How the EADT and Ipswich Star told the story of D-Day

Hidden away in Bury St Edmunds, our collection of newspapers spans more than a century, with the most important dates in modern history immortalised with a Suffolk spin.

They give a snapshot of what it was like to be living in our county at the time of war, and what it was like when the Normandy Landings finally gave residents a chance to hope that the end might finally be in sight.

D-Day

The front page of the then-Evening Star from June 6, 1944, shared the news: Allied Armies Landing in Northern France. (Image: Newsquest)

June 7, 1944, shared the news: 'Satisfactory Progress' in Allied Landings (Image: Newsquest)There was some cause to celebrate on June 9, 1944. This photo celebrates the wedding of Mr Eric Goffin and Miss Daisy Meadows. (Image: Newsquest)Another wedding from June 9, 1944: Graeme Butcher and Pauline Cooper. (Image: Newsquest)

This caption from June 9, 1944, reads: C-S-M. Charles Lacey Smy, Coldstream Guards, husband of Mrs R Smy, of 81, Alan Road, Ipswich, who at a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace received the DCM for gallantry whilst serving in Italy. (Image: Newsquest)This article from June 10, 1944, brought some good news – the Suffolk Show would be returning. The story reads: The Committee of the Suffolk Agricultural Association at its meeting on Friday at Ipswich, decided that circumstances permitting, a one-day show will be held in Ipswich on Wednesday, June 6th next year. (Image: Newsquest)

War is declared

We were also intrigued to read how the news of war was reported in 1939. Fortunately, some copies of the Felixstowe Times have survived, and paint a picture of a county - and country - about to experience war.

The Felixstowe Times from September, 1939, with a 'war diary' shown on the right hand side. (Image: Newsquest)This article from September 9, 1939, shares the news that 7,992 evacuees had arrived in Ipswich. (Image: Newsquest)

The war ends

We managed to lay our hands on copies of the East Anglian Daily Times to tell us how the end of the war was reported in 1945.

The first article, sharing the news that war would end, is dated VE Day, May 8. The second article, sharing that war with Japan had ended, is dated September 3. Formal surrender documents would have been signed the day before, but, as this was a Sunday, the EADT would not have been published.

The EADT shared the news on May 8: War in Europe Will End Officially Today. (Image: Newsquest)The EADT headline from September 3, 1945. (Image: Newsquest)

The caption from this photo in the EADT from September 11 reads: Clearing up Berlin: Scenes familiar to all Londoners in 1943 and 1944 are now just as familiar to all the people of Berlin. Dangerous buildings, damaged by Allied air raids, are being pulled down. A German beggar plays his violin seated amongst the debris in the blitzed Kurfurstendamm. In the background is the wrecked Kaiserin Augusta Church. (Image: Newsquest)