VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, took place on May 8th, 1945 marking the formal end of World War II in Europe, when the Allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. It was a cause for immense joy and unity across London, with widespread festivities recorded across the capital city.
Over a million people flooded the streets, adorned in red, white, and blue to celebrate this momentous victory. With crowds gathering around nearby Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, and Piccadilly Circus, Knightsbridge was awash with celebrations complete with spontaneous dancing and singing. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, whose mother, Jennie Churchill (née Jerome), married George Cornwallis-West at St Paul’s Knightsbridge on 28th July 1900, addressed the nation, with the Royal Family making multiple appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace throughout the day.
The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) played a significant and diverse role in World War II, contributing to the British War efforts both at home and abroad.
With the Corp’s strength at 6000 at the beginning of World War II, working closely with Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret British organisation formed to conduct espionage and sabotage in occupied Europe, many members of FANY were trained in coding, cipher work, and wireless operation, playing a crucial role in maintaining secure communications between SOE headquarters in London and agents in the field.
But their talents didn’t stop there. They served as ambulance drivers, mechanics, and transport officers, moving personnel and supplies across Britain and in war zones, most notably during blackouts and under bombing raids, especially during the Blitz in London.
St Paul’s Knightsbridge holds a significant connection to the FANY, particularly through its memorial dedicated to the 52 FANY members who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. This memorial, unveiled on 7th May 1948 by Her Royal Highness The Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, FANY Commandant-in-Chief of the Women’s Transport Service, is located on the north wall of the church.
St Paul’s Knightsbridge also served as the headquarters for the Women’s Transport Service during the Second World War, with the vicarage adjacent to the church being used as their operational base.
Founded in 1907, FANY is an all-female voluntary organisation which deploys multi-faceted rapid response teams to support civil and military authorities in times of crisis, even today! For more information on the work the FANY click here: https://www.fany.org.uk/.
Odette Sansom and Tanya Szabo at the FANY memorial, located on the north wall of the church
HRH The Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, FANY Commandant-in-Chief of the Women’s Transport Service attends the unveiling of the FANY memorial on 7th May 1948.