Victory Day Parade, 1946

Victory Day in Portsmouth would probably best be remembered by thousands for the early morning rush to Southsea Front, the mile long parade of the Services and the Civil Defence, the hurried trek homewards and the rain. 

The rush to see the Victory Parade overwhelmed the bus services… People in queues at the intermediate bus stops watched a procession of full buses pass and then decided to walk or return home. From the Clarence Pier to South Parade Pier, it was estimated that over 30,000 people assembled to give a cheer to men and women who represented almost every branch of war time activity. 

Soon after the Parade in which there were about 4,000 marching personnel, rain began to fall and the crowd dispersed.

City of Portsmouth Corporation Records, 1946-1955