Victory over Japan or VJ Day, 15 August 1945, marked the surrender of Imperial Japan and the end of the Second World War. The war in Europe had ended three months earlier, but a brutal campaign continued to be fought in East Asia. After the USA dropped devastating atomic bombs on the country, Japan accepted defeat. Throughout the Allied nations, millions of people took to the streets to celebrate victory.
This display marks the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and highlights the story of a local man who was a Japanese prisoner of war – Frank Pantridge. He almost died from the horrendous conditions, but would survive the war and go onto invent the portable defibrillator which has saved countless lives. The display includes archive footage of Pantridge discussing his wartime experiences and being made a Freeman of the Borough of Lisburn.
You can see the display in the Market House Galleries at the museum, and it complements our exhibition marking VE Day 80.
