VJ day in Scotland marked by pipes at dawn and two-minute silence
A service of remembrance also took place at Cavell Gardens in Inverness, where the solemn silence was observed at noon.Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined World War Two veterans, aged between 96 and 105, for a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. In an address to the nation later, the King will say the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Asia-Pacific theatre will never be forgotten.
The event in Aberdeen was held at the Gordon Highlanders monument. The statue honours the last armoured regiment fighting at the end of the conflict.Dozens gathered for the event in the city's Castlegate, including representatives from the Burma Star Association and the Royal British Legion.Two American visitors, who were in the city on a cruise holiday, were also in attendance.David Lively, 78, from Arkansas, told BBC Scotland News: "My father fought in Europe and was put on orders to go to Japan before the war concluded. "I'm glad they are still remembering those men and women who died for us."We can't forget what happened. If you forget history, you re-do history."Fellow veteran, Ernie Palmer, 77, from Georgia, added: "This is so needed. We are forgetting too much and forgetting the price that was paid."As time goes by and veterans die off, it is getting forgotten and isn't being remembered enough, so this is very appropriate."The brutality of the enemy in those days was horrendous. It had to be stopped. It stopped at great cost. So many men from this area paid that cost."
Jim Smith, 72, from Aberdeen, was present in memory of his father, Victor, who served in the Gordon Highlanders.He told BBC Scotland News: "I wanted to be here to remember my father and his colleagues who suffered. "He was interned by the Japanese for three-and-a-half years."He spoke very little about what happened. He didn't reflect. The only thing I ever heard from him was, 'I was one of the lucky ones'. "He said that the poor devils who didn't come home, they are the ones everyone should think about. He was just thankful he came home."
Elsewhere, veterans from the Erskine Home in Bishopton, in Renfrewshire, were joined by family and supporters on a victory walk.The group crossed the Erskine Bridge in tribute to those who served at the end of the World War Two.Norman Seymour, 90, who served alongside the Gurkas in Malaya (now Malaysia), laid a wreath at the VJ Memorial Stone at the home.Originally from Sunderland but now living in Scotland, he was just ten years old when the war ended but remembers street parties.Speaking about the walk he said: "It was my way of honouring those who didn't come home."It was an emotional day but also uplifting to see so many people coming together."
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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
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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'I salute him for gracing this occasion, because by his presence here, he has gone a long way to make sure that his grandad's 14th Army is never given the soubriquet again of a Forgotten Army. ' Tears began to flow down Camilla's cheeks, while Charles, wearing a Field Marshal's uniform, looked visibly moved as they sat with veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Later, the Queen dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and looked lovingly at her husband. The crowd cheered for Yavar, one of 33 veterans, aged 96 to 105, who attended the VJ80 commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum near Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, to mark the day World War Two ended in 1945. Yavas, a former 2nd Lieutenant, went on to tell the audience of the horrors he witnessed in Burma as the Allied 14th Army fought a series of battles against Japanese invaders. Reading his diary entry written in February 1945, he recalled being ready to move out at first light with 'every chance of not coming back at all'. 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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
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran WW2 veteran remembers VJ Day 80 years on
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ITV News
4 hours ago
- ITV News
Two minute silence at Cenotaph as Northern Ireland marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day
The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day has been marked in Northern Ireland. 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.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
