WHILE many were celebrating the end of the Second World War on VE Day 70 years ago this year, Trowbridge veteran Ken Foster was part of a crew returning Prince Olav to Norway as part of the country’s liberation.

Mr Foster, who as a wireless operator in the Royal Navy from the age of 17, was part of the HMS Viceroy crew that was tasked with supporting the Allied forces in reoccupying Norway in 1945.

The 89-year-old remembers that after returning Prince Olav to Stavanger in Norway, the vessel travelled to Trondheim, where the crew were given a heroes’ welcome.

Mr Foster, who lives with his wife Alma, 87, in North Bradley, said the HMS Viceroy crew had already set off in convoy with eight other destroyers from Rosyth in Scotland when Victory in Europe Day was taking place.

He said: “Just before VE Day our destroyer was sent out to Norway and we just happened to be on hand when Prince Olav was ready to return. We picked him up from a naval base in Scotland and took him to Stavanger.

“After that, the destroyers were given different places to liberate and we had military on board to make sure the towns were adhering to the surrender conditions and following instructions.

“The first place we visited was Trondheim and they were very pleased to see us. The town band turned out and we marched through the town with people lining the streets.

“It was all quite strange as when we arrived there were German soldiers in their Grey uniforms and we didn’t really know what to do with them, so they ended up being in the crowd when we marched through. I think they were actually glad to see us as well.”

Mr Foster, who served on the Commander-in-Chief’s staff in the Pacific soon after the war, said the men on the ship celebrated the end of the war with rum when they heard the news, but he was only allowed juice because of his age.

While he welcomed the end of the war, Mr Foster said it was a bittersweet moment for him because his brother had been killed in action in Italy the year before.

“For most people, there was a feeling of jubilation, but not for me as my brother had been killed in action and I was saddened because I knew he was one of the many who would not be coming home,” he added.

Mrs Foster, who was living in Tyneside during the war, was lucky to escape with her life after a church near to her home was bombed, but she remembers celebrating VE Day.

“I’m not sure where I was when we found out the war was over, but I remember that we went for a dance and sing along on VE Day,” she said. “Everyone was very happy and we felt very lucky to be alive.”

Mr Foster, who later worked for the Post Office and as a war pensions officer, said he will be marking the anniversary of VE Day with a meal with the White Ensign Association next week.