V.J.Party, Braemar Avenue, Wimbledon
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| Partial / Incomplete Date | c.1945 |
|---|---|
| Area | Wimbledon Park |
| Picture Reference | Wim_1_18-2 |
| Original Format | Postcard |
| Notes / History | This photo shows the occupants of Braemar Avenue, close to the railway line running past Wimbledon Park, celebrating the end of the war in Japan. V.J. day took place on 15th August 1945 when the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allied Forces following the American nuclear attacks on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was this surrender, just over three months after the German surrender in Europe, that marked the end of the second world war. It was a day for celebration for many, but also a difficult time for the families of nearly 400,000 British men and women who lost their lives during the war. Over 60,000 of those killed were civilians, many of them as a result of German bombing raids on London and other major cities. Early in the war, on the night of 20th October 1940, the inhabitants of Braemar Avenue had suffered a devastating attack when a number of high explosive bombs were dropped on their street and the surrounding area. Houses numbered 53 to 67 and 54 to 68 were wrecked. The combined attacks in the area on that night left 9 dead and 12 seriously injured. 140 were rendered homeless and were taken to the Central Hall shelter station (Norman Plastow: Safe as Houses. Wimbledon at War 1939-1945) |
