Diaries, photographs and other war artefacts will be unveiled in an online showcase to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
A week-long exhibition will show items highlighting experiences in Angus during the Second World War.
The Angus Alive showcase, set up to replace the planned physical commemorations, features war diaries and photographs of King George VI in Forfar, where he inspected Polish forces.
Craig Pearson, archives and local history lead, said: “Although it is disappointing for everyone that our scheduled event to mark this historical event has been cancelled, it is important that everyone stays at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
“We hope to encourage virtual visitors to connect with this historically significant event through our online feature which showcases documents and photographs from Angus Archives extensive collections.”
Friday marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, when more than one million people celebrated in the streets throughout the United Kingdom to mark the end of the European part of the war.
In Angus, commemorations begin on Monday, featuring a selection of war diaries from archive collections, alongside an account by David Kerr, who served in the Royal Navy during the D-Day landings, who will share his experiences of the day.
Tuesday’s post will look at one of the many Luftwaffe air raids which targeted Angus towns during 1940.
On Wednesday, Angus Alive looks at the 10th Polish Mechanised Brigade, who from 1940 until 1942, were based in Forfar.
One of Brechin’s most famous sons, Robert Watson-Watt, will feature on Thursday. His contribution to the war effort, through the development of radio direction finding and radar, assisted the Royal Air Force and ultimately the defence of the nation.
The archive’s regular Friday Feature takes a closer look at the home guard, who were the last line of defence in the event of enemy invasion.
Also on Friday, to mark Sir Winston Churchill’s address to the nation, a video will be posted of images from across Angus during World War Two, accompanied by a recreation of Churchill’s famous words, delivered by Ronnie Proctor, Provost of Angus.
Mr Proctor, who served in The Black Watch for 40 years and is currently secretary for the regiment, said: “It’s incredibly sad that many events organised throughout the world to mark this important day have had to be cancelled while we face a very different crisis for our country.
“However, still being able to mark it in some way through these online activities helps us ensure the day still gets the focus and celebratory attention it deserves.”
Concluding the week, on Saturday, Angus Alive will highlight the ‘Red Lichtie’, the Spitfire paid for by the residents of Arbroath and named in their honour.
The exhibition will feature daily on the Angus Archives Facebook page. Members of the public are encouraged to share their own memories of VE Day.
