Honouring Heroes: VE Day 80th Anniversary Charity Stream for SSAFA
On May 8th, we came together as a community to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day with a special charity livestream in support of SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity. The event was a heartfelt tribute to the sacrifices made during World War II, and thanks to the generosity of our viewers, we raised £145 over the course of the 3-hour stream.
For those unfamiliar, SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) has been providing lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families since 1885. Their work spans physical and mental health, housing, financial aid, and emotional support – a vital safety net for those who’ve served.
Stories of the Past – Voices from the Community
As part of this moving tribute, we featured five powerful interviews from members of the Hell Let Loose community. These ranged from stories about family members who partook in the war, to talking about recovered memorabilia and war reenactments. We thank every person or took part in these amazing interviews, as they help to connect our modern-day gaming community to the legacy of real-world history. These stories served not only as a tribute but also as a reminder of the importance of remembrance and storytelling in preserving history, and highly recommend checking out all of the interviews.
Tate - Remembering Sgt John H. Harrigan
In this interview Tate, one of our community members, shares a heartbreaking story about his grandfather who was a member of the US Air Corps. Captured as a POW during his first mission in Italy, Tate details what he went though during the war and post-VE Day. Thank you to Tate for sharing such a wonderful story, along with the beautiful photos and diary entries.
Amelia - Remembering Corporal Leonard George
In this interview Amelia, shares a beautiful story about her great-grandfather who was a member of the RAF. Fighting between 1939-1945, Corporal Leonard George saw action in North Africa and Italy before returning home after the conclusion of the war. Thank you to Amelia for sharing such a wonderful story, along with the beautiful photos and diary entries.
Zac - WW2 Reenactor
In this interview Zac, one of our community members, shares with what being a WW2 reenactor entails, and why it is an important tradition to continue. Thank you to Zac for sharing with stories of your times as a reenactor.
Avtomat - WW2 Memorabilia & Stories
In this interview Avtomat, one of our community members, shares with us his WW2 collection talking about items that can be found within Hell Let Loose as well as others which have fascinating stories attached to them. Thank you to Avtomat for sharing with us the incredible collection that you have built. If you're interested in finding out more on Avomat's collection, be sure to check out his channel AvtomatMilitaria.
Aripov - Remembering Sgt Aripov Vasily Petrovich
In this interview Aripov, one of our community members, talks about his great grandfather who fought as part of the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front, and the tales of him recapturing Poland and Berlin. Thank you to Aripov for sharing such a fascinating story, along with the beautiful photos and letters.
Community Games & War Correspondents
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hell Let Loose event without some action! The stream also included community games featuring our talented war correspondents RazBora, DasAltberg, and TheFreshBakedGoods, who brought the battlefield to life with their signature commentary and in-game reporting.
Thank you to everyone who tuned in, donated, and shared stories. Your support helped make this VE Day 80th Anniversary stream a fitting tribute and a successful charity effort.
If you'd like to catch up on the full event, you can watch the stream here:
VE Day 80th Anniversary VOD
