Friday 15 August 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day – Victory over Japan Day – and the end of the Second World War in 1945.
On 8 May 1945, along with the rest of the country, Southampton celebrated VE Day – Victory in Europe Day – and, along with the rest of the country, would have to wait another three months until the six long years of war would finally be over on VJ Day 15 August 1945.
As you walk the streets of Southampton Old Town, it’s hard to miss the mix of architecture – the modern structures infilling in between the historic heritage buildings, many dating back to medieval times, and legacy of the city’s major target for the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) bombers.
This was due to Southampton being home to a vital military port and essential wartime industry – including the production of the iconic Spitfire fighter aeroplane – as well as being marked as a significant and important city during the bombing of towns in the Blitz, September 1940-May 1941.
My ‘80th Anniversary of VJ Day Walk – Southampton in WWII’ on Friday 15 August 2025 will explore Southampton’s wartime story – from her critical role as a military port, and the part played in the D-Day landings 6 June 1944, to the creation of the Spitfire ‘shadow factories’ and the building of corvettes and destroyers on the banks of the Itchen.
The walk will also feature what life was like for the people of Southampton with husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, sisters leaving for the services; the impact of the arrival of the Americans, and who in 1943 took over control of the city’s port, as the US Army 14th. Major Port; coping with rationing, the evacuation of children, and living through the air raids, with the walk including visits to medieval vaults turned air-raid shelter.
More than 3.5m servicemen and women left through Southampton for the various theatres of war between 1939 and 1945. And throughout the war, ships sailed into Southampton – carrying wounded allied soldiers and German prisoners of war.
Ships also returned allied prisoners of war after the end of the war, and my 90-minute walk will finish at Town Quay Park by the FEPOW (Far East Prisoners of War) plaque, commemorating the 28 ships arriving into Southampton, October-December 1945, and bringing 22,000 prisoners of war of the Japanese in the Far East.
The event will finish with an address given by Roger Townsend, Hon. Director fepow75.org.uk.
Walk details:
The walk will start at 11am on Friday 15 August 2025, at the West Gate, Western Esplanade, SO14 2AZ, and finish at 12.30pm in Town Quay Park.
Tickets are £10, and can be purchased online through Eventbrite.
And if you’d like more information, please do get in touch.
Caroline Wigley 