Victory In The Pacific 15 August  1945

Almost a week after the hydrogen bomb had decimated parts of Nagasaki, the Asia Pacific region could finally hear the sounds of joy, when the allies announced Japan had ceded. While small pockets of resistance still occurred, the tally on the cost to human life was staggering. For so many being held in captivity, or fighting in islands in the pacific, clinging onto life each day, the dream of returning home became a reality. Celebrations exploded onto the streets in cities and towns across the allied nations. Victory in the Pacific.

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For every capital city and its surrounds across Australia, celebrations began. For South Australians, like its sister cities and townships; dancing, singing and rejoicing was real. The last stronghold of fear that engulfed the world had finally come to a close. After so many years, much of the world rang silent, no more bombs, no more gunfire; no more world at war.

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As the years pass, and the last of the Veterans and civilians who experienced the horror,  come together, each with their own stories, the message they convey still rings loud and clear. The cost of war is massive; life is precious.

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For Australia, World War 2 had seen almost 1 million people serve in the military, of that over 27 thousand perished while in service, and over 23 thousand were wounded. From the early days of this prolonged world war, the death toll was high. Figures are estimations only, but they are staggering.

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The estimated battle deaths amounted to 15 million. The battle wounded  totalled 25 million and

civilian deaths are estimated at 45 million. Up to 85 million people worldwide lost their lives.

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Let us hope that those that govern us, and those that follow, remember the toll, and remember the cost. That they may prevent another world at war. They must remember the faces. 

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Lest we forget.

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To read more about Victory at War please see the links blow.

All images remain the ownership of the National Archives of Australia, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Australian War Memorial.

 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2652532?#

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https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/vp_day