Remembering the fight for Britain

By Anna Browning
BBC News in The Mall

It may be 60 years after the end of World War II but the men and women who fought for their country have by no means been forgotten.

The British public wrote messages of thanks for the commemorations

From all ages and all nationalities, hundreds of thousands lined the route to Buckingham Palace to remember the millions who made the ultimate sacrifice - despite Commemoration Day falling just days after the London bombings.

"This is mostly a tribute to freedom and democracy and the events of this week make it even more fitting," said Air Marshall Sir Christopher Coville.

"The war now is different from the one we fought - it is against terrorists, but the courage of people, the spirit, is the same."

But foremost in many minds was the knowledge that this day could be the last such event involving veterans in any great numbers.

For this reason, Kay Davey, from Harefield, Middlesex, was attending a war ceremony for the first time.

It was an everyday thing for people to be bombed and somebody to die Kay Davey

"When the war ended we just picked up and carried on. We didn't want to think about it and nobody talked about it," she said.

"It was an everyday thing for people to be bombed and somebody to die."

Mrs Davey, 83, lost her husband in 1950 to TB, which it is thought he picked up after liberating Belsen concentration camp in Germany.

"It's a long time ago and I'm not a very emotional person really, but it is quite something to come back here and remember things."

Her daughter Pat Thomas agreed.

"The number of people here is fantastic," she said.

Liberating meeting

Lining up to take their seats in an area of The Mall reserved for veterans, were Jean and Norman Eastmant from Farnborough, Surrey.

Mr Eastmant served the duration of the war in Africa and Italy while his wife spent time putting up "barrage balloons".

After the events of the last few days, I think it's important to remember the people who fought for our freedom Lisa Drent

But it was not until the end of the war when Mrs Eastmant returned to her native Guernsey and Mr Eastmant liberated the Channel Islands that they met.

"I liberated her but I've kept her locked up ever since!" smiled the 84-year-old.

He continued: "We thought it would be a wonderful occasion and it would be the last one we would see."

But it was not only veterans who cheered and clapped as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh passed in a carriage, followed by Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry.

Tom Doran, 25, said he thought it was important for everyone to remember the sacrifice the war generation had made.

"I've heard the stories. I grew up listening to the stories my grandad had of the war, so I have a good idea what they went though.

"Not everything though - some things were too painful for him to repeat."

Lisa Drent, 29, from London, said: "After the events of the last few days, I think it's important to remember the people who fought for our freedom.

"We owe these people so much."