Wisbech and Fenland Museum marking VJ Day with exhibition spotlighting local servicemen who fought in the Far East

Wisbech and Fenland Museum is marking VJ Day with an exhibition spotlighting local servicemen who fought in the Far East.

‘VJ Day - the End of the War for Wisbech’ is the town museum's tribute to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Victory over Japan Day in August 1945.

The exhibition of photographs, documents and newspaper cuttings shows how a high proportion of local families were still awaiting news of loved ones fighting, lost or captive in the Far East as the rest of the world celebrated the end of World War Two on VE Day, four months before.

Japan was still fighting on in the Pacific, and even after it surrendered on August 15, 1945, the anxiety continued for many who still had no news.

Wisbech and Fenland Museum curator Robert Bell and chairman of the Museum Friends Paul McGregor, author of ‘A Wickedly Inept Political Sacrifice’ about the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, have collaborated on curating the display on show on Friday and Saturday August 15 and 16 from 11am to 3pm.

Robert said: “While people celebrated VE Day with gusto, at the time there would have been local people who would have been anxiously thinking of their loved ones still fighting in the Far East or held as POWs by the Japanese.

“VJ Day was a significant moment for them when they could truly celebrate the thought of the safe return of husbands, fathers and brothers.”

Paul added: “Thousands of young men and women went from Fenland to fight the Japanese in 1941 in what came to be called the Forgotten Army. Around a third did not come back.

“We remember these fighting and nursing men and women as an example of determination, courage and sheer Fenland grit.”