Victory 80: Major Events of 1945
This blog was first published by Archives and Heritage Officer Philip Jeffs as part of a series of posters that were displayed around Warrington Town Centre during the first UK coronavirus lockdown in May 2020 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe or “VE” day. It is being republished here again, in slightly edited form, to commemorate the 80th anniversary.
Perhaps the biggest event in Warrington 80 years ago, excepting VE Day and VJ Day, was a visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 7th March 1945. The Royal couple were welcomed by over 8,500 school children at the Town Hall and crowds lined the streets to watch the royal cavalcade pass by. On arrival the King addressed the crowd from the steps of the Town Hall and the Royal party along with the Mayor watched a military parade on the Town Hall lawns.
King George VI’s visit to Warrington in 1945
The visit to Warrington was part of a 2 day tour of Lancashire. Shortly before arriving in Warrington, the Royals had visited a rehabilitation unit for soldiers at Winwick Hospital.
Walking Day, 29th June 1945
On 29th June 1945 Warrington’s Walking Day resumed for the first time since 1939. Not only was this the first Walking day in 5 years, it was also the first time the United States troops from Burtonwood Airbase got to see our local festival. The Warrington Guardian recorded that “it was a revelation to our United States friends, of whom several thousands were in the crowds lining the route of the procession – indeed some of them were the proud fathers of children in the parade! – and one of the biggest cheers was given to a U.S. Army band that provided music on the way”.
The fitting theme of “Peace” was chosen for the 1945 Walking Day, and although the war continued against Japan, the people of Warrington were really beginning to feel that an end to the War was on its way.
A Peace Banner at the 1945 Walking Day
One unusual event in Warrington after VJ Day was a visit by the town’s adopted warship HMS Obdurate, which travelled along the Ship Canal in October. The ship berthed at Naylor’s Wharf in Walton and thousands of locals took the opportunity of touring the ship.
During the War towns had been encouraged to raise enough funds to build a destroyer through holding “Warship Weeks” where residents were encouraged to buy Government bonds and savings certificates. Once constructed the town “adopted” that ship, with local charities sending the crew relief parcels, gloves, socks, and other treats. Local children were encouraged to write to the crew and representatives of the ship would attend important events in the town.
A strong connection was often built with the sponsor town, and even today the Warrington Sea Cadets’ unit is known as TS Obdurate.
HMS Obdurate
One event that no doubt caused a great deal of celebrating was the re-opening of the Wilderspool Stadium for Rugby League matches. The stadium had been requisitioned by the Government for use as an emergency store since the early days of the War. The only sporting use the grounds had seen during the War was the occasional Exhibition Match of American Football put on by servicemen from Burtonwood Base.
1945 saw the return of league matches and Wilderspool hosted the Lancashire cup final between Wigan and Widnes with a crowd of 28,000 spectators.
The Main Stand, Wilderspool, before the War
Whilst there were many more celebrations and re-openings in the months following VE Day and VJ Day, one final event which has to be mentioned is the Town Hall Victory Parade. The parade was organised by Colonel J. Hutchings, Commanding Officer of the local battalion of the Home Guard. It was made up of representatives from the three armed force alongside members of over 30 other groups involved in the town’s War effort.
VE Day commemorates an iconic, defining point in British history, when after a monumental struggle, people celebrated victory over Adolf Hitler and fascism. Tuesday 8 May 1945 was a day of street parties across Britain, and Warrington shared in the national celebrations of relief and jubilation. However, the preceding six years of war had profoundly impacted the town.