Devon Wargames Group & Devon & Dorset Regimental Association 80th Anniversary VE Open Day

This Thursday, 8th May, will be the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8th May 1945, marking the official surrender and end of all German military operations.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill waves to the crowd at Whitehall in London
as they celebrate VE Day (Victory in Europe) on May 8th, 1945.

As part of the run-up to the commemoration this week, the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association invited the club to participate in their open day this weekend at our club venue, the Whipton Institute, by hosting a game capturing the involvement of the Devonshire Regiment in the final campaign to liberate North West Europe in 1944-45.

The Gold Beach sector on D-Day and the village of Ryes, captured by the Devonshire Regiment.

The county regiment had two of its battalions the 2nd and the 12th participate in the D-Day, Normandy landings, and so Paul and Lawrence, who represented the club, offered to host a game illustrating an action carried out by one of the battalions, the 2nd Devons, who landed at 08.15 on June 6th 1944, D-Day on Gold Beach as part of 231st Infantry Brigade, 50th Division and, following a disrupted landing schedule, made its way inland to assault and finally capture the village of Ryes at about 17.30 that day.

The club has a keen interest in the history that lies behind many of the games we like to play that, as well as being a fun way to socialise with friends who share that interest, can also serve to educate a wider group of folks who might not know much about the hobby or indeed the areas of history we portray in our tabletop encounters.

Thus occasions such as these, where we are able to join with other like minds keen to celebrate and commemorate important historical dates, is another opportunity to show what we do in the hobby, that is a rather unique way of illustrating history.

As well as participating in the public open day, Paul and Lawrence also raised fifty pounds for the Devon Air Ambulance, our local charity, courtesy of the folks at the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association, which will aid the great work that the Air Ambulance does to bring rapid assistance to those hurt on the county roads each year.

Thank you to the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association for the invitation to participate in their public open day, and for their generous charitable contribution and to Paul and Lawrence for putting on their representative game in grateful memory of the Devons who gave their lives that culminated in the victory in Europe so others can enjoy the freedoms we have today.