Durham County Record Office: the official archive service for County Durham and Darlington

Parade: European Victory edition, 26 May 1945

Part of an online exhibition from Durham County Record Office commemorating the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe on 8 May 1945

Soldiers from B Company, 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in Kangaroo armoured carrier, Germany, late March 1945 (D/DLI Acc: 10050)

Parade was first published in August 1940 as a weekly magazine for all the British Armed Services - Navy, Army and Air Force. Each week, as well as reporting war news, 'Parade' printed news and photographs of life at home for the men and women serving overseas.

Parade magazine, Italy, 26 May 1945 - London burning (D/DLI 7/998/30)

This edition of 'Parade' was published by the Inter-Services Publications Directorate and printed in Italy on 26 May 1945 to mark the end of the war in Europe.

There are illustrated articles on 'The Meaning of Victory', 'Surrender at Rheims', 'Strategy of Freedom', 'After Berlin - Tokyo', and 'The People's Pilgrimage', plus Edmund Blunden's VE Day poem.

Parade magazine, Italy, 26 May 1945 - King George VI broadcast (D/DLI 7/998/30)

This edition of 'Parade' belonged to Lance Corporal Willie Rennard Wilson from Leeds, who served with the 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) from 1943 to 1945. 1 DLI fought in Italy with the 10th Indian Division from May 1944 to the end of the war.

Parade magazine, Italy, 26 May 1945 - London burning and King George VI broadcast (D/DLI 7/998/30).

Back to 'We have come through' - remembering VE Day 1945 exhibition homepage.