I discovered the letter in 2011, on a scrappy bit of paper. It was written by my grandmother to my father, who was in his early 20s and away in the Navy at the time. It was a copy of a letter that she sent him, but she must have thought that it was such a momentous day that it was worth keeping a copy of it. Who would have thought that I would be sharing it further afield?!
I decided to type it up and to send copies to the various members of my family, which I did.
The amazing thing was that she and my grandfather were staying in a small village on the Island of Anglesey, but they came from Wembley Park, in London.
VJ beginning Day August 1945
August 16, 1945
‘The day we have all been praying for has arrived at last. I remember your letter in the post expressed a wish it would end soon. Very many thanks for – – Mr Jarvis and I little thought we should be away VJ day, but how thankful we all must be that it has come so soon to save lives. The news came here through the Post Office and the Lady Mrs Edwards went up and down the village with a bell, calling the people up. We could see flares going up over Holyhead and some searchlights of some ships waving to and fro in the sky. The village people gathered in the main street and lit a bonfire and sang songs and hymns, until about 3am in the morning. There is no public house here, so there has been no disorderliness. They say there used to be eight, but the owner of the village, Lady Reads, closed them up some years ago, as she was dead against drink, her husband having been a drunkard. We have had a very quiet time, but have visited various parts of the coast, also Holyhead, which is disappointing to Mr Jarvis.
Tomorrow, Friday, we purpose going to Bangor and taking a trip up and down the Menai Straits, which is very pretty, and we hope to go to Llanberis for Snowdon one day, and Bethys-y-Coed. As far as we know we shall return DV to St Denys August 25th. I am enjoying such a variety of wild flowers as I find on each walk. I have never seen so many in kind.’
