Majority of Gen Z adults don’t know what VE Day is
The Still Serving portraits, taken by photographer Rankin, to mark the VW awareness campaign (Rankin/RBVE/PA Wire )
A new poll by the Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE) reveals that two-thirds of Gen Z adults in the UK are unaware of what VE Day represents.
The survey found that while 63 per cent of all UK adults recognise VE Day’s significance, this figure drops to just 34 per cent among Gen Z.
The RBVE stated these findings indicate a “gap in public understanding of military service past and present” and a “generational disconnect” regarding symbols like the “Tommy”.
In response, the RBVE launched its Still Serving campaign, featuring a portrait series by photographer Rankin, to highlight contemporary veterans and the ongoing impact of military service.
The campaign aims to show that military service did not end in 1945 and continues to affect individuals today, reinforcing that the “Tommy” symbol represents all generations of service personnel.
This article was amended on 7 May 2026. It originally stated that VE Day represented the end of WWII, but that was inaccurate. It represents the end of the war in Europe.
