Honouring Heroes: VE Day 80 and the Extraordinary Lives of Mabel, Robin and Alan

Today marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a historic moment when the guns fell silent across the continent on 8th May 1945, bringing an end to nearly six years of war.

The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (The RNBT) proudly pays tribute to the men and women whose courage and sacrifice made peace possible – heroes like Mabel, Robin, and Alan, three remarkable Second World War veterans and friends now living at Admiral Jellicoe House, our dedicated veterans’ care home in Portsmouth.

We will be honouring them with a garden party today at Admiral Jellicoe House, and here, we share their important reflections of service and resilience during and after the war.

For the full accounts of their stories, be sure to read the related media articles from the BBC, The Mirror and Metro –

• The Mirror: ‘I saved German sailors from sinking warship – one thing about them will surprise you’
• BBC: Wren’s VE Day: ‘The civilians had a better time’
• Metro: How Victory in Europe gave women the first taste of a treat normally reserved for men

Mabel: The Wrens’ Trailblazer

At 99 years old, Mabel Kidney is among the last surviving members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service – affectionately known as the Wrens. 

Joining at just 17, Mabel was based at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent, near her family home.

In her recent interviews with the BBC and The Mirror, Mabel recalled her experience of joining the Wrens: “I hoped to get an overseas posting, but ended up five miles away from home!”, as well as her experiences during the war. Noting that the numbers of returning soldiers was far smaller than those who had left, Mabel said: “It was very sad to be serving someone one minute and then the next never seeing them again. It happened a lot.“

She was on duty when she first heard the news of victory, but while there was a small party on their road later that day to celebrate, Mabel’s family “hardly had anything” in the following years.

Mabel’s wartime memories remind us of the sacrifices made by those who served as well as by all in Britain during and after the war.

Robin: The Lifesaver of the Atlantic

Robin Boodle, 100, from Canterbury, Kent, joined the Royal Navy when he was just 16. He served aboard the HMS Suffolk, a warship that played a crucial role in convoy protection during the Battle of the Atlantic. But it’s Robin’s courageous rescue of German sailors that has captured headlines and hearts alike.

In his story featured in The Mirror, Robin shared how, during a dangerous wartime mission, he helped rescue survivors from a sinking German U-boat – U-523. Despite being enemies, Robin and his crewmates displayed extraordinary humanity, risking their lives to save others in peril. “They were sailors like us,” he said. “It was the right thing to do.”

Robin’s account reminds us that even in war, compassion can shine through. His bravery and moral strength embody the very best of the Royal Navy’s traditions.

Alan: Arctic Convoy Veteran and Royal Marine Colonel

A second gunner on HMS Scylla, ex-Royal Marine Alan Jukes, now 101, recalled in The Mirror a terrible day when the ship in front was torpedoed by a German warship and British seamen were flung into the icy water—their ship blown apart.

“That was the worst day of my life,” he told The Mirror. “My captain had issued the command full steam ahead, saying, ‘We’re going to rescue the men in the water.’ But then the Admiral told him, ‘No, we’re not going in—there are too many U-boats. We’ve got to get out of here.’”

“So we sailed through them. I’ll never forget their faces as they waved their arms from the water, expecting to be saved. But we couldn’t do anything.”

HMS Scylla was carrying vital equipment to Lemansk, Russia, to help in the fight against the Nazis, so they couldn’t take any risks.

The harrowing memory remains with Alan, who grew up in Rottingdean, East Sussex, and joined the Royal Marines in 1941 at the age of 18. 

From 1941 to 1945, Alan was often aboard one of the Allied ships sailing from Scotland and Iceland to Russia to supply food and weapons. In total, 78 convoys made the treacherous journey, and more than 3,000 seamen lost their lives to freezing conditions and attacks by German submarines and aircraft.

Awarded the Sword of Honour as a Second Lieutenant in 1946, Alan was later invited to the Russian Embassy in London in 2014 to receive one of only 3,000 Ushakov Medals awarded to UK veterans by Russia for their efforts in the Arctic convoys.

We salute Alan for his bravery and lifetime of service.

A Living Legacy

At The RNBT, we are honoured to care for veterans like Mabel, Robin, and Alan – living links to a time of great sacrifice and resilience. Admiral Jellicoe House was purpose-built to provide dignity, companionship and specialist dementia care to our naval family, and it is our privilege to support these heroes in their later years.

As the nation comes together to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we invite everyone to remember not just the day itself, but the people behind it – the young sailors, Wrens, and service members who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.

You can find ways to take part in the VE Day 80 commemorations via the official campaign site: ve-vjday80.gov.uk/get-involved

Let us remember them—not just on the 8th of May, but always.

About The RNBT

The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust provides financial assistance and support to serving and former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families. The RNBT has a proud legacy of compassion, commitment, and community. 

We recently marked our 103rd anniversary since our founding by Royal Charter in 1922. To commemorate this milestone, we’ve launched an ambitious new five-year strategy designed to enhance its support for the Royal Navy community across the UK. Read more here

To find out how The RNBT can help you, contact our confidential Helpline by calling 02394 216294 or sending an email to help@rnbt.org.uk. 

Do you have other enquiries or want to learn how you or your organisation can get involved with The RNBT? Contact our headquarters at rnbt@rnbt.org.uk or 02392 690112.