WHEN the Second World War in Europe officially ended on May 8th 1945, VE Day was celebrated right across the country with millions taking to the streets. But in the Far East the war with Japan continued and the world would have to wait a further 99 days before the war was finally brought to an end.
It was in Japan, on Wednesday the 15th August (Tuesday 14th in America and Western Europe due to time zone differences) that the initial announcement of Japan’s surrender was made. But on hearing this news President Harry S. Truman said in his nationwide broadcast to the American people that the proclamation of V-J Day would wait on the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan.
This took place on the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sunday September 2nd, 1945, and it was then that Truman declared that that date would be known officially as V-J Day.
The people of Britain were at last able to let their hair down and celebrate the end of all hostilities, despite the continuation of rationing and the painful loss of loved ones.
But the kids were not to be denied their street parties, and former Black Country Bugle employee Les Morris popped back to Bugle House a few weeks ago with a photographic record of some of the folk, from the corner of Smethwick where he grew up, celebrating V-J Day, sixty-five years ago. It’s another wonderful example of how pictures can tell the whole story.
Les recalled that where he lived in West End Avenue, Smethwick, was the ideal place to hold a street party: “We lived on a cul-de-sac that joined with Mallin Street, just below the baths on the Oldbury Road,” he said, “and I have to say after looking at the pictures after all this time, it doesn’t seem like five minutes since I was in the West End Gang tucking into sandwiches and cake. How time flies! For me the picture of us all on and around the sofa sums up that moment in time perfectly.
“It also reminds me that just a few days later we were back at school for the start of the new term. I think the sofa we were sitting on, which had been dragged to the middle of the road, was bound for the bonfire that had been made earlier in the day, and inevitably the guy hanging around at the back was dressed in the uniform of a Japanese soldier.” Les can remember every name bar one of ‘Our Gang’, but would also like to mention Joyce Crump, Joyce Smith, Janice Craddock and the rest of the mob from Mallin Street who joined in and helped the V-J-Day party go with a swing. The gang, from left to right, back row first: Jeanette Silvester, Barbara Carter, Dennis Maltby, unknown youngster, Anne Smails, Judith Warren, Mary Riley, Kathleen Cartlidge.
Front row: Frank Riley, Leslie Morris, Noreen Evans, Calvin Ward, John Russell, Brian Maltby and right on the end, Christopher Ward.
