A powerful collection of wartime letters, diaries, and photographs – never before shared with the public – has been unveiled online today to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Watson Collection, released as part of the Their Finest Hour project at the University of Oxford, tells the story of Frank Watson, an RAF serviceman captured by Japanese forces in 1942, and his wife May, who waited more than four years for his return. Frank’s journey took him from the fall of Singapore to a brutal POW camp in Japan, where he endured forced labour, beatings, and near-starvation. Back in Orpington, May wrote to Frank almost daily, not knowing if he was alive. While Britain celebrated VE Day, Frank remained in captivity. His long-awaited return came months later, to a country eager to move on.

The story is told through more than 2,600 scanned items, including diary entries, official documents, handwritten memoirs, photographs, mementos from captivity, and May’s letters – many never sent or intended for others to read.

Dr Matthew Kidd, who prepared the materials for publication, said: ‘The Watson Collection offers an unusually complete picture of wartime life, both overseas and at home. It is incredibly rich, honest, moving, and full of material that will be of interest to anyone interested in the human side of the war.’

The digitisation was funded by Andrew Watson, the couple’s son, who generously made the materials publicly accessible through the Their Finest Hour Online Archive. The collection is freely available to explore online from today.