All of England marked this year’s anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025. The royal family watched a flyover by the Royal Air Force Red Arrows. The Holy Union Sisters in their retirement home in Bexleyheath, a town in southeast London were happy to join this special anniversary. The sisters gathered around a festive table in the convent garden. They wore berets and wore red, white and blue scarves. The sisters raised a glass in memory of all who lost their lives during the war. The gallery below shows the celebration.
What was 8 April, 1945, like for Holy Union Sisters in England?
These excerpts from these Annals of Holy Union Convents give a glimpse of the excitement.
May 8, 1945 the day when our prayers were at last answered. The ships in Southampton Water sounded their code signals all day and throughout the greater part of the night. Victory! Victory! Was the joyful note…. The school (St. Anne’s) was closed for three days during the VE celebrations.
All the sisters attended the Thanksgiving Service in St. Edmund’s Church and heartily joined in the Te Deum…May God hasten the day when His peace will reign throughout the world. SOUTHAMPTON CONVENT.
May 8 VE Day-Two days holiday for everyone. Flags and bunting are flying all over the country and we have ours out… We can never be too thankful to Almighty God for His protection during these dreadful years of War. At 3 p.m. Mr. Churchill gave the official report of the end of the war on the wireless. At 5:30 we had our Benediction and at 9 pm. we listened to the King speaking to all his people. He reminded us of our deep gratitude to Almighty God who led us through victoriously these years of suffering. ERITH (KENT) CONVENT
