Ancestry VE Day 80 Exhibition in London

The exhibition showcases 80 WW2 stories uncovered in the vast military family history archives on Ancestry. Discover extraordinary acts of bravery on the home front, contributions made by men and women who lost their lives and never came home, and the work of everyday people doing their bit for the war effort. Perhaps they resonate with your own family stories from WW2.  

The exhibition table will be in place in Southwark for 12 hours on 7 May 2025 ahead of VE Day on 8 May. Media and members of the public are invited to view the installation and discover the stories behind the names.

Highlights from the VE Day 80 Exhibition

Charity Bick
14-year-old Charity Bick, a Despatch Rider from West Bromwich, received the George Medal for bravery during a raid on 19 November 1940. Despite injuries and being blown off her bike by bomb blasts, she persistently delivered messages and extinguished an incendiary bomb in the bedroom of a home. "My Daddy is a warden and Mummy is a Red Cross nurse. They are all on duty during a raid, so it is up to me to do the same," she told reporters. 

Mrs P. Marshall and Queenie
Mrs P. Marshall volunteered as a nurse during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) and served during WW1, where she was injured by shrapnel in France, causing her to gradually lose her sight. When her home in Paddington was bombed during the Blitz, Mrs Marshall's dog Queenie tore at the debris covering her until she was freed and led her to the safety of a shelter along the street.

Alfred Ambrose Webster
Alfred, a member of an Air Raid Precautions Rescue Party in Manchester, was called into action during a raid on the city on 23 December 1940. A house had been hit, trapping four occupants in the cellar, including two children. The team removed the debris by hand and reached the two parents. With the children still trapped, Alfred was lowered head-first into a hole, where he burrowed with his hands, rescuing both small children. He received the George Medal. 

People Featured in Our VE Day 80 Exhibition 

Learn more about each person highlighted in this year’s exhibition. Discover their stories in collections such as World War 2 Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920, and Surrey, England, World War II Home Guard Records, 1940-1945 on Ancestry. 

Agnes Mary Eke
Alexander Conway
Alfred Ambrose Webster
Alison Jean McNairn
Alvin Christie
Amelia Broadberry
Anne Unity Purkiss
Arnold Sharrocks
Beatrice Withers
Brandon Moss
Brian Reginald Vaughan
Cecilia McGinty
Celia Jenkins
Charity Bick
Christine Mary Goodridge Heard
Constantine Higgins
Daniel Millar
David John Mackay
David Kerven
Dora Mary 'Molly' Morris
Douglas O. Scrace
Douglas Vosper
Edward Avery
Edward Bovell
Edward Heyes
Elizabeth Ann Everitt
Elsie Mary Beatrice Bedford
Ernest George Dipper
Evelyn Leavers
Freda Doreen Dykins
Frederick Anthony Banning
George Arthur Roberts
George Hacker
George Smithson
Gillian Kluane Tanner
Gladys Eva
Graham Brown
Hallie Ollerensham
Harold Frederick Claydon
Harry Broadberry
Harry Charles Freegard
Henry Frank Finch
Hilda McGreevy
Howard Knight
Ida Hacker
Ivy Marsh
Ivy Moore
Jack Walker
Jimmy Farrington
Josephine Woolmer
Kathleen Dennis
Kenneth John Marston
Leslie Kersh
Louise Finbow
M.F. Weston
Margaret Mary Cangley
Margaret Mary Johnson
Marie Louise Monk
Marion Patterson
Mary Alice Dillon
Mary Denise Goodbody
Mary Sible Joyce Newman
Miope Nagi
Norman Jaeger
Olive Sowerby
Peter Whitehead
Queenie
Richard Huzzey
Richard Rance
Robert McIver
Roma Joan Pearson
Ruby Eiryles Megan Rosser
Samuel Donner
Sonia Vera Carlile Straw
Stanley Haskayne
Vera Anderson
William Charles Skillern
William Harold Willson
William Levis Attenborough
Winifred Adelaide Tribe

Are You Related To The Names On The List?

Some of the descendants of the people featured in our exhibition will be attending the event on 7 May 2025. However, we want to know if you are related to the individuals included in our exhibition and if you are familiar with their wartime stories. 

From 5th to 11th May, families can access millions of military records for free, to connect with their past and honour the enduring legacy of the soldiers who shaped our history. To access these records, sign up to a free account and browse from 1102 different collections on Ancestry.