Eighty years ago in 1945, World War Two juddered to a stop. It had begun in September 1939 and initially everyone had thought it would be over by that Christmas.
This September we are creating a weekend to commemorate: to stop, to remember and to raise money for those who serve and those who save today. During the war, Highclere Castle was a home for evacuee children from north London. They were not much more than toddlers as they were only 3 – 5 years old and I often try to imagine how their families coped with letting their children leave them to go and live in an unknown place somewhere in the countryside.
Equally can you imagine being the little child arriving looking up at a huge unfamiliar house filled with strangers? It would have been a long journey to get here and without doubt they would have been hungry …. first stop tea.
There are so many Highclere wartime stories. Some are highly entertaining such as the tales of the Canadian troops camping in various woods and practising their reconnaissance skills. They always seemed to get lost and drove through fences rather than gates and were really just young men trying to drive tanks for the first time. Meanwhile the Highclere Home Guard (Dad’s Army), armed with ancient rifles, trained to defend Britain knowing they would be the last resort.
From the summer of 1940 onwards, the Norwegian Royal family arrived to stay with friends just 4 miles away whilst at Highclere and elsewhere the Land Girls learned how to drive tractors, grow vegetables and look after animals. Young men became pilots and practised their skills in the skies high above the Castle, swooping down to pull up on the practise bombing run in the valley to the south. Later in the war, the American GIs arrived and were based nearby at Greenham Common.
All the news was blacked out as was all light during the war years. Rations were soon brought in along with National Identity cards. Everyone was in the trenches together.
Eighty years later, it is the re-enactors who will set up camp on the lawns around the Castle, bringing old jeeps and a sense of past life. The Red Devils will parachute in each day and there will be a chance to enjoy a number of short talks in the East Lawn Tent. Learn to play croquet and both watch and show your best steps with the vintage dancers whilst Alex Mendham’s’ band sets the mood!
Luis will be hard at work creating new cocktails and bringing back old favourites and we hope our visitors will be hard at work tasting them. With activities for children, the Military Wives Choir, singers and authors to meet, planes in the air and food to enjoy from the beginning to the end of the day, it will be a weekend to remember. Our parents and grandparents in many countries fought for democracy and peace. Many died. Thank you.
As the months progress, we will update you with guests you might wish to meet and more news of what we are curating.
VE Day 1945 was a day of dance, song and celebrations but from the horrors of the war, our parents and grandparents created various forums and organisations seeking to prevent another war on such an awful, uncaring scale. I wonder what their hopes and dreams might have been and what have we done with them?
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Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for sharing this valuable part of your history, and mine, as an American. I would so love to be able to visit during your commemoration.
Best,
Margaret Koger
My Husband and I are very excited to be traveling from St. Petersburg, Florida to attend the festivities on Sunday, September 7, 2025. I only wish my Father could be experiencing this event with us. He collected WWII vehicles and was a regular for many, many years in the Chicago, Illinois parades. Thank you Lady Carnarvon and all who present this occasion to the public.
Jeanne Pope Troutman
Glenn Elliott Troutman
Thank you
Nicely done and perfectly timed. Thank you Lady Carnarvon!
Many of us “Baby Boomers” owe our existence to WW2. My US Navy gunner dad would never have met my mom at Coney Island in 1942. He was from West Virginia and she from Brooklyn, home port of his Liberty Ships. He made six dangerous crossings to England; protecting his ships from Nazi U-Boats. They were married 60 years at his passing in 2003. RIP mom and dad!
They were amazingly brave – to ensure we all had a fairer world
Your last sentence is a thought on which I will ruminate for quite some time. Thank you.
Thanks for mentioning the Canadians. It’s great to be teaming up with Britain and Europe once again, rolling up our sleeves to help Ukraine. Hoping to return to Highclere next year when I visit my cousins in the UK.
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for the pictures of the grounds at Highclere Castle during the last “big” war in Europe. Fortunately, Europe is in the mode of protecting one of its own at this time. May the allies of Ukraine come together to take up where the US has left the scene. Many of us in the US are horrified at the men who are holding us hostage in America. Please pray for us.
Martha
It is about respect, courage and kindness to achieve peace – kindness
Dear Martha,
You have expressed my thoughts.
We, in the USA, are so sorry for the actions of our leaders.
America needs prayers.
Thank you, Lady Carnavon for your words & remembrance s.
Sincerely,
Sally Miller
Many of us in the USA are thankful that our president is negotiating for Peace , instead of just sending more bombs, weapons and rockets. We want the Russian troops to go home. This is best for everyone.
I think we all want the Russian troops to go home but above all the people of Ukraine
Thank you so much for your weekly thoughts. This one, a ‘never again’ reminder!
Great planning for this memorable anniversary.
As the globe trembles on unstability, let us hope and pray it NEVER happens again.
More fascinating Highclere Castle History! Still so sad that WWII took place.
Good luck with your historic weekend taking place.
There is only sadness in war – whether it the time of the the Egyptians, Romans, Edward III or more recently..
Dear Lady C, a treasure of my family is the menu to celebrate VE day, kept from my father stationed in Gibraltar. We must all remember and stay strong for the future. Claire
Agreed
Lovely the pictures what is a weekend and did you and lord Carnarvon have a lovely weekend and l am Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
I am always amazed of how creative you are in developing new activities at Highclere Castle. It is also a pleasure reading your blog.
Thank you – you are kind!
Thank you for your heartfelt commitment to honor the sacrifices made by those in the past who fought for our freedom with dignity and selflessness. It’s such lessons that give me hope for our future. I am praying our current leaders will always remember them in the same way and respond in kind. It is a confusing and daunting time as we see the ugly desire for power once demonstrated by our past foes rise so sharply to the surface these days. But I am filled with gratitude when I remember the goodness of those who fought this sort of battle before us, and taught us how to do our part to care for and support one another. Thank you for being a living example of just this. It has encouraged me today!
I wish I lived close by as I would enjoy visiting each of your fascinating events at Highclere! I learn so much for you each week and so look forward to your posts.
I was born on May 4th, 1945, four days before VE Day in England. My mother said my crib was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons.
I had the privilege and honor of being at Highclere on August 2nd 2014, as the winner of the PBS sweepstakes, to mark the anniversary of the start of WW1.
Heroes at Highclere. It was the most amazing, emotional and inspiring experience I have ever had. War stories need to be told and remembered and the sacrifices made never to be forgotten.
Thank you – we are returning to that them – again
Thank you, Lady Carnarvon,
A lovely look back…
We all pray for world peace…..
Take care,
Angela
We loved our visit last October to see things set up. I love learning more about how different countries dealt with different wars. My father was in at the end of Korea, oldest brother and Father in law was in Vietnam and next brother in Gulf War stationed in London. I love learning more about history.
Thank you for honoring those who served, Military and Civilian.
My Dad was an infantry sergeant, 45th Division [U.S.] serving in Italy, France and for a short while, in Germany. His feet were frozen after he crossed into Germany in the Vosge Mts. He was evacuated to Britain and served till the end of the war at Air Base Depot #2.
Thanks for remembering
Thank you, Lady Carnarvon for reminding us of the sacrifice and courage that has blessed our lucky lives with peace. As an American I am ashamed of my country today but grateful that Great Britain and so many others are standing strong for the international order, for peacer and for the rule of law.
Bless you,
Maggie Shannon
Maine, USA
That’s such a wonderful thing you are doing. My father and his brothers were in WWII. My mother’s brother was captured by the German’s and thankfully did come home,
Thank you
My grandfather served in the British Army in WW1 in France. My late father served in the Royal Army Service Corps. during WW2. He was a transport driver in what was known as Burma, Malaysia, India ending his tour in Egypt. He left the UK with his parents in 1947 for Canada.
I am very grateful for your acknowledgement of those who served all our countries. I only wish I could be there for that wonderful weekend you spoke of. I too have served my country as a Reservist for several years keeping up the family tradition of Military Service.
Thank you
Robert Douch
Vancouver Canada
I hope some Canadians might join us, if it fits with their travel plans
Thank you Lady Carnarvon for reminding us of the sacrifices and courage of our armed forces and civilians through out our world history . As a US citizen , I too am ashamed of our leaders in our country. We are ALL neighbors on this earth. and we should all care about each other and help whenever one of us needs it. That is just who we are are. Thank you to all countries who are standing strong and have the backbone to display character at this time.
Bless you all
Sally McDonald
I think the French vision of Liberté, égalité, fraternité was one taken up by the USA in the past
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday’s timely blog, and for remembering such past events.
Once again, as each country comes together to offer some assistance and form of gratitude for prior accomplishments, may the world find the appropriate resolution to bring peace to the current events unfolding before us.
Good luck with your fundraising activity.
Perpetua Crawford
Lady Carnarvon!
I would love to return to Highclere for such an event!
Looking forward to hearing more details.
We owe so much to so many.
We have published the event on our web site and will add more details as we all journey towards it!
I would like to go to the event! Have you seen the movie “Shrek”? It is my favourite. I was watching it last night.
I have seen Shrek ! Of course
Estimada Lady Carnarvon:
Como cada semana, disfruto de estas historias que me transportan a Highclere Castle. Tuve la oportunidad de conocerlo en 2018 y siempre me prometo regresar.
Saludos desde Argentina.
Lady Carnarvon
Thank you for this blog. Since visiting the castle last year, which was a highlight of our trip. I have so enjoyed your thoughts and knowledge you share.
Thank you ☺️
A wonderful history lesson and reminder of the sacrifices made by all, both military and civilians. Thank you for another well written, enjoyable story!
Thank you!
I’m crying because I’m so afraid that the president of the country where I’m from (America) has no idea of this history why no one should ever forget what it’s like for the people at home as well as the people who endure the bombs. The consensus here is that we’re protected by water. That didn’t help Hawaii. It’s poignant that the people who experienced World War II are few after all these years and human beings are forgetting.
I too often think and wonder what it was like for those children, and the torture that was added to the hearts of the mothers and fathers who had to let their children be separated from them. I wonder how today’s helicopter parents would handle the situation.
Goodness I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the toddlers that were relocated. Did they get to see their parents at all during those years. Goodness by the time the war was over their parents would have been strangers to them.
Thank you for this week’s timely blog. Our uncles were stationed in Rhodesia, Australia, Burma, while both our parents served in the UK. Our cousins still remember the frightening day they were taken from home and billeted to safety in the country. So much sadness always ensues from conflict and we look to the future with hope for a peaceful resolution.
I wish you every success in preparations for your September event. Oh how I wish we lived closer as we’d love to be there to share the day. Maybe another year.
Thank you again for such an insightful read.
Lady Carnarvon, I enjoyed this Monday’s blog post. Thank You for sharing!
My Mum was a Land Girl, she was actually drafted/conscripted into the WLA.
Luckily she was assigned to a chicken farm close to her hometown and was able to live at home during her service. The farm was owned by a German couple who had escaped from Germany. She used to talk about all the work that they did helping with the war effort, digging potatoes, gathering eggs and other chores. She was quite proud of her service in the WLA. She also always spoke of the American Yanks that became a part of their small community when the first American Airbase was built close to their town.
I believe her sister and her husband (my Auntie and Uncle) had a young boy that lived with them during the war that was from London.
She met my Dad, an American Airman and became a British War Bride and immigrated to Ohio, USA in 1946, where she was welcomed by my Dad’s family.
All of my Mum’s extended family stayed in the UK and I have a huge amount of cousins and an Auntie in Essex and Gloucestershire.
My parents met because of World War II. My dad was from New York and sent to California for training. My mother was a college senior so she and her girlfriends went to the USO in Hollywood to met the soldiers. She said that several marriages came out of those meetings.
I was catching up with your blog..
My father was in the Army Air Corp – Air Force as a bombardier in WWII stationed in England. He didn’t speak too often of his experience, but I remember he mentioned on more than one occasion that he was in London for VE Day 1945, and he said it was a three-day party in the streets never to be forgotten after all the hell of the war. It must have been absolutely glorious. I’m so grateful to know how much he relished that memory. He was my hero. I miss him so.
Particularly poignant was the last line of this blog: ” I wonder what their hopes and dreams might have been and what have we done with them?” It brought tears to my eyes immediately to think sometimes people put their hopes and dreams on hold to save the future. So thoughtful and well said.
Your blog and Highclere in general and all you are doing provides some solace and sanctuary and a safe place and grace. Thank you so much.
Sounds absolutely wonderful I love 1940,s n WW2 reanctments ,I’d be a ARP warden ….put that light out !! as was my great grandad in Sheffield
Dad’s army are here as well!