Letters to Sunday Telegraph relating experiences of Victory in the Pacific Day, 1995 Wallet 2 of 2, Page 81 - 92

Victory in the Pacific. 
50th celebrations 
The Sunday telegraph 
P.O. Bax 970 
Strawberry Hills. 2013.

To whom It Does Concern. 

This letter is to let you know I was 
12 years old when war was declared over in 
August 1945. I do remember being with my 
parents in Hyde Park & they were so joyous 
& almost calm in their relief of no more war. 
We were looking at St. Mary's Cathedral 
at some time during the celebrations & from 
the back of the Cathedral stepped a bridal party 
looking radiant. I remember my mother 
saying in astonishment "How wonderful to 
be married on such a day." I wonder 
where that couple are now - hopefully still 
alive & still together. I have no photos 
or memorabilia. I suppose because of my age 
 

2. 
at the time & my parents were not photo 
addicts. But the memory is very strong 
& my parents always instilled in me - to 
never forget our courageous Aussie soldiers 
The photo you put in your paper 
showing the young man joyously romping 
down Martin Place is four (4) years 
older than my husband & they were at 
school together. His name is Frank 
McCalary & to-day he is a prominent lawyer. 
It was wonderful to see this photo & 
in fact our daughter gave it to my husband 
because she thought he would like it. 
I have put it away for posterity. 

Yours faithfully,

(Mrs.) Patricia Mc Gowen (Byron).

P.S. I may have spelt the name McCalary 
incorrectly - if could be McAlary. 
 

Editor 
Daily Telegraph Mirror   17-7-95 
Where were you
Dear Sir or Madam, 
after being a Prisoner 
of war at Changi for 3 years and 6 months 
I remember as if it was yesterday 
where I was when it was announced 
the war was over. 
Sometime between 9AM 
and 10AM Malaysian time I was walking
from the hospital - just outside Changi
gaol (where I was a member of the nursing 
staff) approximately half way between the 
corner and the main entrance gate in 
the centre of the gaol. It was like a 
wall of sound struck up from the gaol
where it had been received, come toward
me passed then went on to the hospital
50 to 100 yards away. "The War is over") 
There was no doubting 
it was true. We had a few false 
 

alarms after Hiroshima but this was 
no false alarm.
Although the war was over they 
kept us another 6 weeks before sending 
us home to fatten us up & clothed us 
to be presentable 
yours 
Walter c Bock. 
NX69722 
10th Australian General 
Hospital .
 

P.S.
I have photos if you 
would like 
Wally 
 

20:7:93 
History in the Pacific 50th Celebrations 
The Sunday Telegraph
P.O. Box 970. 
Strawberry Hills 2013. 

Dear Sir 
Where was I when I heard the war was over? 
Lueas in the WAAAF stationed in Melbourne & 
on duty the night before the official announcement 
of the end of the war when in the middle of 
deciphering a message was 'isn't it marvellous - isn't 
it marvellous - the war is over - the war is over'
then the message continued. Of course there was 
great excitement but we had to keep quiet about 
it until I was officially announced the next 
day by which time we were safely tucked 
away in bed sleeping off our excitement.
I am sorry I have no photos but I'm afraid 
taking photos in a cipher office in war time was 
most definitely not allowed. 
I did however march in the Victory Parade 
Melbourne held at a later date. 
Yes faithfully.
(signed)
(m/s. G.G.DAVIS)
 

On the 14th August 1945. I landed 
in Sydney after travelling by boat 
and plane From Bouganville where 
I had spent the last three months 
In A. G.H. Hospital Bouganville. 
On that day I was re united with 
my wife and two young sons and 
given permission to spend the night 
with my family at my Father-in-laws
home a Rev Pat Walker. what a 
wonderful time we all had together 
being reunited. 
The next day 15th August 1945 
I had to join my unit and report 
at the Sydney Showground and 
wait for my discharge. But the 
journey to the Showground was 
cut short as word came to us
the war was ended. There was 
much rejoicing, crowds everywhere 
throwing hats, singing etc. 
 

I was not at Martin Place Sydney 
but we were all celebrating 
it was such a great relief after 
four years of war and the 
excitment for us all to be going 
home our home a farm at 
Grenfell.
 
written by 
Archibald Graham 
 

17-7-95    CHARLES COLSTON

PHONE no
Dear Sir 
I dont know if your intrested I 
Come from Scotland I was celebrating VJ day 
in the Streets of Edinburgh Singing & dancing in 
the Streets on the 15th of August 1945. The next 
morning I was in the Army Barracks Having 
been called up on the 16th August 1945, it was 
in the local Paper that three of us was the 
First Peace time Soldiers in Scotland.
 

C. Colston
 

 
Dear Sir    17 July 1995
you asked did anyone remember
the day the war ended. 
I will never forget that day. I was young 
and bit silly. I had sold a motor car an 
early model shev tourer through an add 
in the paper, the buyer asked me to 
sign the rego Paper and he would have it 
transferred. It so happened some months later 
he was pulled up for a traffic offence and 
produced my rego ticket he had never transferred 
it so I got a summons to appear at Paramatta
court. I began to think I might have to 
go to jail for the offence as some years 
before my brother had gone to jail for 
having a noisy muffler on an old car he 
owned, went he seen people we know
 

from our street that hadn't been seen 
around lately. 
By the time I got to court I was a 
nervous wreck, as I sat in Court waiting 
my turn I kept thinking how bad it 
would be if he sent me to jail if you 
don't pay the fine, for money was scarse 
in those days. 
All of a sudden the magestrate left 
the bench, when he returned he said word 
has just come through that the war has 
ended and he was closing the court and 
all summons would be forgiven. I walked 
into the sunshine outside the eaust and 
felt as though I had won the lottery. I came back 
home to Kogarah in record time to tell the family the 
war has ended I was supprised to find nobody 
in the street knew, although most people
had wireless but never had them on During 
the day. I have sold many cars 
 

since then but never forgot the one that 
took me to court so long ago. 
Thanks for giving me the chance to tell 
the story as don't think I have ever 
told anyone before. 
yours Sincerely 
Jack Parkes 
Code 
Phone 
 

PHONE 
EX. A/B LEN (BOONG)HEMUS 
THIS IS HOW I SAW THE END 
OF THE WAR IN THE ISLANDS.
IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT 
WE WERE ISSUED AN EXTRA 
BOTTLE OF BEER TO CELEBRATE. WE 
WERE IN AT ONE OF THE ISLANDS 
WHEN IT WAS OVER. OUR SHIP WAS 
ALSO INVOLVED IN THE LANDING 
OF THE PHILIPINES. WE ALSO Took 
PART IN MOST OF THE OTHER 
INVASIONS OF THE ISLANDS AND 
ALSO BORENO 
THERE IS NO NEED TO SEND THIS 
BACK AS IT IS A COPY