Some seven per cent of 18-25s in the UK think Margaret Thatcher declared the end of the second world war and four per cent said it was Tony Blair, according to research.

However, the shaky state of history knowledge thankfully does not appear to be shared by young Scots.

They outshone their counterparts from elsewhere in the UK, according to the survey commissioned on behalf of armed forces charity Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA).

Two thirds of 18-25 year olds in Scotland successfully identified the invasion of Poland as the catalyst for the second world war, whereas across the UK 55per cent were unable to do this.

More than half of Scottish young people realised that the sinking of the Titanic came later than VE day, compared with 18 per cent in London, and 50 per cent knew that 60m people died during the war, compared with 38 per cent of Londoners.

Across the UK more than half of young people questioned did not know the event marked by VE day (the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe) and more than a third (37 per cent) believed the original VE day came after the first moon landing.

"It is a real shame that across the UK our young people do not share the same basic level of military knowledge on the Second World War as those in Scotland, " said David Murray, chief executive of the SSAFA.

Friday marks the 70th anniversary of VE - Victory in Europe - Day, which marked the end of hostilities in Europe on May 8 1945.