Winston Churchill’s granddaughter insists older Britons have a ‘massive responsibility to keep VE Day alive’ for Generation Z

Emma Soames, the granddaughter of Winston Churchill, has said older Britons have a “massive responsibility to keep VE Day alive” for Generation Z.

The journalist was speaking to GB News after it emerged that two-thirds of young people were unaware of the day that commemorates the end of World War Two in Europe.

“I think it is sad, but I also think it is inevitable,” the descendant of Britain’s heroic wartime leader said.

“If you look at each age group down from the baby boomers, where 99 per cent of people know about D-Day, down through adults, where 40 per cent knew… I think it's inevitable that the numbers drop off.”

“I think it is a massive responsibility of my age group, and indeed the one below, to keep the name (of VE Day) alive.”

Ms Soames addressed the findings that just 34 per cent of Gen Z recognise the day's significance.

She recalled a trip to the beaches of Normandy, where she saw “young people escorting their grandparents”.

The journalist described the sight as “wondrous” and “very moving to behold”.

“They weren't bored. They were absolutely fascinated.

“I think if you expose people to VE Day, it will stay alive.

“We do have to find, as the majority of veterans are sadly no longer with us, imaginative ways to keep VE Day alive.”

Ms Soames would not be drawn into reflecting on her heroic grandfather's thoughts.

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“I simply do not know what my grandfather would have thought,” she said.

“I wouldn't dream of pretending that I did!”

Her comments as a former head teacher revealed that details of Winston Churchill were being omitted from educational materials for British youngsters.

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said it was no surprise that knowledge of VE Day was fading.

“If you go back to where Generation Z was born back in the 90s, a video pack was sent by the government to every school in the country,” the former head teacher explained.

He revealed that the 40-minute-long video “allocated 14 seconds to Winston Churchill to say that he lost the 1945 election. That was all he mentioned in that context.

“It's not a surprise, really, given that background,” Mr McGovern said, reacting to the news that just 34 per cent of Gen Z recognise the significance of VE Day.

“It's no surprise that there's a lot of ignorance,” he reiterated.“I'm afraid that if we forget the past, we're condemned to repeat it.”