How Weymouth celebrated VJ Day

The commemorations are even more significant this year as it's the 75th anniversary of the moment Japan surrendered to mark the end of the conflict.

A live streamed commemorative ceremony will be held at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth and streamed live on the Facebook pages of Weymouth Town Council and Nothe Fort from 10.50am on Saturday.

The Dorset Daily Echo and Weymouth Dispatch reported the news of VJ Day on August 15, 1945 with the headline Atomic Bomb Knocks Japs Out.

"For the first time for almost exactly six years the world is at peace, and the guns at last have died away in silence. It is Victory Over Japan Day," it reported.

The paper, which would have cost a penny to buy that day, also reports that the streets of Weymouth 'sprang to life' after PM Mr Attlee's midnight broadcast announcing the Japanese surrender.

A report says: "A navy bell on the pier jangled discordantly, lights sprang out from many windows. Some jubilant girls marched to the Esplanade shouting "Whoopee, whoopee.

"A motor car horn blared out the victory sign - it was taken up on the sea. A ship's siren went Whoop-whoop-whoop.

"In the harbour the claxon of an M.T.B carried on the challenge.

"A dog, startled, barked to the same theme. In the sky searchlights raced, became static and then flashed...

"The streets began to fill with people, most of them making their way to the Esplanade.

"A man in his shirt sleeves, shouldering a huge Union Jack and escorted by two girls, quickly gathered a marching, singing throng It's a Long Way to Tipperary."

Weymouth had a 'touch of delirium', another Echo reporter wrote.

"Holiday folk turned out of bed en masse, and, throwing light wraps over sleeping suits joined the crowds which swept along the mile-long Esplanade from Brunswick Terrace to the harbour, where ships had turned on their searchlights and were turning out all their pyrotecnics. Flares lit up the heavens and bonfires made pin-points of light all along the front.

"The crowds were dancing to accordions and knots of revellers were singing 'Roll Out the Barrel' at the Jubilee Clock and 'There'll Always Be an England' at the King's Statue. Mothers were pushing along babies in prams at 1.30am."

Dorchester was the first town in Dorset to give an official welcome home to the men of the County Regiment. Representatives of various battalions of the regiment took part in a parade which, with the sudden collapse of Japan, became a Victory Parade

We've also included a picture here of George Silverthorne, of Bristol, on Weymouth seafront as a youngster on VJ Day. Aged 8, he's pictured next to his brother John, who was four at the time.

George, 83, remembers: "We were down camping in Preston at a campsite called Guppy's, which was just a field. My father had a little Austin Ten. We broke down three times getting to Weymouth from Bristol.

"During the holiday my sister slept on the back seat of the car and I slept on the front seat. The washing facilities were pretty basic.

"We would mostly get our meals out in restaurants because the cooking facilities we had were very primitive.

"I don't remember much about VJ Day, except there were fireworks and we had a bonfire at the campsite to celebrate. We thought it was a marvellous day and that we were lucky to be there."

For years after the family had a caravan at Preston and continued to holiday in the area.

George still comes on holiday to Weymouth to this day and rents houses where he enjoys staying with his daughters and their children.

He's pictured here sporting a crown, with his large family group. enjoying Weymouth's glorious summer weather.