Ancestry brings history to life with Table of History VE Day tribute

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Ancestry transformed London’s Southbank into a living tribute to unsung World War II heroes.

The immersive installation “Table of History” reimagined the iconic VE Day street party as a powerful commemoration of 80 hidden figures who played vital roles in achieving Victory in Europe  – from frontline soldiers and munitions workers to civil defence volunteers and community organisers. Each hero was honoured with their own seat and bespoke commemorative plate, turning a shared table into a deeply personal history lesson.

This aimed not only to educate and engage the public but to trace living relatives of each hero represented, inviting visitors and readers to get involved and help uncover forgotten family stories.

Ancestry also opened access to over 2.5 million UK military records for free, encouraging users to discover connections in their own family trees and explore over 1,100 historical collections, which is available until May 11th.

Blending storytelling, heritage, and community outreach, Ancestry’s campaign brought history to life – one plate, one name and one story at a time.

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