Source: City of Portsmouth
A series of activities and events will be held in Portsmouth to honour veterans and engage residents in commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May 1945 and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August 1945.
These events, organised by Portsmouth City Council, aim to keep history alive and promote civic pride and historical awareness as the number of living WWII veterans decreases and help to ensure the city is a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive place in which to live, work, and visit.
Commemoration activities:
- Multi-faith service will be held on 4 May 2025, 11:00am at Governor’s Green, Portsmouth, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at sea to honour the sacrifices made during WWII.
- Exhibition at Portsmouth History Centre, Central Library to feature local WWII images with interactive engagement and also temporary plaques on lampposts across the city.
- Victory in 80 Objects, is an online exhibition created and led by the D-Day Story Museum, in national partnership with six leading military museums, showcasing 80 WWII victory-related objects and their stories.
- WWII veterans’ interviews will be shared by The D Day Story Museum, providing a personal and poignant insight into the experiences of those who lived through the war.
- VE Day event at The D Day Story will be held on 11 May to offer an immersive experience for visitors to learn about and celebrate VE Day, including re-enactments, activities, and military vehicle exhibitions.
Leader of the council, with responsibility for culture, Cllr Steve Pitt said: “We’d like to invite all residents to join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day, and to take part in these activities. We’re proud to host events like these, to honour veterans, engage the community, and promote civic pride and historical awareness”.
Residents are invited to contribute to the meaningful exhibition at Portsmouth History Centre by sharing their WWII and V-E Day photographs. You can take your photos to the Portsmouth History Centre at the Central Library for copying, or by emailing them to portsmouthhistorycentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. Your contributions will play a vital role in preserving and celebrating our shared history.