An artist and war veteran has teamed up with Isle of Man Post Office to commemorate the two crucial days that marked the end of the Second World War.
Artwork created by 92-year-old James Fenton is featured in a new miniature sheet that marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied victories in Europe and Japan in 1945.
The sheets have been produced in support of the Royal British Legion and will go on sale at the end of February.
VE Day commemorates the end of the war with Germany on May 8, 1945, and VJ Day, the day that Japan surrendered to the allies following almost six years of war, followed on August 16, 1945.
Mr Fenton’s artwork adorns the stamps that commemorate VJ day and document his time serving with the 178 Field Regiment Royal Artillery in India, Burma and Malaysia.
His collection of pencil sketches, oil paintings, water colours, ink cartoons, photographs and models are a fascinating record of his wartime service, which he used as the basis for his book ‘The Forgotten Army’.
EXAMPLES
Some of the finest examples of his work were selected to feature in the miniature sheet, including a portrait of a Gurkha soldier and the Burma Star.
A description of how the defeat of Japan in Burma led to victory on VJ Day has been provided by the island’s former Lieutenant Governor, Major General Sir Laurence New, patron of the Burma Star Association Isle of Man.
Dr Robert Lyman has supplied a tribute to the British commander Field Marshall Viscount Bill Slim, who in 2011 was voted joint winner of the accolade ‘Britain’s Great General’, largely for his role of leading the Allied forces to victory in Burma with his ‘Forgotten Army’.
VICTORY
Meanwhile, the image used for the VE Day stamp is a photograph showing a woman celebrating the announcement of victory.
They are accompanied by an in-depth narrative provided by retired Colonel Charles Wilson, who lives in Douglas, about the final days of the war, its aftermath and the celebrations in the Isle of Man.
Commenting on the miniature sheet, Mr Fenton said: ‘It’s tremendous that the Isle of Man Post Office is marking the 70th anniversary of VE and VJ Day and I am pleased to be a part of this significant commemoration.
‘The miniature sheet looks stunning with a nicely balanced design and use of colour. I am sure the stamps will be received as a fitting tribute to the occasion.’
Maxine Cannon, Isle of Man Post’s stamps and coins general manager, said: ‘We are pleased to mark this moment in history with a lasting tribute to the first days in Britain’s post war history following the fighting years.
‘Mr Fenton’s artwork captures a side of war rarely seen in a memorable way. We are very pleased to again support the Royal British Legion with this sheet.’