Nearly three months after VE Day, the war against Japan still continued. Its end would be drawn out over six weeks between the Potsdam Declaration in July and the final signing of the surrender on-board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September.
During those weeks the world saw the use of a new weapon, the atom bomb, and both Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be totally destroyed before World War Two would finally come to an end.
To commemorate VJ Day, we present this special ‘It Happened Here’ episode. Using archive recordings, a recreation of the memoir of Eric Norris and interviews with our Veterans from both our official Oral History Project and eight years of podcasts, we hope to take you back to those momentous weeks in 1945.
Ten of our Veterans will share their memories, both happy and sometimes poignant, of the beginning of the Atomic Age, the end of the war, VJ Day and looking forward to the rest of their lives. Featured in order of appearance are:
- Sheila Willson
- Dennis Gilley
- Dr Michael Loewe
- Lady Marion Body
- Joyce Bogoni
- Joan Smeaton
- Dennis Underwood
- Betty Webb
- Gwendoline Page
- Margaret Thomas
We would like to take this opportunity to thank not just the Veterans of Bletchley Park and its Outstations, but all Veterans, for their service.
Very special thanks go to Mr Ben Thompson for voicing our archival documents.
Image: Wrens in London on VJ Day. With grateful thanks to Mrs Joan Smeaton.
VJ Day 75
10 things you need to know about Bletchley Park and VE Day
10 things you need to know about Bletchley Park and VE Day