© IWM Letters to Loved Ones: Presented by IWM & National Theatre at IWM North will take place on Wednesday 7 May 2025
Letters to Loved Ones will bring together first-hand testimonies of those who were there, including soldiers on the front line; men, women and children on the home front; or relatives who contributed to Britain’s war effort from British Empire and Commonwealth countries. Members of the public are invited to take a picture and upload their letter to the official website at ve-vjday80.gov.uk.
As part of the Letters to Loved Ones campaign, a live event will take place at IWM North on Wednesday 7 May, the day before the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Jointly produced by IWM and the National Theatre, letters that the public submit written by their families in the Second World War will become part of a performance, featuring young people and some familiar faces. Letters from IWM’s own collection will also be included, highlighting some of the first-hand accounts of those that lived, fought and died during the most devastating conflict in history.
Caro Howell MBE, IWM Director-General said: “Letters to Loved Ones is an opportunity for a new generation of children across the UK to learn about the Second World War, its aftermath and why it remains so relevant today. We know there’s a wealth of stories waiting to be rediscovered. Letters to Loved Ones will bring the nation together in a moment of national commemoration by shining a light on the personal accounts of those who were there. Don’t worry if you’re not at school. If you have any Second World War letters you’d love to share, we want to hear from you.”
IWM is not seeking original copies of letters. Families are encouraged to keep these in their own collections for future generations and should only share digital images of the letters on the official UK Government VE and VJ Day website ve-vjday80.gov.uk, where they will be shared with the nation. Stories shared on the official VE and VJ Day website will remain free and accessible, helping to shape our understanding of the Second World War both now and in the future.
IWM will also be delving into its own rich collections, creating special school packs to help teachers share some of these incredible testimonies in classes, with children encouraged to learn, discuss and get a greater understanding of the history and legacy of VE Day and why the Second World War remains so relevant today. This resource will also include links to eyewitness videos, providing an engaging insight into the memories of people who experienced VE Day in 1945.
© IWM A truck of revellers passing through the Strand, London, 8 May 1945
IWM
IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.
Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.
IWM’s five branches which attract over 1 million visitors each year are IWM London, which has recently transformed with new, permanent and free Second World War Galleries, The Holocaust Galleries and the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, Britain's best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.