VE Day 75: A surreal day of triumph and sorrow as a Province stands united in thanks – while still social distancing

In many places across the Province, Union flags appeared bearing messages of thanks to the NHS alongside ones honouring the sacrifice of those who defeated Nazism 75 years earlier.

In one of the first acts to mark the occasion, two RAF Typhoons roared over the skies of Belfast late morning (with the Red Arrows going on to do likewise over London, streaming clouds of red, white and blue above the UK capital).

Teddy Dixon, a 100-year-old Belfast World War Two veteran, delivered this brief message on the Belfast City Council social media feeds: “On this, the 75th anniversary of VE Day, I’d like to remember those who served – and those who are on the front line today in the fight against Covid-19. To all those who gave so much, we thank you.”

The video went on to show an eerily-deserted scene of the Belfast Cenotaph,bereft of dignitaries or soldiers.

Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle, Belfast’s Lord-Lieutenant (the Queen’s representative in Northern Ireland’s capital), delivered her own message, saying: “It’s so sad we cannot be together as planned, to commemorate the momentous day and of course to honour our veterans.

“And to each of those veterans, I offer my eternal gratitude and my profound admiration. You are truly the very best of us. Thank you.”

Pictures surfaced on social media of people in costume dresses and streets festooned with bunting.

In Bushmills, Wayne Neill, 39, was among the residents putting out flags to mark the occasion.

“It’s not what we planned – but we’re trying to do it as best we can,” he said.

“It’s strange times we’re in at the minute. I’m in a flute band [Hanna Memorial] and under other circumstances we’d probably be out somewhere as a band. It’ll be similar again on the Twelfth.”

In Dungannon historian Eamon Phoenix remembered by name some of the east Tyrone men who died fighting fascism: John Anderson (killed in the Philippines), Leonard O’Neill (who died in Rangoon), and William Slaine (killed at Dunkirk).

He also noted the contribution Northern Irish workers made to the war effort, with Harland and Wolff launching 170 merchant and navy vessels and Short’s supplying 1,200 Stirling Bombers.

And in Dromore, Co Down, Hazel Edgar, of the women’s section of the Royal British Legion helped stage a small ceremony in a front garden of the town, featuring a bagpiper.

She said: “We’re not allowed at the war memorials. But we’re just after coming up the road and there’s a girl there dressed in a 1940s outfit, and there’s a couple of tea parties going on.”

The day had particular significance for her because her grandfather Ron Branker had been in the RAF during the war – but tragically lost his life in an air accident in 1945, just after VE Day itself.

“People were very privileged if they got their parents home again,” she added. “My dad never got that privilege.”

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