VE – Day
10th May 1945 – Evening Star
CELEBRATIONS AT IPSWICH
THANKSGIVING AND REJOICINGS
Service at “Tower” Church
Thanksgiving and rejoicing marked VE Day in Ipswich.
At the Cornhill, Ipswich, a great and colourful crowd was assembled at 3 o’clock on Tuesday, and after the Prime Minister’s speech had been relayed, the Mayor (Alderman S.C. Grimwade) addressed the crowd.
St. Mary-le-Tower Church was the scene of a memorable service later. Townsfolk not merely filled every seat; they stood the length of the aisles and crowded the Western end, and before the Mayor and civic procession arrived no more of the general public could be admitted.
The Lord Bishop of the Diocese (Dr. Brook), in an address, said: “It is for us to build a new and better world, and to this great task God now calls us.” Never in the whole course of history, declared His Lordship, had there been a victory so complete, so overwhelming, as that being celebrated; never one more convincing. As the Bible said, those who took up the sword would perish by the sword.
“That evil power built by force which threatened civilisation, has itself been destroyed,” said the Bishop, and so ended the Third Reich. He believed it was the conviction that our cause was right which had led us, believing that we were on the side of God.
He reminded the great congregation that in the Far East there was still a powerful enemy. In Suffolk, at any rate we could not forget the prisoners of war out there, and in rejoicing, we must strive to be better fitted for the task still ahead. Great was the task before us to bring order out of chaos, helping nations to rebuild. Sacrifice would be demanded and it called for the nations which had stood together in the organisation of war to stand together in the organisation of peace.
The new and better world could be built with goodwill if heart and hand were set to the task ready for the service and sacrifice it would entail. When Sunday came, let it be a day of prayer.
The choristers led the singing, with Mr. J. Job at the organ. The Vicar (Rev. R.H. Babington) conducted the service.
And the bells of “The Tower” rang out.
WEDNESDAY’S SERVICE
The VE-day celebrations continued in Ipswich on Wednesday and were marked by a public service on the Cornhill, where at midday a packed and reverent audience assembled in front of the Town Hall steps. Amongst the vast crowd were organised contingents of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force and the U.S.A.A.F. Whilst the concourse extended to the extreme limits of the Cornhill itself and flowed into the adjoining thoroughfares, the balconies of the surrounding buildings were crowded with sightseers.
Immediately in front of the Town Hall were the Salvation Army Band which discoursed popular music to the waiting crowd and promptly at noon the Mayor (Alderman S.C. Grimwade), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. C.W. English), the Aldermen and Councillors of the borough proceeded by the town sergeants with the official insignia took their places at the main entrance.
Accompanying them were the Town Clerk (Mr. Moffat’s son Donald Moffat kia), the Chief Constable (Mr. C.J. Cresswell), the Magistrates of the borough and clergy of all denominations.
The service itself was conducted by the Rural Dean (Canon C.O. George) and the Rev. W.H. Watson (Tacket Street Congregational Church), the singing being led by a combined choir and accompanied by the band under the baton of Mr. Jonathan Job F.R.C.O., the borough organist.
The service was simple, commencing with the singing of the Doxology, followed by prayers and the reading of the lesson. The hymns were “Praise my soul, the King of Heaven” and “O God our Help in Ages Past.” the service concluding with the National Anthem.
MERRY CROWDS
Spontaneous and informal rejoicing was actively obvious throughout the streets of Ipswich during both days, rising to a high-pitch of cheering, surging crowds as Wednesday evening drew to a close.
Thousands of Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen joined with the general population in rocket firing, dancing, singing and many other ways of hectic celebrating,
Cinemas in the town included in their programme a moving and truly splendid news-reel entitled “Victory.”
In spite of the intense excitement prevailing little damage has been reported.