VE Day 51st Highland Division Memorial Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K travel video of the 51st Highland Division War Memorial, on VE Day, on visit to North Inch Park in Perth, Perthshire. Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day in United Kingdom, or V-E Day in America, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. VE Day is celebrated across Western European states on 8 May, with several countries observing public holidays on the day each year, variously called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day or simply Victory Day. One of my favourite Scottish War Memorials. A soldier with bagpipes and a child with a flower. This memorial pays tribute to all who served in the 51st Highland Division in the two World Wars. It symbolizes the liberation of our European Allies from occupation and repression in 1945 and commemorates the years of peace that have followed. The memorial was made by sculptor Alan Herriot and depicts a young Dutch girl presenting a rose to a kilted piper from the Division. The statue replicates a memorial unveiled at Schijndel in the Netherlands, which was unveiled to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the town by the 51st Highland Division on 23rd October 1944, with many casualties. The 51st Highland Division comprised units raised from across the highlands and beyond, including parts of regiments such as the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Seaforth Highlanders, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and the Black Watch. As the regimental battle honours reveal, the division fought with distinction in both world wars: and at huge cost. During the Divisions final campaign in North West Europe it suffered a total of over 19,000 battle casualties. Russia, Belarus, and Serbia celebrate on 9 May, as do several former Soviet bloc countries. Israel also marks VE Day on 9 May, as a result of the large number of immigrants from the former Soviet bloc, although it is not a public holiday. The term VE Day existed as early as September 1944, in anticipation of victory.

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