Two minute silence at Cenotaph as Northern Ireland marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day
A two minute silence was held at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall on Friday.
The Japanese surrendered on this day in 1945 brought an end to the Second World War, three months after Germany had surrendered in Europe.
An estimated 71,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries died fighting Japan.
The bravery of a submariner from west Belfast who was awarded the Victoria Cross was marked at the special event in the city to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
Leading Seaman James Magennis was awarded the prestigious military honour for valour for his actions on July 31, 1945, when he exited his midget submarine in Singapore harbour to attach mines to the hull of a Japanese cruiser vessel, the Takao.
A memorial to him stands in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. It was the scene of a poignant wreath-laying ceremony on Friday to mark 80 years since Victory over Japan Day.
Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly placed the wreath at the foot of the memorial, before the Last Post was played by bugler Louise Bell from the First Old Boys' Silver Band.
Those in attendance bowed their heads for a two-minute silence.
The wreath-laying came after a reflective event inside City Hall that included historical discussions about the conflict in the Far East and music from the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra.
One of those gathered at the memorial on Friday was Norman Leslie, 84, from Bangor, Co Down.
Mr Leslie, who served as a submariner in the Royal Navy during the Cold War, said he felt it was important to honour the memory of James Magennis.
He said the event acted as a 'timely reminder' to younger generations.
'To me it was just to let all the young ones know that there was stuff happening that probably their father or grandfather did during the war, and to let them know what was happening, because some maybe just don't know anything whatsoever about what happened,' he said.
Ms Kelly said it was a special occasion.
'It is important to keep on doing these things because it's something we should never forget, and especially the younger generation today, hopefully they will never go through what people in those days went through,' she said.
'But it's important to have a service of reflection, a service of remembrance.
'And to me, it's something that if you have people who are going to fight in a war, who are going to sacrifice and lose their life, and we don't know where some of those bodies went, there's no graves for quite a few people, to remember that and reflect on that, especially for the younger generation today, is very, very important.'
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For decades, veterans family members of those who died have been campaigning for the VJ heroes to be given the same recognition as those who fought the Nazis in Europe. The hour-long service then got underway, which saw the jets of the Red Arrows leave a trail of red, white and blue in the skies above and was hosted by actress Celia Imrie. The 1,500 guests stood to observe the national two-minute's silence, many removing their hats and bowing their heads as they reflected on those who fought and died during the War in the Far East and Pacific. The only sound that could be heard was that of pigeons ruffling in the trees above. This included the heartbreaking testimony of prisoners of war, who recalled the horrors they endured at the hands of the Japanese Ghani concluded his testimony by saying: 'Never walk with anger, let calmness lead the way.' 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The King asked: 'And you didn't come across my Great uncle lord mountbatten? I've heard a lot of stories about him.' Meanwhile, the Queen was discussing the service with Edwin Habberley and said, 'I found it so incredibly moving.' The monarch was then reunited with Mr Abbas, who served as a combat camerman, and they stood clasping hands for 40 seconds before taking their seats. The King told him: 'I can just remember by grandfather, but only just. I was told all the stories about Burma by my great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten. I learned a great deal from him.' Speaking afterwards, Mr Abbas said: 'Today, I make no apology for going off the script. If it upset their schedule, no I don't think it affected their schedule, I think it improved their schedule.' Asked why it was important for him to say what he did, he said: 'I admire the man, I admire the King, he has similar views about things that I have, about the environment for example. He's human.' I admire him for the man that he is. 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7 hours ago
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Charles & Camilla weep at VJ Day ceremony as veteran goes off script with royal tribute before telling of horrors he saw
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John, from Exeter, Devon, served for two years as a submariner on HMS Rorqual in the Pacific fleet in World War Two, and still mourns the loss of his friend. 9 9 9 Anton told the service the sub's sister ship, HMS Porpoise, was attacked by a Japanese bomber. John recalled: 'None of the crew survived. War doesn't grant you the luxury of goodbyes. 'Every year on VJ Day, I think of a close friend of mine that was on board, Mark Weber. "I wish today for us to remember all the crew of HMS Porpoise, Mark and all lost at sea for in remembering they live on.' The King, Queen, PM and military top brass began the service by laying wreaths at a drumhead set up on the steps of the Arboretum's spectacular Armed Forces Memorial. At noon, the veterans and guests stood in 80-degree heat for the national two-minute silence to remember the almost 30,000 British forces killed in the Far East along with 13,000 who suffered unimaginable brutality as prisoners of war. 9 9 During the silence, eight Red Arrows screamed overhead. Celia Imrie, who fell in love with India while filming The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, paid tribute to the veterans and all who served: 'We wish to share our gratitude with all who served and were imprisoned. 'Your spirit and determination in the face of unspeakable horrors will not be forgotten.' Bill Jones, 99, of Staines, Surrey, was a Fleet Air Arm Fitter on the island of Ponam. Before the service he said 'I saw the prisoners, thin as rakes, bruises everywhere.' Britain's last two Chindits, Sid Machin, 101, of Christchurch, Dorset, and Charlie Richards, 104, from Kettering, Northants, sat side-by-side. Robert Lindsay read words they had written about their time with the famous Long Range unit fighting behind the enemy lines. 'Never be forgotten' The actor read: 'As we neared the end of our time in Burma, death became an everyday occurrence, with bodies to bury almost every evening, some from enemy action, most from the appalling conditions caused by the monsoon. 'After weeks of this, it made you wonder if it would be your shoulder that death would be tapping on next. When we came back, it felt like people forgot what we did in Burma. 'We still feel proud sitting here today representing all those brave boys we fought alongside in Burma, thanks to You, Sid and Charlie, the Chindits will never be forgotten.' Later the King and Queen then spent around an hour at the reception speaking to veterans. Charles told Charlie Richards, 104, one of the last surviving Chindits, a unit that fought deep behind enemy lines: 'The things you did, I could never get over. We owe you all such a huge debt of gratitude.' TOM'S LAST VIDEO By Mike Ridley ONE of the stars of the commemoration died the day before VJ Day. Former Royal Artillery bombardier Tom Jones, 103, spoke in a video played at the service about fighting in Burma, and how a Gurkha saved his life from the Japanese. But the audience was shocked when the host, actress Celia Imrie, said Tom, of Salford in Gtr Manchester, had died on Thursday afternoon after a short illness. In May, Tom told today's schoolchildren to 'choose peace' because war was 'truly terrible'. 9
