Monday, August 9, 2021

V-E Day: A Celebration

 I left off yesterday with Brigadier James Roberts, who led troops to the end of the War. Before the war came, he had been in the least likely occupation you might expect for someone who did the sort of things he would do as a commander of men in battle: a manager for an ice cream manufacturer.


He would take part setting up the ceasefire between Canadian and German troops, and then participate in war crimes proceedings against a German officer accused of brutalities as a commander.


This garrison flag was surrendered to Roberts.


Photographs of V-E Day in various places are seen here.


Molly Lamb was a servicewoman as part of the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) and a war artist. I remember photographing this painting some years ago at a retrospective on her at the Ottawa Art Gallery. This is CWACs On Leave In Amsterdam, dating to 1945.


Another painting by Lamb is below. Private Virginia Stansell Singing, Tivoli Theatre, Apeldoorn, 
C Unit Canadian Army Shows dates to 1945.


To close things out today, a look at Molly Lamb.

34 comments:

  1. Every Sunday we get this little, ugly, mean Austrian man on the docu-channel, I so hate to see this flag and am glad we can switch the channel.
    Not to be forgotten how bad it was but... I´m sick of seeing this. Truly. At school in history we had but him, that´s how it feels at least.

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  2. I like the beautiful paintings.

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  3. My grandparents owned a pub at the time of VE Day; I'm told they stayed open for three days, the beer ran out long before then.

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  4. It is sad to see fascism beginning to manifest itself all over Europe. Do we have to go through this again?

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  5. Thank you for sharing Lamb’s work. Love it.

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  6. ...people rise to the occasion.

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  7. @Iris: I am conflicted about showing that flag, but in the context of history it needs to be shown.

    @Nancy: so do I.

    @John: the need to celebrate was absolute.

    @Italiafinlandia: you're welcome.

    @David: I hope not.

    @Francisco: thanks.

    @Marie: so do I.

    @Tom: they do indeed.

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  8. The last painting is beautiful!

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  9. I like Lamb's work too! She lived to a good age.

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  10. Tha painting of that army show is beautiful.

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  11. Molly Lamb was a talented artist.

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  12. i know some folks who were live during the era ...but they were super young. such a different time i am guessing. have a nice week. ( ;

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  13. Can you imagine the emotions of that day? I looked it up but couldn't see if it was ever celebrated again in Canada aside from a few wreaths being laid etc.

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  14. Still disturbing to see that swastika.

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  15. Se cometieron muchas atrocidades y los vencedores tenían que pedir cuentas de sus actos, aquellos que actuaron tan malvadamente.

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  16. Wonderful tribute to our war heroes and heroines ~ Working at Ice Cream factory must be a relief for Roberts after the devastating war would think ~

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor

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  17. The celebrations at the end of a war is an experience this age may never feel as violence in the world continues.

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  18. @Magiceye: I agree.

    @RedPat: so do I.

    @Jan: I think so.

    @Sharon: she was.

    @Beth: very different.

    @Anvilcloud: wreaths are still laid, but it is in memory, not celebration.

    @Revrunner: and always will be.

    @Ventana: thank you.

    @Carol: what a difference.

    @Maywyn: hopefully there is never another war of that scale.

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  19. A party to end all parties I have heard VE day was.

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  20. I like Molly Lamb's artistic style. I'd like to see more of her work.

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  21. The nazi flag just gives me the creeps, so evil back then

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  22. The art is amazing. We can learn so much. The Nazi flag is all too common.

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  23. I love the black and white photos of V Day so much, they are brilliant ✨

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