VJ Day 80th anniversary services held in Snettisham

138 young men from the village fought in World War Two, 15 sadly didn't come home.

“Today celebrated the end of the war,” says David Bocking, who was around 12 at the time, “I was born on Station Road and we lived on Station Road. VE Day there were celebrations all down the street. VJ Day the German soldiers who had been prisoners of war here joined in. They went into my mum’s house, got the piano, put it out on the road and we all had a dance - and one of the German prisoners played who was part of an orchestra back home.”

David Bocking (right) greets old friend John Hooks

Eighty years ago today World War Two was officially brought to an end with Japan's surrender. Remembrance services have been held at the War Memorial and Memorial Pavilion, 138 young men from Snettisham went to fight, sadly 15 didn’t come home.

“Everyone knew everyone back then, two of the boys I went to school with, one was my next-door neighbour, they were just 18,” adds the 91 year old.

Service by Snettisham War Memorial

Wreaths were laid and prayers said, at the Pavilion the national anthem was sung and the Last Post played. And during a minute’s silence Martin O’Grady says he thought of his dad Paul O’Grady, who fought in Burma for 3 years. “I remember him, not just him but all the guys.”

Memorial Pavilion 

After the service Izzy Parr and Lauren Matthews perform some classics - including The White Cliffs of Dover and We’ll Meet Again. The pair from amateur drama group 'The Pocahontas Players' in Heacham say, “It’s an honour to perform today, it’s so important to us to remember, we can only say thank you for everything, the sacrifices they made.”

David tells me that some of the German soldiers helped build the pavilion, “A few prisoners of war were involved, and us young lads we all carted the materials to the builders.” He says when it opened it was a ‘godsend’, “As children you had no where to play - because there weren’t any grass fields anywhere as they’d all been ploughed up to grow food for the war. It was like Christmas had come in the middle of summer.”

David Bocking with childhood friends John Hooks and Peter Jarred

And money’s being raised to update the much loved building, which has been central village life for over 70 years. Steve Sharp, who’s the architect behind the new design and part of the fundraising effort says they’re half way there. “I grew up here and think it’s an important part of the village, it’s an asset - it’ll benefit youngsters to come. My son’s just moved here, and I hope that his children will benefit from it in the future.”

David gets emotional when I ask what a new lease of life for the pavilion would mean to him, “I can't put that into words because that’s in there,” and puts his hand over his heart, “Very emotional. To me this place, the pavilion, is a remembrance of those boys we lost. We’ve got to not forget them.”