On 8 May 1945, after nearly six years of global conflict, Britain and its Allies celebrated Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), marking the formal surrender of Nazi Germany. Eight decades later, the University of Cambridge joins the nation in commemorating this historic victory.

VE Day stands as a symbol of relief and triumph after the immense sacrifices of the Second World War that claimed around 40 million lives across Europe.

On that day in May 1945, millions poured into the streets across Britain to celebrate peace and the end of a long and devastating war in Europe. For those who had lived through bombings, rationing, and personal loss, it was a day of hope and a long-awaited return to normality.

Yet while VE Day was a moment of national celebration, it also carried a tone of sobriety. The war in the Pacific continued until August 1945, and Europe faced enormous reconstruction challenges, from displaced populations and destroyed infrastructure, to social and economic instability.

As Prime Minister Winston Churchill reminded the British people in his VE Day broadcast: “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.”

To mark this year’s anniversary, Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Trustee of the Churchill Papers Collection, visited the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College. 

The Centre houses one of the most significant collections of 20th-century political documents in the world, including Churchill’s VE Day speech, complete with his handwritten annotations and final changes made shortly before he addressed the nation on 8 May 1945.

The speech is preserved in the distinctive blank verse layout Churchill used to guide his delivery, adding rhythm and gravity to his words. A line referencing the liberation of the Channel Islands was added in Churchill’s hand at the last minute - a poignant detail highlighting his speechwriting process on the cusp of a momentous announcement.

This carefully crafted address captured both the monumental significance of the moment and the complex emotions it evoked, balancing a celebratory mood with notes of caution.

Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, emphasised the importance of VE Day commemorations:

The Churchill Archives Centre is open to everyone. Visits must be booked in advance and can be easily done online. 

The Second World War brought profound change to the University of Cambridge. While Colleges remained open and teaching continued, the atmosphere was transformed. Students balanced University life with air raids, military training, food rationing, and for some, fears for their families living in heavily bombed cities like London.

Students, academics and staff alike were drawn into the conflict - some on the front lines, others supporting the war effort from the lecture hall, laboratory, or chapel.

Thanks to efforts by the Cambridge Colleges to gather alumni wartime memories, we’re able to share some of these first-hand student experiences with you here.

At Christ’s College, Alastair McKay, who matriculated in 1942, captured the unavoidable tension of wartime in a poignant recollection:

McKay, like many students, balanced his studies with military training. As he recalled, they had to train whilst at Cambridge in order to be ready to go from graduation, to the armed forces.

Studying for a degree in mechanical sciences, he was assigned to the Royal Engineers.

This dual academic-military life was a common theme. Donald Whitehouse, also at Christ’s (m.1942), noted that for seven terms during the war, taking part in the Senior Training Corps (S.T.C.) was expected of everyone:

At Emmanuel College, fire fighting equipment was purchased and a watchtower was set up on the roof of Front Court. All students and staff worked together to manage emergency measures and were instructed in anti-gas precautions, firefighting and first aid. Fire-watching parties were also organised on the rooftops during air raids.

One memory shared by an Emmanuel wartime alumni recounts how students Ronald Ruddle and Paul Fehrsen helped extinguish an incendiary bomb that fell on the College kitchens in January 1941.

At Downing College, parts of the College were repurposed or affected by the war effort. Eight bedrooms (now J and M staircases) were adapted as air raid shelters for students and Downing became home to RAF Cadets, Army and Navy personnel.

The College escaped any serious bomb damage, although a ‘dud’ bomb did hit the roof of the Porters’ Lodge on the night of the 15/16 January 1941.

Sadly, fifty-five Downing students, alumni and staff are known to have lost their lives during or as a result of serving in the war, including Mr C. Elsden, the College Clerk who joined the RAF. He was just 21 years old.

At St John’s College, undergraduates managed a daily balancing act between academic study and wartime readiness.

Donald Rushton, who graduated in 1945 from St John's with a degree in Mechanical Sciences, recalled his time studying in wartime conditions:

Donald also remembered how St John's students had no knowledge that the military planning for D-Day was happening in their Senior Combination Room. They only found out when the fact was eventually revealed decades later in 1974.

Student accommodation was often basic. Derek Hall (Christ's College, m. 1944) shared recollections of “bare, dimly-lit rooms” heated only by an open fire.

Students formed informal fire rotas and congregated in one another’s rooms to share heat from a single bucket of coal. Poignantly he also remembered how,

Food was rationed and strictly regulated across Colleges. David W. Dewhirst (Christ’s, 1940s) described menus that included offal and whale meat, which was one of the few protein sources not subject to strict rationing.

Canon Hugh Melinsky (Christ’s, m. 1942) remembered:

Alongside hardship were moments of curiosity and opportunity. Melinsky also recounted being unexpectedly asked during a supervision whether he would consider learning Japanese. It was a recruitment effort for Bletchley Park and would have meant an intensive six-month language course followed by a possible posting to the Far East. “But that,” he wrote, “is another story.”

Military training remained a defining and inescapable feature for students. Derek Wilkes (Christ’s, 1940s) recalled parading in naval uniform at St Catharine’s College:

The war altered the social fabric of student life. Colleges, once tightly knit communities, were sparsely populated. Communication with family members was difficult, and wartime restrictions meant that travel home, even for holidays, was sometimes impossible.

Dennis Buckland (Christ's m.1940), a conscientious objector, lived in lodgings rather than College and sent part of his student allowance home to support his mother.

He remembered the strict regulation of student movement, including fines for returning after curfew and compulsory reporting of late arrivals. Even visits from female guests had to end by 10pm. “Generally I did not find any of these regulations irksome,” he wrote, “although getting back from a Society meeting could be a rush”.

Wartime experiences could also bring about more unusual challenges. For Dr C. Clapham, night duties included guarding ammunition stores hidden by the River Cam as part of Christ’s College’s CAMS unit.

Together these memories, by turns funny, sobering and heartfelt, paint a picture of a University community adapting to extraordinary circumstances.

Eighty years after VE Day, a tradition of service continues not through conscription, but through voluntary participation in the University’s three Armed Forces student units:
- The University Royal Naval Unit Cambridge (URNU),
- The Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps (CUOTC),
- The Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS).

Each offers a unique opportunity for students to develop practical skills, discipline, and resilience alongside their studies. Membership does not require a commitment to join the military and students say the experience helps shape their academic and professional paths by offering not only a sense of purpose and camaraderie, but also enhancing leadership, communication, and time management skills that are transferable to any career.

URNU Cambridge, based at the Army Reserve Centre in Cambridge, welcomes students from the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East Anglia. Cadets participate in a structured three-year training programme that includes seamanship, navigation, fieldcraft, and ceremonial duties, as well as adventure training and at-sea placements on Royal Navy vessels. The unit also hosts social events, community outreach programmes, and ceremonial parades.

Speaking about the unit’s purpose and value, Lieutenant Yanislav Yurkevych RN, Commanding Officer of URNU Cambridge, said:

Students in URNU Cambridge train weekly during term and take part in national deployments and international exchanges during the holidays.

They are paid for their participation and can take part in activities such as adventure training, skiing expeditions, offshore sailing and leadership development courses in partnership with other URNUs across the country.

Final-year Cambridge student Joanna Burgess is studying for her BA in Classics at St John’s College and is also Acting Midshipman in the unit. After her graduation this summer, she will begin her career as a Graduate Project Manager. Reflecting on her time in URNU Cambridge, she shared:

Similar values are shared by those in the Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps (CUOTC), which is part of the British Army’s wider university training system. Cadets participate in military skills training, fieldcraft, adventure exercises, and leadership development weekends. Members of CUOTC have the opportunity to earn nationally recognised qualifications and to attend leadership courses at Sandhurst. The unit also plays a key role in ceremonial duties and charity events throughout the academic year.

Meanwhile the Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS) provides RAF-themed leadership and flying training. Students have access to aviation theory, simulator training, and flying experience with RAF instructors. CUAS cadets also engage in force development activities, ranging from mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands to international exchange trips with allied air forces.

All three units offer more than just military insight. They provide a structured and supportive environment for students to challenge themselves outside the lecture hall - fostering confidence, self-discipline, and strategic thinking. Many cadets say the experience has improved their academic performance by helping them better manage time, pressure, and competing priorities.

This year, University cadets will take part in VE Day commemorations on Thursday 8th May alongside Sea Cadets and local veterans organisations. The service, to be held at St Andrews Street Baptist Church (40-43 St Andrews Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR), will be attended by retired service members and feature a talk by retired Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers, Master of Emmanuel College.

The University’s reflection on VE Day is not only a tribute to the past, but also a reminder of the value of community, resilience, and public service.

The University will mark VE Day on 8 May 2025 by flying its flag over Old Schools and joining the country in observing a two-minute silence. The city of Cambridge will take part in a beacon-lighting ceremony as part of a national programme of commemorations.

The University of Cambridge pays tribute to all those who lived through the Second World War, and honours the memory of those who fought and gave their lives. Their courage and sacrifice made Victory in Europe Day possible.