How VJ Day was to be celebrated by the town in 1945
Details of how Lynn families and residents would celebrate VJ Day were given in the Lynn News and Advertiser in early August, 1945.
Here is a snapshot of the planned arrangements:
- At 11am on VJ Day there will be a united service of thanksgiving on the Tuesday Market Place – if wet in the Corn Exchange – attended by the Mayor and members of the Corporation.
- The bells of St Margaret’s Church will ring a victory peal as soon after the official announcement as is practicable.
- Bunting provided by Lynn Chamber of Trade and Commerce will be put up in High Street and Norfolk Street; public buildings will fly the flags of the United Nations (as many as they have); householders are planning to put up illuminated signs with coloured bulbs.
- Lynn’s official victory bonfire will be lit on The Walks recreation ground at 9.30pm on VJ Day, but throughout the town children are busy collecting materials for their own street bonfires.
- Food shops will probably open for an hour or two, to enable housewives to complete necessary purchases.
- The two days following VJ Day will both be public holidays although there will be a reduced service at post offices.
- Generally speaking the rejoicings will follow the lines of VE Day, but this time it will be with the knowledge that this is Final Victory.
In early September 1945, the Lynn News and Advertiser in a front page article invited readers to give their views on two highly topical subjects:
- What to do with the “Welcome Home” funds?
- What form should local War Memorials take?
Dealing with the issue of funds, the editor, Dyker Thew, said: “The usual decision is some sort of social gathering, accompanied by a share-out yielding a cash gift to each returning Serviceman and woman from the village.
“There are obvious difficulties about consulting the Servicemen themselves, scattered as they are over the world’s surface, but in the average village it should not be impossible to put the matter to the men concerned by post, and consider their replies.”
He said that donors to the King’s Lynn Welcome Home Fund would shortly be given an opportunity of considering suggestions for using the fund.
One idea already put forward was to provide new accommodation for the British Legion.
Looking at the question of War Memorials, Mr Thew wrote: “Many towns and villages up and down the country, acting on the advice of the Royal Society of Arts and leading social workers, are considering setting up community centres and village halls as war memorials.
“It is felt that this is an appropriate way of commemorating the Fallen, and it provides an admirable means of catering for the mental and physical wellbeing of both returned Servicemen and those who played their part on the Home Front.
“Lynn Town Council has already approved in principle the building of a public hall. This, clearly, should be the focus of cultural and communal activities and recreations. The site chosen, no doubt, will be large enough to permit additions in later years.
“It is also worth considering whether the borough’s War Memorial might not suitably be incorporated in the public hall scheme, the funds subscribed by townspeople in gratitude for the sacrifices made by local men and women providing amenities additional to those the Corporation could run to.”
