really nice to be able to remember them and all they did for our freedom.'
Patricia Hyndman (Image: Newsquest)
Military veteran Dave Brent, from Oakenholt, served between 1965 until 1977 - and was stationed in the Far East, Denmark, Norway and Germany.
Dave Brent (Image: Newsquest) He said: 'It's extremely important to remember days like this. My grandad served in the First World War – where he was wounded. He had a big shrapnel scar on his back. My dad served in the Second World War – and was wounded at Dunkirk.
'He met my mum at the hospital when he got home. My grandad, David John Brown, signed up in 1939 to go back in the army, but the recruitment told him he was too old. He joined the RAF as a non-combatant.'
Colin Coppac, who's now aged 90, was living on Leadbrook Drive in Flint when his family's bungalow was destroyed in a bombing raid.
Colin Coppac (Image: Newsquest) 'It was November 1, 1941,' he said. 'Over 200 bombers came over and nearly flattened Liverpool. They were also after the steelworks in Shotton and the air factory in Broughton.
'My mum and us three kids were in the table shelter in the living room when the roof collapsed. A builder who lived next door came and they eventually dug us out. We lived at grandma's in Shotton for nearly two years until the house was rebuilt.
'On VE Day, I remember we had a party on Leadbrook Drive. There was a guy who'd been in the army and made these bangers, it was amazing.
'It's so important to remember and never forget.'
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