Children riding a pony

Nathan, age 9

Nathan has interpreted and explained the photo in the style of a museum label. He has used his historical knowledge of the war very well to think about how each of the people in the photo might have been feeling or what their experience of the war had been. Nathan writes that the children are probably excited for their VE Day party, but does importantly point out that the sadness experienced by many people during the war didn’t just go away.

“When I look at this old photograph, I imagine the three children were evacuees and now they are all back home.

I imagine the man is their father and that he has come back from the war and is still suffering from the loud bangs he heard in the trenches.

I imagine he is happy the war has ended but sad that he lost some of his friends.

I imagine he is taking them to the children’s victory day street party and their mother is already there helping to prepare the food and decorate the area. I imagine the boy (Jimmy Starret) on the pony is looking about at the decoration for the street party and can see red, white and blue bunting and lots of people.

I imagine that the children are excited to go to the party and have dressed up well and are excited to play with their friends and eat chocolate cake!”

Sofia, age 9

Sofia has used this image to write a poem about happiness.  In it, she describes how each person in the photo may have been feeling and why, and gives a sense of the relief felt on VE Day that the war in Europe was over.

“Happiness

Happiness is the girl who is jumping up and down with joy…

Happiness is the boy riding his pony waiting to arrive at the street party…

Happiness is the man feeling relief that the war is over…

The struggle has come to the end…

Coming together to celebrate Victory in Europe has arrived…

Once again, uniting the community in gratefulness and togetherness…”

Evelyn, age 8

In her piece, Evelyn has written a catchy song based on the image of Jimmy Starret. The song cheerfully describes being free from the war, and Evelyn has drawn and creatively coloured her own version of the photo of Jimmy on his pony.

“The War End

CHORUS: The war has ended. We’re finally free.

VERSE 1: We can ride a pony, into the wild and on the path

CHORUS

VERSE 2:  Free, we are free finally

CHORUS x2”

Rupert, age 6

Rupert has recreated the image of Jimmy Starret on his pony by drawing it in pencil.  Jimmy rides ahead on his pony and the adult and two little girls behind him look very happy as they raise their arms to cheer. Underneath his drawing, Rupert has described how the people in the picture may have felt on VE Day.

“VE Day
Everyone was very happy to do normal things again. Like walking the street and riding a horse freely.”

Tallulah, age 7

Tallulah has used the photograph to inspire her picture. She has drawn the pony pulling a VE Day carriage, with a man inside it waving happily. Around him, children wave back and hold ‘Welcome Home’ and Union Jack flags. The parade looks celebratory and joyful.

Robbie, age 5

In this piece, Robbie has used lots of different materials to create a beautiful remembrance picture.  He has painted the number ‘75’ in red to show that it is 75 years since victory in Europe, and has cut and painted paper plates to make three large poppies, a symbol of remembrance.

Katie, age 8

Katie has drawn an excellent picture based on the image of Jimmy Starret riding a pony on VE Day. She has used vivid colours to bring the scene to life, and has added poppies to the picture to link to remembrance.  She has also stuck Union Jack bunting to the bottom of the picture, to give a sense of the unity felt on VE day.

Tommy, age 8

Tommy has also created a fantastic diary for VE Day, in which he imagines himself as Jimmy Starret. He talks about what Jimmy might have done on the day and how he might have felt. He has decorated his war diary using lots of patterns and bright colours, and on the back of it he has written the well-known propaganda phrase ‘Hitler will send no warning.’

 “My War Diary
Day 2,190  –  VE Day!

Today we celebrated VE day. We also even got the pony out. I rode up and down the road with my 2 sisters and my dad. After that we had a party and after that I got back on my pony and I got a big clap after doing that it was very fun!

P.S. VE stands for Victory in Europe day.

[Overleaf] Hitler will send no warning”