There was singing, dancing and a general feeling of disbelief

There was singing, dancing and a general feeling of disbelief on the streets of South Tyneside that five years of conflict and fear was ending.

The front page of the Shields Gazette on VE Day in 1945. | sg

placeholder image — The front page of the Shields Gazette on VE Day in 1945. | sg

‘Lovers of Liberty. This Is Your Day’ said the Shields Gazette on the very day that war in Europe was over.

The Shields Gazette brought out a V edition on May 8, 1945, which became better known as VE Day. For three half pence, you got news of Europe being ‘liberated from the Nazi beast’ on the same page as the latest bargains from Binns.

For instance, you could get ‘Chilprufe Undies for Children’ as well as Pyrex goods. Corsets and vacuum cleaners were also for sale.

There was an advert from Rogers as well, and it had a new range of Spring goods on offer at its Shields shop.

People gathered at the Lawe Top for a VE Day party and older children were tasked with painting a white V on the drinking mugs.

The sales bargains you could get at Binns on VE Day in South Shields in 1945. | sg

Meanwhile, the headlines reported on ‘champions of freedom throughout the world celebrating’.

There were reports too of Prime Minister Winston Churchill giving V for Victory signs outside Buckingham Palace as his car took him to luncheon with the King and Queen.

Winston Churchill waves to crowds gathered in Whitehall, London, on VE Day, May 8, 1945. (Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive) | Getty Images

That was on the Tuesday. The next day, Wednesday, May 9, there was no Gazette. The borough was busy celebrating.

But of course, war was not completely over. It finally ended on August 15, 1945 when Japan surrendered. A day that would be known as VJ Day.

By the time it was all over, more than 3,000 merchant seamen from South Shields had lost their lives.

And although peace had returned, the lives of many South Tyneside families would never be the same again.

They had gone through hardships including their children being evacuated, rationing, loved ones serving away from home and some never returning, and the constant threat of air raids over their own houses.

Tell us if one of your relatives shared memories of South Tyneside life during the war years or perhaps of VE Day itself.

Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]