Poignant services for 80th VE Day

Last weekend, along with parliamentary colleagues, I attended a Service of Commemoration in St John's Kirk in Perth for VE Day 80.

- Liz Smith

This followed the national commemorations last week, most especially those on 8th May.

With so few Veterans from this conflict still remaining, it was a poignant occasion for reflection and for me, an occasion to remember my late father and all those who served in the RAF in Malta during the very dark days of the Second World War.

I remember him telling me about the news that filtered through to his squadron after the suicide of Adolf Hitler in Berlin and the following instrument of surrender that was signed:

"The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945..."

-German Instrument of Surrender, Article 2.