Commemorating VE Day in Cornwall: 80 Years On
Cornwall at War
2025 marks 80 years since the day when the formal surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces was announced, signifying the end of World War II in Europe.
Though often celebrated for its peaceful beauty, Cornwall played an important and strategic part in the Second World War. From coastal defences to airfields, its location made it a key military site.
RAF bases such as St Eval and Predannack played critical roles in air patrols, reconnaissance missions, and coastal defence. Cornwall’s skies were busy with Allied aircraft, while its waters served as training grounds for naval operations. Meanwhile, radar stations and observation posts along the cliffs kept watch for enemy activity, reinforcing the county’s role as a frontline of protection.
The people of Cornwall also made sacrifices. Residents saw their communities transformed to support the effort, roads in Mawnan Smith, for example, were widened to allow for military movement, with soldiers camping along the route. Evacuees from cities across the UK were welcomed into Cornish homes, wartime industries kept supplies moving, and local communities banded together to support both troops abroad and each other at home.
Today, echoes of Cornwall’s wartime past remain woven into its landscape. You’ll find bunkers, pillboxes, and remnants of radar stations scattered along the coast. Local museums and heritage sites share stories of courage, resilience, and everyday life during wartime. From the dramatic cliffs of the Lizard Peninsula to the quiet coves of Mount’s Bay, each place has a story to tell.
This VE Day, we look back with gratitude and pride at the role Cornwall played during the war and the resilience of the people who lived through it. It’s also a time to come together, share stories, and celebrate peace.
Across Cornwall, there’ll be events, gatherings, and special moments to mark the 80th anniversary - perfect opportunities to honour the past while enjoying time with your local community.
Cornwall Heritage Trust
Cornwall Heritage Trust will be hosting an event at Tregonning Hill near Helston to mark their 40th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday 8th May.
The event will involve a special exhibition from 3pm – 5pm at Balwest Sunday School. This exhibition will explore the lives of those brave men of Germoe who are commemorated on the tall granite cross at the summit of Tregonning Hill as well as the experiences of those on the Home Front in the local area.
It will also celebrate the lives of the four members of the crew who died on board the Bristol Beaufort bomber that crashed in the larger quarry adjacent to the hillfort in 1941. There will also be an artist-led craft activity for visitors to take part in.
Refreshments, including celebration cupcakes, will be served from 3pm.
The exhibition will be followed by the lighting of a specially commissioned mini-brazier by a veteran at the summit of Tregonning Hill at 6pm.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall: Honouring WWII Maritime Heritage
This VE Day (Thursday 8 May), National Maritime Museum Cornwall invites visitors to Falmouth to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Explore the Museum's boatbuilding workshop and witness the fascinating recreation of an S.N.2 boat - a vessel that once carried Special Operations Executive agents from the nearby Helford River to occupied France. The boatbuilding team will be on hand throughout the day to share insights about this meticulous restoration project.
Don't miss screenings of the silent film showing Motor Gunboat 318's last and only daylight mission, showcasing the heroic 15th MGB Flotilla, the most decorated Naval unit of the war which operated from Falmouth and the Helford Estuary. This silent film will be viewable throughout the day in the Sunley Lecture Theatre.
These special VE Day activities complement the Museum's regular exhibition programme including 15 galleries, the Lookout Tower and Tidal Zone.
VE Day commemorative activities are included in the Museum's standard admission fee, pay once and get in free for a year.
National Trust
Antony - Cornwall in Conflict
April – June (see website for available dates). 12.30pm-4.30pm
From the English Civil War to the Second World War, the Carews of Antony have been involved in local and international conflicts. Learn more about these clashes, read their war stories, and discover the treasure trove of militaria that the Antony collection holds.
Price: Free event (normal admissions apply). Booking not required.
East Pool Mine – East Pool Mine in WWII - ‘We need tin to win the war!’
2 March – 2 November, 10am-4pm - Sunday to Thursday
Join in the marking of the 80th anniversary of VE day and the closing of East Pool Mine with this brand-new tour. Hear the voices and stories of men stationed here for their conscription service. Explore the social landscape of those living in the area during a time of war and understand the role East Pool Mine played in providing tin for the war effort.
Price: £11 per adult and £5.50 per child over 5 years
St Anthony Head - Discover St Anthony Battery
1 June. 11am and 1:30pm
Join a tour to hear more about St Anthony Head’s fascinating history and how this quiet corner of Cornwall helped to protect our shores.
Price: £5, booking essential.
Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle will be throwing open its gates for a full day of VE Day celebrations, with free entry for all! From 10am to 10pm, the historic castle will come alive with family-friendly activities, live music, educational workshops, and a wartime-themed café menu.
Between 11am and 4:30pm, explore a range of fascinating educational stalls covering key aspects of wartime life:
Dig for Victory – Discover how Britain’s gardens became crucial to the war effort.
Rationing – Find out what it was like to shop and cook with ration cards during WWII.
Beauty is Your Duty – Learn how beauty campaigns helped keep morale high on the home front.
Throughout the day, there will be tours and talks bringing Pendennis Castle’s WWII history to life. Join WWII-costumed volunteers for guided tours of the Half Moon Battery, learn about the impressive wartime guns that defended the Cornish coast, and explore the historic keep while hearing stories of the castle’s role during the war.
Families can also enjoy vintage games such as hopscotch and egg & spoon races, bringing a playful spirit to the day’s celebrations.
There will be plenty of tables set up ‘street party’ style where you can enjoy your own picnic, or you can sample a special WWII-themed menu from the Castle café.
The Story of Trebah Exhibition
Trebah Garden played a vital role in World War II. Its beach, Polgwidden Cove, served as an embarkation point for the 29th US Infantry Division, with 7,500 troops and equipment departing from there for the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Visitors can still see traces of Trebah’s military past, from the beach to former ammunition stores and wartime trenches in the garden. The new Story of Trebah exhibition, open from the 10th May, traces the garden’s rich history, including its pivotal wartime role. A must-visit for anyone interested in Cornwall’s part in the global conflict.
VE Day Across Cornwall's Communities
Across Cornwall, towns and villages will be marking the occasion with commemorative events, services, music, and moments of reflection. From beacon lightings to community choirs and special church services, each celebration offers a chance to come together in remembrance and pride. Here’s how different communities will be honouring the day.
Truro
On Thursday 8th May, Truro will commemorate VE Day with events throughout the day. Proceedings begin at 8am when the Town Crier reads a formal proclamation at High Cross, accompanied by a guard of honour from the Truro Branch of the Royal British Legion. A second proclamation and flag-raising ceremony will follow at 9am at the War Memorial on Boscawen Street.
At 11am, a short wreath-laying service will be held at the War Memorial to honour those who served during the Second World War.
Later in the day, at 5.30pm, a Choral Evensong service will take place at Truro Cathedral to commemorate VE Day, sung by Truro Cathedral Choir on the feast day of St Michael, Protector of Cornwall. The city's bells will ring out in celebration at 6.30pm.
The day will conclude with the lighting of the Beacon at High Cross at 9.30pm, including a spoken tribute and a communal performance of "I Vow to Thee, My Country," before the evening draws to a close at 10pm.
Falmouth
Falmouth will honour the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday 8th May with a full day of commemorative events. The day will begin at 9am with the raising of the VE Day 80 flag on The Moor, uniting the town in remembrance.
At 11am, a special Commemoration Service will take place at the Memorial Garden in Kimberley Park, led by Reverend Newton Ndlovu, Royal Navy Chaplain at RNAS Culdrose. Wreaths will be laid by representatives from the town, the military, and the local community.
In the evening, Pendennis Castle will host a beacon lighting ceremony at 9.30pm, joining towns across the country in symbolising the ‘light of peace’ after war. Leading up to the lighting, there will be live music performances from Rachel Best, the Culdrose Military Wives Choir, and Will Keating, who will lead the crowd in singing "I Vow to Thee, My Country".
St Ives
St Ives’s commemorations begin with the raising of the VE Day flag at the Malakoff, followed by a morning proclamation at the Island Chapel by Town Crier, Mace Bearer, and Cornish Bard, Raymond Bridgewater.
At the War Memorial, prayers and wreath-laying will be led by representatives from the St Ives Royal British Legion, while the evening will be marked by the ringing of church bells across the town.
From 9pm, the community is invited to gather on the Island for a poignant and uplifting finale. The Island Chapel will be illuminated, and local singing groups will lead a performance of "I Vow To Thee My Country" and "Cornwall My Home." Everyone is encouraged to bring a torch, lantern or phone to shine into the sky.
Newquay
Newquay will begin its commemorations with a flag-raising ceremony at 8:45am at St Michael’s Church, hosted by Newquay Town Council. Following the ceremony, light refreshments will be served at the Town Council Offices on Marcus Hill.
In the evening, a short wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 9:30pm at the Newquay War Memorial, led by Newquay Veterans—offering a quiet and respectful close to the day’s remembrance.
Saltash
Saltash will be marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day on the 10th May with a special musical celebration, bringing the community together through song, remembrance, and pride. Residents have been busy preparing for the occasion, with twice-weekly community workshops helping to form a dedicated Saltash VE 80 Choir. A newly composed score blending the spirit of the 1940s with a modern twist has been created especially for the event.
Saltash’s commemorations hold particular poignancy, as 122 local people lost their lives during the Second World War. The event, funded by The Sue Hooper Charitable Foundation, is a tribute to those who served and sacrificed, and continues the town’s proud tradition of marking important anniversaries as a close-knit community.
St Austell
St Austell Bay Parish Council will bring the community together with a beacon lighting at 9.30pm on Charlestown Harbour, accompanied by 1940s music performed by St Austell Town Band.
A tribute will be read as part of the ceremony, followed by the playing of the Last Post and Reveille, surrounding a two-minute silence to honour all those who lost their lives in the conflict. Church bells will also ring out from St Paul’s in Charlestown and St Levan’s in Higher Porthpean, adding to the sense of reflection and unity across the area.
Camborne
Camborne will mark the occasion with a full day of activities organised by the Town Council and the Camborne Branch of the Royal British Legion. The day begins with a morning commemoration service at 10.45am at St Martin & St Meriadoc Church.
The celebrations will culminate in a beacon lighting ceremony from 8.45pm at the Recreation Ground, joining over a thousand beacons being lit across the country.
These are just a few of the VE Day celebrations happening across Cornwall. From coastal towns to historic villages, communities will be marking the occasion with services, music, and special moments of reflection. Be sure to check with your local parish or town council for details of VE Day events happening near you.
Antony House VE Day Commemoration – 8 May
Join Antony House and Garden on Thursday 8 May for a special walking talk marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, highlighting the estate’s vital wartime role supporting nearby naval operations.
Led by the National Trust’s Alex Halls, the event explores Antony’s use by WRENs, its connections to the Plymouth Blitz, and its role in training U.S. troops for D-Day. Visitors can also explore the Cornwall in Conflict trail inside the house, showcasing artefacts from centuries of military history.
The talk runs 1.30–2pm; normal admission applies, no booking needed.
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