The Second World War holds “vivid” memories for David Hays who says it is important for the public to continue to reflect on the sacrifices of our war heroes.

David, now 80, was born in Regent Street, Watford, three months into the war - and three months after that, his father, Joseph, was enlisted and he would barely see his father again until the war was over.

Joseph was in the Royal Army Service Corps and he spent most of the war driving trucks through no less than nine countries.

His wartime experience took him from North Africa to Italy and Germany, where he was almost caught in the crossfire unintentionally during the Capture of Hamburg, before being present when the Allies took control of Paris back from the Nazis.

While Joseph was away, David, just a toddler, and his mother were facing their own challenges in North Watford, where they lived between two munitions factories that became targets for the Nazis.

The sound of the air raid siren became worryingly familiar to David and his mother Mabel and as the area got more dangerous, David was whisked up north to live with his aunt and uncle.

David recalls: “It became dangerous living between the two factories so I went up north to hide away. It was safer but I witnessed so much up north including the industrial troubles. My friends back home in Regent Street had challenging times too.

“Near my home, some shrapnel had fired through a front door and straight out of the back door.”

David’s cousin also lived in Watford and she was able to escape unharmed from the bombing in Sandringham Road, which she lived very close to.

Her window was shattered during the bombing which claimed the lives of 37 people.

When it was safe for David to return to Watford, and when then Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced peace on May 8, 1945, after six years of fighting, Regent Street hosted a huge street party.

David was sat on a table with his neighbour Pat, away from everyone else because he was suffering from chicken pox.

Watford Observer:

A street party was held in Regent Street, North Watford, on May 8 1945. David Hays was sat on a lone table at the front

Eighty-year-old David, now living in Chesham, is social distancing once again for VE Day celebrations - but so is everyone else.

He said: “I have such vivid memories from the war. My father came home four months after the war ended. The end of the war was important for me because I was just six-years-old. It was also challenging to see my father again because we had been parted for five years.

“My father didn’t really talk about the war. I only found out about when that he was in Paris when it was taken from the Nazis, from a photograph in the attic that I found him.

“I used to go into London to see the effects the war had and I have always been eager to see how war has impacted other countries. I love my history.

“Right now, it is very sad what is happening (with the pandemic), but hopefully some light will shine through. Today, we reflect.”