Veteran's VE Day floral protest (From Stroud News and Journal)

Veteran's VE Day floral protest

WHEN it came to VE Day anniversary celebrations one Stroud war hero felt he needed to say it with flowers.

Ex-paratrooper Joe Ponting, 82, who is registered blind, made a floral VE on his garden in Bisley Old Road to mark 60 years since the fall of Nazi Germany.

And the Arnhem veteran said he was appalled at the lack of recognition the important anniversary seemed to receive in Stroud.

"This is my protest," he told the SNJ. "This town has done nothing, no street parties, no flags, nothing.

"I was determined to do my part."

After being captured in the disastrous drop at Arnhem, the infamous 'Bridge too far', Joe and three pals escaped from a German hunger march in February 1945.

The four survived for three months hiding in the freezing Alpine forests before making it back to American lines on May 5 - just three days before VE Day.

"We commandeered a horse and cart to take us to the lines," he said.

"The guard said 'Halt, who goes' and we said 'British, let us through'. But he wouldn't.

"After hiding out for 12 weeks we had this whole argument trying to convince them we were British.

"We had a hell of a celebration then. There was no more fighting. It wasn't announced for another three days but take it from me the war was over.

"All I wanted to do was get home."

Joe, who was born just a few hundred yards from his current home, also served in North Africa and Italy before being captured at Arnhem in September 1944. He now lives in Bisley Old Road with his wife Alice.