VE Day 80: TUV leader remembers Ulsterman James Noel Deane and Northern Ireland’s WWII role

On the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister MP has issued a solemn tribute to the role of Northern Ireland during the Second World War, drawing particular attention to the sacrifice of Ulsterman Signalman James Noel Deane.

Speaking on this significant national milestone, Mr Allister reflected on the profound impact of the war across the United Kingdom and the importance of remembering those who served and died in defence of freedom.

“As we mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, which was a most momentous day in our nation’s history, the range of national events remind us that WW II touched every corner of the United Kingdom, with headstones in every county,” he said.

Mr Allister highlighted the story of Signalman Deane, a member of the Royal Corps of Signals, who was killed in action on 6th May 1945—just two days before VE Day was declared. His name is commemorated on a family headstone at Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church in North Antrim.

“One of the last Ulstermen to die before VE Day was James Noel Deane who is remembered on a family headstone in Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church in North Antrim. Signalman Deane, who served with Royal Corps of Signals, was killed in action on 6th May 80 years ago,” said Mr Allister.

He credited historian Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster for preserving the memory of local servicemen and providing the information about Signalman Deane.

“I am grateful to Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster, who does so much to keep alive the memories of our war dead, for the information on James Deane,” he added.

Mr Allister also drew attention to the pivotal role Northern Ireland played during WWII, recalling Winston Churchill’s VE Day broadcast. He referenced Churchill’s acknowledgement of the province’s loyalty and strategic value to the Allied war effort.

“Northern Ireland’s strategic importance in the war led to Churchill’s famous tribute in his VE Day broadcast, praising NI’s ‘loyalty and friendship’ and stating without it the British people ‘should have been confronted with slavery or death’. He especially spoke of NI’s strategic importance to the Atlantic supply lines,” Mr Allister remarked.

“4.3m military personnel passed through Larne, including US troops preparing for the Normandy landings,” he noted. “Allied warships in Foyle and Belfast loughs provided protection for Northern Atlantic convoys and, of course, Northern Ireland was a major base for thousands of American troops.”

However, the TUV leader used the occasion to highlight what he described as a modern-day undermining of the very principles that were defended in the war—specifically, the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom. He criticised the ongoing implementation of the Protocol and Windsor Framework, which he claims treats Larne as a de facto frontier port.

“Above all WW2 was about defending the territorial integrity of nation states. In light of this, how sad that Larne is now a frontier port for goods entering NI from our own nation under the Union-dismantling Protocol/Windsor Framework. It is the EU’s brazen disrespect for the territorial integrity of the U.K. which permits this outrageous partitioning of the United Kingdom,” Mr Allister said.

Concluding, Mr Allister reaffirmed his commitment to challenging the post-Brexit arrangements affecting Northern Ireland. “But it is remembering the importance of territorial integrity, especially at this time, which redoubles my determination not to rest until the travesty of the Protocol is reversed.”

The 80th anniversary of VE Day, which commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945, is being marked across the UK with ceremonies, educational initiatives, and remembrance services, acknowledging both the collective effort and individual stories of heroism from the conflict.

North Antrim MP Jim Allister’s statement in full:

“As we mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, which was a most momentous day in our nation’s history, the range of national events remind us that WW II touched every corner of the United Kingdom, with headstones in every county. 

“One of the last Ulstermen to die before VE Day was James Noel Deane who is remembered on a family headstone in Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church in North Antrim. Signalman Deane, who served with Royal Corps of Signals,  was killed in action on 6th May 80 years ago. 

“I am grateful to Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster, who does so much to keep alive the memories of our war dead, for the information on James Deane. 

“Northern Ireland’s strategic importance in the war led to Churchill’s famous tribute in his VE Day broadcast, praising NI’s ‘loyalty and friendship’ and stating without it the British people ‘should have been confronted with slavery or death’. He especially spoke of NI’s strategic importance to the Atlantic supply lines.

“4.3m military personnel passed through Larne , including US troops preparing for the Normandy landings

“Allied warships in Foyle and Belfast loughs provided protection for Northern Atlantic convoys and, of course, Northern Ireland was a major base for thousands of American troops. 

“Above all WW2 was about defending the territorial integrity of nation states. In light of this, how sad that Larne is now a frontier port for goods entering NI from our own nation under the Union-dismantling Protocol/Windsor Framework. It is the EU’s brazen disrespect for the territorial integrity of the U.K. which permits this outrageous partitioning of the United Kingdom. 

“But it is remembering the importance of territorial integrity, especially at this time, which redoubles my determination not to rest until the travesty of the Protocol is reversed.”