VJ Day

75 years ago today the world saw the final finish to a war which had seen great atrocities, and had only ended with a necessary but terrible cost. World War II had finally finished.

Wing had celebrated VE Day in May, but it was a muted celebration because there were still those fighting in the East.

When the Prime Minister announced the end of the war at midnight, he also announced a two day public holiday. The end had not been planned for, it came quicker than anyone expected. However, it didn’t stop the bells of the Church being rung throughout the day on the Wednesday. The Thanksgiving Service was held at midday and 3pm, by the 7pm service the Church was full. Sunday was Thanksgiving Day, with three celebrations of Holy Communion at the Church.

Thanksgiving Day saw the parish rally around to organise a public tea. This was held at the Hall, the Wesleyan school room, the middle of Church Street and Littleworth. The men organised sports and games. The finale was a dance organised at the Hall in the evening.

Wing lost several members of the community to the war in the East, all of them are commemorated on the war memorial.

John Horn died after the Japanese attacked Singapore 1942.

Alfred Blew died in 1942 after being on the death railway at Burma.

William Merry, died in Singapore after the invasion in 1942.

Stanley Goodway, died in the Indian Ocean, 1944, the ship he was on sunk by a Japanese submarine.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

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