- 10.00am - 5.30pm
- FREE
- Chelsea, London
- 10.00am - 5.30pm
- FREE
- Chelsea, London
National military service museums join forces for Virtual VE Day 75 Festival
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
The three historical institutions of the British Armed Forces invite the public to ‘stand with your services’ to celebrate 75 years since VE Day on Friday 8 May.
The National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Army Museum and Royal Air Force Museum are hosting their first tri-service celebration with the Virtual VE Day 75 Festival taking place online from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May 2020, inclusive.
In a way that the British do so well, the three museums of the Armed Forces will keep calm and carry on with their Virtual VE Day 75 Festival to replace individual pre-Covid ambitions for marking this important anniversary. The service museums encourage members of the public to come together, while staying at home, in conjunction with the government’s communications to ‘stay home and save lives’.
The virtual programme kicks off on Thursday 7 May, the date of Germany's unconditional surrender, with 'Vying for Victory: Britain’s Navy, Army and Air Force in Myth and Memory’. Chaired by historian and broadcaster, James Holland, this will see each museum fight their corner, discussing the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force's respective roles during the closing stages of the Second World War. This free event will be broadcast on YouTube at 5pm on Thursday 7 May, followed by a live Q&A on CrowdCast at 7pm.
The Second World War was the first major conflict which saw the implementation of a truly joint operations and command. This involved three different services with three different sets of traditions, cultures and experiences. Leading military historians - Matthew Sheldon (National Museum of the Royal Navy), Dr Peter Johnston (National Army Museum) and Dr Harry Raffal (Royal Air Force Museum) - will explore how each of the services has cemented its own contribution in myth, tradition and popular culture and question the accuracy of that representation via the highs and lows of this unique working relationship.
On Friday 8 May, members of the public are invited to get their gardens and homes decorated and prepare for a VE Day party. Enjoy learning about life on the Home Front, get thrifty with a Make Do and Mend session, and learn how to dig for victory. Discover some of the experiences of Women in War with poignant stories from the each of the museums’ archives. Such as that from Dorrie Thomas, who served as a Telegraphist in the Women’s Royal Navy Service and sent news of peace in Europe to members of the British Naval Fleet.
Historian and author, James Holland will speak to the National Army Museum’s Dr Peter Johnston at 2pm in a live webinar discussing ‘Why the Allies Won’, just before the nation tunes into the BBC to hear Churchill’s famous VE Day broadcast at 3pm. Victory celebrations commence at 4pm with a live Swing Dance Class followed by a sing-along concert with the Bluebird Belles.
Saturday 9 May brings living history to living rooms with reenactors sharing stories from real service personnel during the Second World War. Dr Peter Johnston takes a live webinar with historian Dr Jonathan Fennell on ‘Fighting the People’s War’, and an immersive walk-through of HMS Alliance will provide an insight into the extraordinary self-isolation experience of submariners as the rest of Europe celebrated.
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said:
'As plans for VE Day 75 have been forced to change hugely due to the pandemic, this imaginative and innovative virtual festival will provide a much-needed distraction in these uncertain times. This is a chance to rediscover the Second World War and will be a poignant reminder for us all of the sacrifice our Armed Forces made in honour of King and country.'
'The cooperation of these three historic institutions is a fantastic achievement and will ensure that all generations are aware of the importance of VE Day and the unforgettable impact of events which took place 75 years ago.'
The museums are encouraging those joining to share pictures on social media with the hashtag #StandWithYourServices.
Notes to editors
- All events will be broadcast online, via either YouTube, CrowdCast or Facebook
- All events are free to join and where there is limited participation, on a first-come-first-served basis
- Register to attend Vying for Victory at www.crowdcast.io/e/vyingforvictory
- The full schedule of events will be published on Friday 1 May 2020 at www.nam.ac.uk
- The National Army Museum, RAF Museum and National Museum of the Royal Navy are currently closed following government guidance in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Images, quotes and historian biographies:
Please use this Dropbox link.
Join in the conversation:
- Twitter and Instragram: @natmuseumrn | @NAM_London | @rafmuseum
- Facebook: facebook.com/NatMuseumRN | facebook.com/NationalArmyMuseum | facebook.com/rafmuseum
- Hashtag: #StandWithYourServices #VEDay75 #StayHomeSaveLives
For more information please contact:
- Claire Blackshaw | PR & Communications Manager | National Army Museum
- E: cblackshaw@nam.ac.uk | T: 020 7881 2433
- Becca Hubbard | Director of Marketing | National Museum of the Royal Navy
- E: Becca.hubbard@nmrn.org.uk | T: 07593 441 056
- Ajay Srivastava | Head of Public Relations| RAF Museum
- E: ajay@rafmuseum.org | T: 07968 545 595
About the National Museum of the Royal Navy
The National Museum of the Royal Navy, established in 2009, tells the story of the four fighting forces of the British Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Fleet Air Arm, the Submarine Service and the Surface Fleet. Ours is the epic story of the Royal Navy, its impact on Britain and the world from its origins in 625 A.D. to the present day.
The Museum Group includes the Royal Naval Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum with HMS Alliance, Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower, the Royal Marines Museum, HMS Victory, HMS Caroline, HMS M33, HMS Warrior and NMRN Hartlepool (including HMS Trincomalee). Further information is available on www.nmrn.org.uk
About the National Army Museum
The National Army Museum is the leading authority on the history of the British Army. It was founded in 1960 by Royal Charter and established for the purpose of collecting, preserving and exhibiting objects and records relating to the Land Forces of the British Crown. The Museum seeks to tell the story of the nation’s Army and of the soldiers who have served in it. It aims to inspire, educate and engage the public with its world-class collection.
About the RAF Museum
The RAF Museum is a place of storytelling and sharing. Our RAF stories include those of serving personnel, veterans, cadets and reserves. They explore our rich collections of technological innovations, personal items and the heritage of our site. The stories come from times of war and keeping the peace, from at home and abroad. They may be about courage, fear, love, loss or laughter. Visitors are encouraged to discover these stories throughout our exhibitions, across our site and online – and perhaps contribute their own. The RAF Museum is free to enter. Keep up to date with the latest news and event information by following us at www.rafmuseum.org
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