A snapshot of VJ day unearthed at Swindon library (From Swindon Advertiser)

A snapshot of VJ day unearthed at Swindon library

7:30pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

A NEVER-before seen picture of youngsters celebrating VJ Day has been unearthed in lost property at Swindon’s central library.

The photograph, believed to have been taken in August 1945, has no markings on the back identifying an owner or the place where it was taken.

Now library historians want to return it to the owner or find out more information about its origin, and have posted it on social networking sites Twitter and Flickr.

The picture shows youngsters in homemade fancy dress, ranging from a nurse and a soldier to a jockey and a monkey, with a large Union flag behind them and the letters VJ illuminated with lightbulbs.

Darryl Moody, manager of the the Local Studies collection at the Central Library in Regent Circus, said he hoped someone might know where and when the picture was taken.

“The photo has been in lost property since November 2011 and we thought it is time to try and find its owners,” he said. “It’s a great new photo but we don’t know where it was taken.

“It’s got to be nearly 70 years old but without any names or identifying markers on the back we cannot say if it was taken in Swindon or not.

“It looks like it may have been taken in a classroom at a school of a party for VJ Day, which was August 1945. There would have been lots of parties for the end of the war and this certainly looks like it was taken in England.

“We would like to get it back to the original photographer but would also like to hear from anyone who recognises anyone in it or the school.

“We would love to know more about it.”

Anyone with any information should contact the Local Studies collection team at Central Library on 01793 463238, email localstudies@swindon.gov.uk or visit the library in Regent Circus.