VJ Day 75

VJ DAY 75 - NEVER FORGOTTEN

14 - 16 AUGUST 2020

Marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, this series of talks and events over 14 - 16 August 2020 explores the contribution of British Commonwealth forces during the Far East campaign of the Second World War.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, the National Army Museum, the Royal Air Force Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are joining forces to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day with a free programme of online talks and events.

From 1941 to 1945, British Commonwealth forces and their allies fought a bitter campaign against the Japanese in Asia.

The fighting took place over challenging terrain, from the jungles of Burma to the remote islands of the Pacific, and always against a tenacious enemy.

Discover the campaign’s vast geographical spread, the experiences of individual servicemen and women – both as combatants and captives – and the impact and legacy of the campaign on the Armed Forces and the wider world.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY'S ONLINE PROGRAM OF EVENTS
#VJDay75 #NeverForgotten

Friday 14 August 2020

Friday 10AM

A focus on the vast geography of the Pacific War and an Introduction to the Royal Navy and VJ Day

• Video - VJDay75: Mapping the Far East Campaign, illustrating the role of the Royal Navy and the geographical scale of the war
• Video - The Royal Navy in the Far East: An Introduction

Friday 11AM

 Geography for the Royal Navy and the Commonwealth support

• Curator Video – India’s important role as a support and communications base
• Curator Video – Sydney’s important role in aircraft, ship repair and supplies
• Video - The Machines that made the Royal Navy’s Victory: Showcasing aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm collection involved in the Pacific campaigns

Friday 12PM

Rediscovering stories from the Pacific War

• Video – A memoire from William Gordon ‘Blondie’ Lambert DSM, a Telegraphist Air Gunner
• Curator Blog – The Machines that made the Royal Navy’s Victory: Exploring the role of the XE Craft Submarine

Friday 2PM

• Curator Blog - Forgotten Fleet: Story of the 3 Commando Brigade in Burma

Friday 4PM

• Video - The Fleet Train

Saturday 15 August 2020

Saturday 10AM

• Curator Blog – An overview of HMS Exeter and her fate
• Curator Blog – A Royal Navy Petty Officer’s experience as part of the liberation force and meeting his daughter, a PoW for the first time

Saturday 11AM

NATIONAL COMMEMORATION - BBC Rememberance Television Broadcast at 11am

Saturday 12PM

Stories about and from the Prisoners of War (PoW)

• Video – NAAFI Frank Clements’ experience on HMS Exeter and as a PoW
• Video – Nurse Cooke’s experience nursing the PoWs and her time in Australia
• Video – A flag dropped by Australian Pilot into Indonesian PoW Camp – a story of liberation

Saturday 2PM

A focus on what happened when the fighting stopped and live museums debate

All Museums

• WATCH LIVE - Joint Live Debate and Q&A between the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force Museum, National Army Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Never Forgotten: The War in the Far East and Modern Memory - this debate will look at the legacy of the campaign with historians from across the four organisations, chaired by Shrabani Basu. Hosted on Crowdcast sign up to be part of the War in the Far East & Modern Memory Debate as part of the Never Forgotten series.

Saturday 5PM

National Museum of the Royal Navy

• Curator Blog - What happens when the fighting ends?

Sunday 2PM

All Museums

• WATCH LIVE - Joint Live Discussion between the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force Museum, National Army Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission. From the River Kwai to Enola Gay – the cultural, artistic and commemorative legacy of the war in the Far East. A panel of experts will discuss and explore the cultural legacy. Hosted on Crowdcast, Sign up here to be part of the Popular Culture debate as part of the Never Forgotten series

Access to events, videos and blogs in the schedule from the other museums can be accessed by clicking the relevant link below.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERS VJ DAY CONTENT

VJ75 at the Royal Air Force Museum
VJ75 at the National Army Museum
VJ75 at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

DON'T FORGET TO DONATE

We have loved working alongside our partner museums to bring you this commemoration and now, more than ever, we need your continued support. Please donate today and your generous donation will be split between the three tri-service museums, enabling us to continue our vital work looking after our remarkable collections, and telling the stories of those who who fought for us. Click on the link to donate: https://thyg.uk/AUU39011