Where was your family on Victory Day 1945?

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, RSL Victoria has released a limited-edition commemorative badge featuring the iconic image of three women cheering the end of the war on 15 August 1945.

Taken in Melbourne the identity of the women was not known until 1995 when William Drew identified his deceased wife Lois Anne Drew (nee Martin) as the woman wearing the distinctive VP Day sweater. He presented the sweater to the Australian War Memorial where it now resides in their collection.

It is estimated that 200,000 people lined the streets of Melbourne on 15 August 1945, spontaneously abandoning their workstations to celebrate in the streets.

Were your relatives on the streets of Melbourne with Lois Anne Martin and her friends on VP Day?

Or did they celebrate overseas, perhaps they were there when this iconic photo was taken in Times Square?

Perhaps they were in China, France, Kenya, England, Germany or Japan?

Or were they Australian servicemen like these being given free beer on VE Day in Borneo?

Wherever they, or you, were, RSL Victoria wants to hear the story as we approach Remembrance Day 2025. Send your families’ photos of either Victory in Europe Day or Victory in the Pacific Day back in 1945. Tell us the story of what they were doing when the war ended and what your family has done in the years since?

Did your parents meet the love of their lives that day and start the family which led to you? Did they decide to start a new life and become one of the millions of migrants heading down under?

A selection of these stories and photos will be included in an article on how the world celebrated Victory Day for Remembrance Day this year.

Join in the conversation and share your families’ memories of Victory Day with RSL Victoria.

Funds raised from the sale of the badges will go towards the vital charity work RSL Victoria does for veterans and their families across Victoria.

The badge is online from RSL Victoria here