Victory Day Celebrations
75 Years Anniversary
Croydon Remembers
The Museum of Croydon hold records and artworks within it Museum, Archive, Handling and Local History Collection that capture what life was like in Croydon during the Second World War. This online exhibitions explores a selection of those objects and stories from the celebrations of Victory in 1945 and everyday objects to artworks that reflected the time of war.
Town Hall Thanksgiving service, 8 May 1945
(PH-05-423)
The Mayor and Councillors on the balcony of the Town Hall for the short thanksgiving service after the cessation of hostilities was announced by Winston Churchill.
Croydon Courageous’ booklet (S70 (940.97) CRO)
The Croydon Times published a booklet entitled ‘Croydon Courageous’ telling the story of the war in words and pictures. A bomb map was also included showing where the flying bombs fell in Croydon between June and August 1944.
The Official History of Croydon in the Second World War, 1949 (S70(940.97)SAY)
William Charles Berwick Sayers, Chief Librarian from 1915 – 1947, worked with the Libraries Committee to compile the roll of Honour and preserve records of the organisations in Croydon concerned with the war. In 1949 the official history was published. A portrait of Berwick Sayers can be found in the Museum of Croydon’s art collection.
Croydon Times, 12 May 1945 (XS70 (072) CRO)
The Croydon Times front page included pictures of how Croydon celebrated the announcement of peace.
‘WW2 School Children’s Medal, (Medal owned & photographed by Mrs Ann Hatherill)
Although Victory in Europe was celebrated in May 1945 and Victory in Japan on August 15/16th 1945, the National Celebrations did not happen until 8 June 1946. At this point, school children in Croydon were given a certificate and medal by the County Borough of Croydon. This medal was received in 1946.
The Dawn of a New Age, Kennards Postcard, May 1945 (PH-06-5477)
Shops in Croydon decorated their exterior including this amazing statue which lit up Kennard’s in North End. This postcard describes Kennards as ‘The wonder store of Southern England’.
Self Portrait, 1939 by Norman Partridge (M/1992/583)
Norman Partridge (1921-2001) was born in Thornton Heath. After leaving Selhurst Grammar School in 1936 he attended the Croydon School of Art. Norman joined the army at the outbreak of the Second World War but was medically discharged two years later. Norman is well represented in the Croydon Art Collection, and is widely known for ‘Croydon Courageous’ currently on display in the Museum of Croydon. This was a war memorial mural first exhibited in 1946 and the design for the canvas formed one of the drawings that won him the American Edward Austin Abbey Scholarship for mural painting. In comparison to other self-portraits, this piece seems reflective of his troubling thoughts at the start of the War.
Street Party at Ely Road Selhurst, May 1945 (PH- 03-345)
May 8th and 9th were declared holidays and neighbours joined together to celebrate in the street. Mostly this was women and children as men were still away from home, some fighting in the Far East as the war continued there for many months.
[Title undecided] by John Harris Valda (M/1993/1463)
John Harris Valda was born in Marylebone, London in 1874 and records show he was a resident in Croydon during the 1920’s until his death in April 1942. Valda was a book illustrator and artist who opened his first art school in his early 20s and went on to have illustrations that featured in The Champion, Young Britain, Bullseye, Detective Weekly and The Tatler. Valda’s drawings ‘were bold, full of action and he excelled at anything which touched upon the eerie or bizarre’. It is his reflections of war that are most striking, above shows an illustration that give us a dark glimpse into his thoughts, reflections and fears of a Europe with no victory.
White ARP Helmet (HC/2004/16)
Air Raid Precaution (ARP) volunteer wardens were mobilised by the British Government to help the population during enemy bombing. ARP wardens were issued with a Brodie helmet, marked in a different way depending on the associated roles. The ARP service personnel main duties included
ensuring the blackout was observed; directing people to the designated shelters and checking any bombed out buildings and rescuing survivors.
Soldiers Boots (HC/2020/01)
The official battledress of the British Army was approved in 1939 and included a khaki coloured blouse and trousers. Standard components included a belt, cross straps, cartridge pouches and a haversack. Soldiers wore a pair of black leather laced ankle length boots with studded soles. At the beginning there were 25 studs per boot, reduced to 15 and then 13 after 1942 for economic measures.
Pilot’s Cap (HC/1999/12)
During the Second World war, most aircraft were open cockpit and leather flying helmets protected pilots both from the cold and the noise of the engines. The early RAF type B helmet was first issued in 1936. It had zipped ear cups for earphones for radio communication and could be worn together with goggles and an oxygen mask. The B Type helmet was eventually replaced around 1942 by the C Type helmet, an improvement on the padded and loose fitting cap.
Vehicle Headlight Mask (HC/1995/20)
Vehicle lighting regulations changed during the course of the war. Cars used during the hours of darkness had to conform to blackout regulations. Headlights were to be covered with a mask to ensure that no light was visible above eye level at a distance of more than 25 feet. Motorists had to comply also with rules about the amount of light that could be emitted by their car. The use of a mask became compulsory on 22nd January 1940.
Metal Goggles HC/2019/39
A number of different styles of goggles were available to protect the eyes from spitting incendiary bombs, splinters and other flying objects during air raids. Metal goggles were introduced in 1940. They were made of sheet steel and fitted with circular plates which could swing down over the holes and offered more protection in case of emergency. Metal goggles were used by Air Raid Precautions (ARP) volunteers and civil defense personnel.
Fragment of a Bomb (HC/1994/11)
In the Second World War, German bombers usually dropped a combination of high explosive and incendiary bombs. The people of Britain found their homes in the front line. This is a piece of shrapnel; a
fragment thrown off by a bomb or other explosive device.
Air Raid Precautions Leaflet (HC/2019/41(c))
German bombers usually dropped a combination of high explosive and incendiary bombs. Local councils, like the County Borough of Croydon, used posters, leaflets and cards with Air Raid Precautions (ARP) advice to alert the public to ARP measures such as explaining what to do in case of injury, how to use a gas mask, how to recognise air raid warning signals and how to deal with incendiary bombs.
Rations Replica Box (HC/2020/02)
Rationing began on 8th January 1940 to ensure the fair distribution of food when scarce. Initially bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. By 1942 most foods were covered by the rationing system, such as meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat. The British Ministry of Agriculture set up a 'Dig for Victory' campaign to encourage people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Everyone was supplied with their own ration book and they had to register with a local shopkeeper. Rationed goods could be obtained with a specific number of coupons, which allowed a certain amount of a product each month. Women soon learnt how to make rations go further either stretching or substituting any amount of food with other ingredients. Dried milk and eggs were used instead of fresh produce in many recipes, including cakes and puddings.
This wartime food ration box contains food for one adult for one week:
4oz margarine
2oz butter
2oz lard
3oz cheese
2 slices of corned beef
4 oz ham, 1lb stewing steak (raw)
2 pints milk
1 whole fresh egg (if available) and 1lb jam.