8 maj 2025

Marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day

Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. It was a momentous occasion, which saw people take to the streets to celebrate the end of the six-year conflict which had claimed the lives of millions of military personnel and civilians.

VE Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made, to honour and pay tribute to the courage shown by so many, and to recognise those who serve today. As our friends and allies across the world come together to remember this dark period, we’re reflecting on how Babcock and our partners were involved in the war effort.

Babcock International Group can trace its roots back to 1891 and the formation of Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Ltd. During World War II, B&W fabricated marine boilers for steam-powered combat and merchant ships. With such a long history of supporting the armed forces, it may not come as a surprise that some present-day Babcock sites also have fascinating links to the allied war effort.

Our Aviation sector currently operates alongside the RAF on airbases which played a pivotal role in the battle for the skies. RAF Cosford trained 70,000 airmen during World War II, in engine, armament and airframe maintenance trades, whilst RAF Wittering was very active during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz in 1940–41.

In Marine, some of our key sites have a rich heritage of wartime contribution. Rosyth Dockyard played a crucial role in defending the North Sea and was a major naval base for ship repair and refitting. Devonport Royal Dockyard also played an important role as a vital hub for maintaining and repairing Royal Navy ships throughout the war.

In Nuclear, our manufacturing test and assembly facility in Leicester was once home to a factory sanctioned by the Government in October 1941 that played a key role in the development and early production of jet engines. The development in technology at the site led to the Gloster Meteor, which became the first allied jet aircraft to fly operationally in World War II.

Our Land sector currently operates on British Army sites which made vital wartime contributions. At Warminster, tank regiments from both the UK and US resided at the barracks throughout the war, whilst the Central Ordnance Depot located in Donnington played a vital role in equipping the Army with the equipment it needed to fight across the globe. Meanwhile, trade training for the Royal School of Military Engineering remained in the workshops at Chatham, ensuring a continuous supply of skilled engineers.

80 years on from VE Day, our sites and people still play a crucial role in our nation’s security and responding to domestic and international demand for defence support from the UK Armed Forces. We’re proud to be supporting celebrations across the country today marking this significant anniversary, and will continue playing our part in creating a safe and secure world, together.