A CUMBRIAN armed forces charity has said we need to address 'declining awareness' of our armed forces' sacrifices as it's revealed just 34 per cent of Gen Z know the meaning of VE Day.
Many of us will be remembering today (May 8) as VE Day, the day which in 1945 saw the Second World War come to an end in Europe.
But results from a new survey have revealed that many younger people may not recognise the day or its meaning.
The Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE) has found that one in three people could not correctly identify what VE Day marks and just 34 per cent of Gen Z people (those born between 1997 and 2012) recognise the meaning of the day.
They say the findings "reveal a gap in public understanding of military service past and present."
Tony Parkinson, chair of SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity's Cumbria branch, said: “ World War Two saw a period of unending sacrifice across the Armed Forces in the pursuit of the freedom we maintain today.
"Their sacrifice was a success, but it was not without significant loss and lasting impacts.
"We want the last World War Two veterans to know that their sacrifice is recognised, and that we will not forget it."
He added: "It is heartening to see that the majority of people across the UK stand with the Armed Forces family.
"But this research also indicates that we must work collectively, as a society, to address declining awareness of their sacrifices amongst younger generations.”
Keith Gregson, a Carlisle-born former history teacher, recalled memories of his parents' service during the Second World War and the importance of sharing stories for the next generation to connect to.
He said: "Our lives would have been very different if it wasn't for the Second World War - the lives of people in the UK today would have been very different if Hitler had been successful.
"In wars, you lose people - composers, musicians, poets - just gone.
"As generations move, this gets forgotten, I don’t think it’s untypical. It's just the way history works."
Mr Gregson noted he has had connections to these significant conflicts that many young people today simply don't.
"My grandad was involved in Gallipoli in the First World War, he was on the western front," he said.
"These are people I can remember, but youngsters don't have that sort of memory and can only be taught about it."
Mr Gregson's mother, Betty Gregson (nee Stephens) was a telephonist in Barrow at the start of the Second World War.
She was responsible for alerting wardens to ring the air raid warning siren when bomber planes flew over Liverpool and came close to Barrow shipyards.
She later joined the Wrens, the Women's Royal Navy Service (WRNS), and served as a telephonist at Maydown Royal Naval Air Service Camp in Northern Ireland - she celebrated VE Day on a beach in Ballycastle.
Keith's father, Rex, was in the Royal Signals, responsible for maintaining communications during the war and had postings to both Italy and North Africa.
He celebrated VE Day playing the piano at a street party in Barrow.
Mr Gregson, 77, now has six grandchildren and regularly shares stories of his and his family's past with them.
He believes the younger generation may not be remembering significant historical events like VE Day and the people involved, simply because of growing distance with the past.
"You don't have the heartstrings of them being closer, being your parents, or grand-parents," he said. "My First World War grandad whose diaries I've still got - it's my grandad, but it's my children's great-great grandad, going back a long way.
"To some extent, it's got to come from the children to want to know."
He added: "One of the saddest things of all, is often people want to ask questions after it's too late.
"I'm 77 now, and people my age do their families a great service by making sure that what's left behind has little notes with it."
The RBVE's recent findings could even highlight a wider need for our older generations to be active in sharing their stories and memories with younger family and friends as a way of nurturing youngsters' relationships with the past and increasing awareness of their communities' heritage.
A second spokesperson from, SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity said: "The findings from RBVE's research reflect trends SSAFA identified in a study carried out last year around younger generations' understanding of military history and ex-personnel's experiences.
"SSAFA's own research found that one in six of Generation Z had never heard of VE Day.
"While it’s encouraging that most people still recognise the importance of VE Day, the fact that so few younger people understand what it represents does highlight a concern.
"VE Day is not simply a date in the history books. It marks the sacrifice, resilience and service of an entire generation who lived through war and helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today."
They added: "For organisations supporting the Armed Forces community, remembrance is about far more than ceremonies or anniversaries.
"It is about helping everyone understand the realities of military life, the impact conflict can have on individuals and families, and the ongoing challenges some continue to face long after service ends."
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