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Dennis Moodie was allocated leave from the war and returned back to Handsworth a couple of days after VE Day with the celebrations still in full flow.

He was delighted because this meant that he didn’t have to go back to war.

He joined the Second World War in 1941 as an 18-year-old. He was a radio operator in the Royal Artillery.

Dennis arrived back in Handsworth the day after VE Day as he was granted a period of leave. A lot of people applied for leave, so their names were drawn out of a hat. Dennis was one of the lucky men chosen.

His family were over the moon to have him back, however he had a brother who was still out in Gibraltar.

Despite arriving home after VE Day, Dennis recalls lots of street parties that continued into the early hours. He remembers the streets euphoric with the Union Jack flying and everybody being absolutely thrilled. There was even somebody out on the street playing a piano.

The pubs were packed with lots of people drinking alcohol but began closing because they had been dried out.

There was another man on Dennis’ road who had been fighting in the war and they were the guests of honour on their street. Dennis says they were treated like Kings and couldn’t do anything wrong.

Dennis said he felt a sense of pride, but he didn’t feel like a hero because everybody had done their bit.

Image: A street party in Pope Street, Birmingham

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