Firstly here's to the memory of Vic Wilson (died 27 July 1943) of Charlton and many others who lost their lives whilst prisoners of war in the Far East. Also remembering those who survived but who along with their familes paid a high price and whose post war lives were marked by their experiences.
I thought these family letters might be of interest which give an account of the VJ celebrations in 1945 in London.


I'd be interested to hear any other memories, family stories.
Comments
Charlie saw all this and lift up his shirt and showed us his scar, then said his appendix had been removed in the Jungle by Hurricane Lamp and bayonet. The scar was almost the complete width of his stomach, and jagged.
One tough old boy, one proper gent.
My Dad was also a Burma veteran, 14th and Forgotten, Saw the horror of Changi Jail, and the survivors of the death railroad.
Later in his life had some sleepless nights
Think weather may scupper some of it unfortunately
My uncle died in one of their prisoner camps.
What a horrible time to have been a young man.
God bless them all
Forgotten no more.
From Kentish Independent 16 July 1943. How relieved at the time these families must have been to get these postcards. They could never have imagined the terrible conditions these men were enduring.
Needless to say not all of these local boys made it home.
Stanley WEBB died aged 22 on 11th August 1943 - just a few weeks after this article was published and is buried in Kanchanaburi Thailand, as is Michael Desmond DUGGAN who died on1st September 1943.
Derreck George HARPER died 12th September 1944 and having no known grave is commemorated on Singapore Memorial