For the purposes of the Act, the war lasted from 3 September 1939 to 28 April 1952 ie. the date on which the Treaty of Peace with Japan came into force.

The fighting ceased in Europe on 7 May 1945.

On 15 August 1945 the Japanese Emperor broadcast to the Japanese troops and ordered them to surrender. The official Japanese surrender took place in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 and local surrenders in the Pacific area continued to take place from then until 29 October 1945 in northern Borneo.