Demobilising after World War 2
Written by Pam Preedy.
On the 8th May 1945, a ceasefire was called, and soldiers of all sides in Europe laid down their arms. Effectively World War 2 in Europe was over. Three months later on August 14th, 1945 VJ Day was announced: Japan surrendered. War was over.
Figures vary, but roughly five million British servicemen and women waited to be demobilised and returned to civilian life; my father among them. Demobilisation took about 18 months to complete (June 1945 to December 1946). It was a challenging time that involved practical and psychological issues, not just for the men but also for their families.
Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin quickly introduced a plan for demobilisation, perhaps attributed to the tide of public opinion which favoured slogans and policies that appealed to peace and disengagement. It was also driven by labour shortages needed for post-war reconstruction. The plan was unveiled on 22nd September, 1944. It was revealed to the servicemen and women on the 18th May, 1945 and scheduled to start on the 18th June.
The majority of servicemen had to wait their turn. Their release date was calculated according to their age and the number of months they had served.
Some ‘key men’ were given priority because their occupational skills were vital to reconstruction and were released early. Married men and women over the age of 50 were also released early.
In the process, each group to be decommissioned attended a decommissioning centre where they would receive a one-time grant of £83 each, the promise of a right to return to their old jobs and a set of civilian clothing, which included the so-called “demob suit”, shirts, underclothes, raincoats, hat and shoes.
By 1947, about 4.3 million men and women had passed through demobilised centres and returned to “civvy street”.
The process was not without controversy. Frustration as the allegedly slow pace of release led to a number of mutinies. It seems that demonstrations and strikes broke out in the Royal Indian Air Force in India beginning on 22nd January 1946, and spread across the continent and as far away as Singapore, Egypt, North Africa and Gibraltar. The peaceful protests lasted between three and 11 days. The men lay down their equipment and refused to obey orders. Strictly speaking, these were mutinies as service personnel were not allowed to strike. They led to some court martials.
The British Government argued that the amount of shipping available was insufficient to permit immediate repatriation of the large number of personnel. However, later declassified reports have shown that British troops were deliberately retained in India to control possible unrest from the independence movement, and the grievances of the RAF men may have also included significant political views and sympathy with the Communist Party of India.
Servicemen and women were thrust into civvy street, although familiar, life had moved on and changed. They had to face the challenge of reasserting their place in the family home and work. They also had to rejoin a much altered labour force. Few men talked about their war-time experiences. There was no time to complain about mental issues and many just ‘bottled up’ their memories and got on with their lives; the true ‘stiff upper lip’.
I was one of the ‘baby-boomers’ born in February 1947. Dad must have returned at some time during 1946. My sister did not want her father intruding into her life with mother, and certainly didn’t want me having all the toys that our parents were unable to get for her as production in factories during her first six-and-a-half years had reverted to producing weapons as toys were hard to find.
Originally published in Life in Bromley magazine (Issue 40, June 2025)