Victory over Japan was announced in a broadcast by Prime Minister Clement Attlee at midnight on 14th August 1945.
The following day (15th August) is commemorated as VJ Day – which marked a 2-day holiday to celebrate the end of World War II hostilities.
In Newport, church bells were rung shortly after midnight and attempts were made to light a bonfire in St James’ Square in the early hours of the morning. It was said that practically every house, shop and office displayed the Union Flag, together with the Cross of St George and those of allied nations.
At 11:30, the Mayor of Newport, Mr H Whitehead, addressed the crowds outside the Guildhall, stating:
“For almost six years this Island capital has endured, in common with other towns great and small, the terrors of a war unequalled in ferocity and bestiality, and now by God’s eternal grace the world’s greatest victory has been won by the armed forces of the United Nations, nations who are united in the purpose of maintaining our individual liberties against the most terrible slavery that ever threatened mankind.
“Let us not forget this day all those whose hearts are aching, perhaps more than ever, for those near and dear to them, some of whom they may not see again. We must remember that their lives will not have been lost in vain if we each do our best to make this world a happier place now that this terrible war has come to an end.”
In Cowes, the stillness of the night was broken by ships sounding their hooters and sirens continuously for 2 hours, awaking the townsfolk from their slumbers. Fireworks and rockets were detonated as flares lit up the sky.
In Ryde, many inhabitants were said to have stepped out into the morning rain before learning that the war was over before returning to festoon their houses with bunting. My mid-day, Ryde Town Council employees had decorated the town with numerous and varied flags.
The Council put on a programme of entertainments with Jimmy Luff and his orchestra playing ‘gay tunes’ in the Esplanade Gardens in the morning and the Eastern Pavilion ‘filled to overflowing’ for a bathing belle parade and children’s talent contest in the afternoon. Bonfires were set ablaze and dancing, singing and cheering was said to have continued until the early hours of the following morning.
In Shanklin, in the early hours of the morning, dustbins put out for emptying were raided for combustible material to start a bonfire at the junction of Regent Street and North Road. However, the ensuing blaze melted the tarmac, requiring the assistance of the fire brigade to douse the flames.
Ventnor celebrated VJ Day with a flight of rockets from the pylons of St Boniface Down, which were lit up with searchlights. There were bonfires on the beach, in the town and at Woody Bay.
The next day, Ventnor Council provided tea, side shows and sports for 600 children at the park. In the evening, there was a victory dance at the Town Hall with Gaiety Revels taking place at the Winter Gardens.
In Freshwater, celebrations commenced a few minutes after midnight outside the Regent Cinema, which was floodlit with loudspeakers conveying the strains of patriotic music to a crowd of around 150. Dancing was said to have continued until 3 in the morning when the revellers dispersed following the playing of the national anthem. A bonfire was lit by the Scouts on Tennyson Down.
The following day, village children were treated to a free cinema show, after which they consumed a ‘lavish tea’ and watched a Punch and Judy performance by Professor Day of Cowes.
Even the smallest Isle of Wight villages participated in VJ Day festivities. An effigy of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito was burned in Shalfleet. A party of 27 bellringers visited Freshwater, Brighstone, Shorwell, Chale, Niton and Godshill before finishing in Carisbrooke.
In St Helens, the green was festooned with bunting and flags, with an enormous bonfire built on the football pitch. An ‘impressive’ torchlight procession marched around the village, with dancing on the floodlit green until midnight. The celebrations continued the next day with a comic football match.
