VJ Day, 15 August 1945

Today is the 80th anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day, 15 August 1945, which marked the conclusion of the Second World War. VJ Day saw jubilant celebrations in Britain and around the world as six long years of war finally ended.

Betty Clay, a physiotherapist in London, who featured in a previous post on VE Day, noted in her diary on 15 August: 'I was roused at 3am by ringing of Church bells. I wondered sleepily what on earth the bellringers had chosen such an early hour to practice for, but the obvious solution never occurred to me – that Japan had finally capitulated, & they were celebrating victory. Today & tomorrow are to be observed as VJ Day'. At the same time in India, her sister Audrey Baylis wrote in her diary: 'Fine morning & wet afternoon. Got down early & put on the news - & heard that it is PEACE!!! It is marvellous'.

A file in the India Office Records shows the concern of government officials to acknowledge the contribution of India in the struggle against Japan and the importance of both the Indian Armed Forces and the civilian effort in achieving victory . It was decided that a message would be sent by the Secretary of State for India to the Viceroy, to be passed on to the Indian Armed Forces, the people of India and to the Indian Princes. The message was: 'At this moment when the Allied cause has achieved its final triumph in the defeat of Japan it is my privilege to convey to you the congratulations of His Majesty’s Government on the truly magnificent part which India has played. We in this country are deeply conscious of the vital contribution which the armed forces of India, the Princes, and the people as a whole, have made not only on the battlefields, but in the workshops and factories which have transformed India into a great arsenal and fighting base. The unsurpassed gallantry and endurance of the Indian forces throughout this long and bitter struggle are beyond all praise, and will stand recorded as a most glorious page in India’s history. Those who have made the supreme sacrifice in this greatest world struggle for the triumph of right over might are not here to rejoice with us today in this moment of victory, but their names are remembered with thankfulness and pride. India, with her Allies, has crushed the aggressors. Now we face the great task of restoring a stricken world and of building a universal structure of peace'.

Another India Office file lists the messages of celebration, relief and congratulation which were sent to the Viceroy from people across India. Talenah Omedkhan of Palanpur wrote: 'The World is at last really rejoicing today at the end of War and stopping for better future for all mankind', while the Maharaja of Dhrangadhra prayed that 'the forces of hatred and tyranny which have dominated the World for the past five years may be replaced forever by love and goodwill amongst all the people of the earth'. The Federation of Kathiawar Seeds and Oil Associations congratulated His Majesty’s Government on the victory and hoped that the 'successful termination of World War secured revival of democracy which will ensure free trade and industrialisation of India for the advancement of Indian people and their lasting benefit'.

John O’Brien, India Office Records

Further reading

Diary of Betty Clay, Jan 1945-Jan 1946, British Library shelfmark: Mss Eur F765/4/1.

Diary of Edith Audrey Baylis (nee Clay) (1910-1998), 1945, British Library shelfmark: Mss Eur F765/2/21.

India Office Information Department file, India's contribution to victory: statement made after defeat of Japan, 1945-1946, British Library shelfmark IOR/L/I/1/1162.

India Office Political Department file, Congratulatory messages on the victory over Japan, and in connection with the victory celebrations in London, 1945-1946, British Library shelfmark IOR/L/PJ/7/7259.

BBC guide to VJ Day.