This month is the 80th anniversary of VJ day; marking the end of the Second World War in the Asia-Pacific region.  The British Legion describes how the fighting in this area took place over a vast area – from Hawaii to the North East borders of India and from Papua New Guinea to Manchuria in northern China. By 1945 across Asia and the Pacific there were 365,000 British and 1.5 million Commonwealth troops deployed.

In May 1945, despite the allied nations celebrating Victory in Europe, Japan fought on.  When they surrendered on 15th August 1945 a two-day national holiday was announced in Britain.

We also have in our collection a programme from the town’s 50th anniversary celebrations centred around a street party with tea for 500 people, and including children’s races, bands and an inter-pub/estate agent tug of war.

You can see these and previous objects of the month on the museum first floor.  Are you one of the people in this photo? We would love to hear any memories anyone has of those celebrations. Please contact us at museum@southmillarts.co.uk

To view the chosen collection, please visit the first floor of Bishop’s Stortford Museum at South Mill Arts.