July 26, 1945

The war in Europe ended with Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May 1945 and the western world erupted in jubilation. The British public was elated but very weary of war. Churchill easily won his seat in Parliament for Woodford, but the Conservatives were thrown out of office. He would resign the office of Prime Minister to make way for Clement Attlee and the Labour Party.

The sentiment was simply that the Conservatives did a tremendous job winning the war but Labour was better suited to rebuilding the country.

One of Labour’s campaign slogans that year was ‘Cheer Churchill – Vote Labour’.

This was a considerable personal blow to Churchill and ‘black dog’ (depression) returned. But, as in the past, he would rise again.