VE80 Exhibition

VE80 Exhibition

The local History Group created and presented a World War II Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) 80th Exhibition in the Parish Hall. It ran over three days from Friday 9th May to Sunday 11 May 2025, sharing the last moring with the regular Sunday Brunch.  

The Exhibition

Take a look at the historical items and display boards from the exhibition.

Exhibition Visitors

We hosted three school parties on Friday, Saturday was busy and Sunday was even busier but we’re sure the brunch was a big factor in people attending then.

ExhibitionTopics

WWII Timeline in Worlington

Annotated WWII events that influenced the local community in East and West Worlington.

1939 Register

A snapshot of the civilian population (military personnel were not recorded) of England and Wales just after the outbreak of theWWII and was used to produce identity cards, issue ration books (1941) and administer conscription. 

WWII Roll of Honour

Details of the five Worlington men who gave their lives in active service during WWII.

WWII Searchlight Camp

Maurice Butt, born in 1936, lived at Little Witheridge during WWII war and has provided some of his recollection of the searchlight camp and soldiers.

Worlington Home Guard

Thelbridge and Worlington were combined into a single Home Guard platoon while Witheridge had its own local platoon.

Operation Pied Piper

During WWII, people were concerned about German air raids killing innocent civilians (particularly children). In order to prevent this from happening, mass evacuations, of predominantly children living in cities, began on the 1st of September, 1939 and was named Operation Pied Piper.

Evacuees Stories

Worlington hosted evacuees from London and Erith (Kent) with stories about shortages of food but some happy memories.

Local WWII Memories

Worlington residents recall WWII and read about rats swimming in a fllooded cellar, hiding under the dinner table when a doodlebug flew over, Italian PoWs working on farms and some of the first tractors and bailing machines.

East Worlington School

As far as possible, the school continud teaching as normal, the typical class size of 40-60 pupils was supplemented by a number of evacuees in 1940. The headmistress Mrs Harry (1940 onwards) “moonlighted” to give radio broadcasts from Bristol.

Tiverton PoW Camp

The POW site in Tiverton occupied the same site as the Tiverton campus of Petroc college. Initially used for Italian PoWs, and German PoWs later on.