75 years since the Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on 8th May 1945, we find ourselves in circumstances few then, or indeed until recently, could ever have imagined. Whilst public celebrations for Victory in Europe Day have of course been cancelled, there are a number of ways to join in national celebrations from your own home.[1] Locally, the Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Gerri Bird, and her counterpart, Lord Mayor Prof. Dr. Würzner from Cambridge’s twin city of Heidelberg in Germany, will present a virtual service broadcast on local radio station Cambridge 105 from 2.55pm.[2]
Photo, right: Walnut Tree Court during the Second World War. Note the entrances to the underground air-raid shelter in the lawn and the sand-bag constructions on staircase entrances, to protect the entrances to the building from bomb or shell blasts.
During the war, the number of students at Queens’ dropped dramatically, with only 148 students in 1944, pictured right, compared to 242 in 1939. Queens' also had just 12 Fellows (excluding Honorary Fellows) then, compared with 62 Official Fellows today.
But the College did not lie empty; on the contrary, forty sets were occupied by the pre-clinical section of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College and, from 1941 onwards, increasing numbers of Cadets joined the College. These “Short Course” Cadets were enlisted members of the armed forces selected by the Admiralty, the War Office or the Air Ministry for six month courses at the Universities; all those at Queens’ were fully matriculated members of the University.[3] More information on the impact of the War on the College, Fellowship, student body and staff can be found in the Record and Dial publications through the College website.[4] A great many members of Queens’ served in the Second World War and a significant number lost their lives; a Roll of Honour can be found on the College website.[5]
We have many members, of course, who remember VE Day well. One such is David Gapes, pictured left, who came up to Queens’ in 1944 and, six months later, was called up to serve in the RAF. On VE Day he was based at Torquay and he remembers marching round the parade square in a full parade to mark the momentous day. He is proud of the fact that he got into Queens’ even though he hadn’t studied Latin – exceptions were made for those who were serving in HM Forces. He is having a special lunch at his home in Southport to mark the 75th anniversary celebrations: a friend is delivering a turkey sandwich, with fruit and cream to follow.
Dr Tim Pick (1946), pictured right, was still at Sedbergh School, where all pupils were notified of VE Day at morning assembly by the renowned headmaster J.H. Bruce-Lockhart. The boys were given a day’s holiday. Tim and six friends jogged to the village of Dent about five miles away and went to the Red Lion pub. They scoffed ham & eggs and a pint (or two) of beer before walking back to school. “A fine day”, as Tim described it. Tim later read Medicine at Queens’, did National Service and was a GP throughout his career. He claps for the NHS each week from his front window in Barnsley. Tim is 92 years old.
[2] https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2020/04/29/mayors-of-cambridge-and-heidelberg-to-link-up-for-ve-day-commemoration-broadcast
[4] https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/publications/the-record/the-record-1942-47 and https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/visiting-the-college/history/college-facts/the-dial-magazine