John Smith’s Story

Available for over a year

In 1945, 16-year-old John Smith was living in the village of Elvington, seven miles outside Dover. His family home had been destroyed by a German bomb the previous year. Like hundreds of others, on VE Day he gathered in the town’s Market Square to celebrate. As a teenager, his parents had allowed him out on his own. The party was like nothing he’d ever experienced, with fireworks and dancing. It was such a good night he missed the last bus home, and had to make the journey back on foot. Image: John Smith in 1945