Eighty years ago this week, the Second World War ended with the surrender of Japanese forces. The Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, made a radio broadcast at just after midnight and the next 24 hours (15 August 1945) became VJ Day.
The Cornish Guardian reported that there were “spontaneous demonstrations of joy and relief” and “in some localities, even under a downpour of rain, people turned out into the streets and produced fireworks or bonfire material with which to mark the historic occasion.”
I have looked back through some old newspapers and it has been fascinating to read about the celebrations, the church services and the varied events that were organised.
In Bodmin, the full band of the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry marched from their depot and “rendered selections on Mount Folly” where “young folk joined hands and sang to the popular music with a joy and gaiety which was infectious, and intermittently fireworks fizzled and cracked.” It was slightly different in Wadebridge. Workmen had been building a huge bonfire in anticipation of the war’s end, but the work was “all undone, when the unfinished bonfire was set alight” in the middle of the night “by some thoughtless person.” The “terrific blaze” lit up the town and “ringers at Egloshayle Parish Church were soon called out and merry peals were heard.”
In Camborne, there was impromptu dancing in the streets and the Town Band later played in Commercial Square, which was followed by an open-air dance of several thousand people in the Recreation Ground. In Falmouth, the announcement was met with “ships in the harbour, including some American vessels, blowing hooters and sirens, and putting up searchlights and fairy lights.” I was surprised at the report that “hooligans” smashed up “16 shop fronts” and that someone threw a tin of spam through a shop window in High Street. More positively, there was later a Furry Dance on the Moor. Ships in Penzance and Newlyn harbour also sounded their sirens and over 3,000 children from the local Parish were entertained at four monster parties sponsored by the local Rotary Club.
Article published in the Cornish Guardian (20th August 2025) and the West Briton (21st August 2025).