Veteran, 99, says there are ‘not many of us left' ahead of VJ Day anniversary
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The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Charles & Camilla weep at VJ Day ceremony as veteran goes off script with royal tribute before telling of horrors he saw
KING Charles and Queen Camilla were reduced to tears yesterday by a 105-year-old war veteran. Yavar Abbas, who served as an officer in the Far East and witnessed the horrors of the atom bomb at Hiroshima, was due to read from his war diary at a service to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. 9 King Charles and Queen Camilla are reduced to tears by a 105-year-old war veteran's speech Credit: Paul Edwards 9 Red Arrows soar overhead during the VJ Day service Credit: Getty 9 King Charles and Yavar Abbas, who served as an officer in the Far East Credit: Reuters But live on national TV, Yavar switched from his talk about his experiences in the four-year battle against Japan. Instead, he paid a moving tribute to the King, hailing his bravery in the face of cancer. Yavar told 1,500 guests gathered for the Royal British Legion service of remembrance: 'I make no apology for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King who is here with his beloved Queen, in spite of the fact that he's under treatment for cancer, an alien that I share with him. 'If it provides any comfort, of which I've been rid for the past 25 years and counting. READ MORE ON VJ DAY LEST WE FORGET Charles and Camilla arrive at ceremony to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day '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'. Incredible stories of the last heroes of The Forgotten Army as Britain falls silent to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day The entry goes on: 'I could have been dead twice before, but I'm still living. I would be surprised if I get a life for a third time. May God spare me.' Yavar lived to tell his tale to the world on VJ Day and when he returned to his place among the veterans in the royal box, King Charles saluted him. I make no apology for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King who is here with his beloved Queen, in spite of the fact that he's under treatment for cancer, an alien that I share with him Yavar Abbas Moments earlier, Camilla had to comfort 100-year-old John Harlow, who was visibly moved when Endeavour actor Anton Lesser told his story. 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 Sir Keir Starmer, the King and Queen attend the remembrance event Credit: PA 9 Heroic Brits in the Far East in 1941 9 London's Piccadilly Circus in 1945 after the end of the war Credit: Getty 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. War doesn't grant you the luxury of goodbyes John Harlow "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 Camilla shares a smile with one of the guests at the service Credit: Reuters 9 Robert Lindsay read words Britain's last two Chindits had written about their time with the famous Long Range unit fighting behind the enemy lines Credit: Reuters 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'.
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How fanatical Japanese soldier kept fighting for 30 YEARS after VJ Day – by following haunting last order to the letter
One Japanese soldier carried on fighting for decades after the end of the war ONE MAN ARMY How fanatical Japanese soldier kept fighting for 30 YEARS after VJ Day – by following haunting last order to the letter FOR Hiroo Onoda, the Second World War did not end in 1945. The fanatical Japanese soldier did not believe his country had surrendered to to Allies - and carried on the fight for three decades. 9 Portrait of Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda taken prior to the end of World War Two Credit: Getty 9 Former Japanese imperial army soldier Hiroo Onoda walking from the jungle where he had hidden since World War II Credit: AFP Advertisement 9 He followed one chilling last order from his commanding officer to the letter Credit: Getty 9 Today marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day, when Emperor Hirohito announced his county's unconditional surrender. But Onoda stubbornly refused to accept this, and holed up on an island in the Philippines with three other comrades to wage a guerrilla campaign of their own. Advertisement He followed one chilling last order from his commanding officer to the letter - "do not die". Onoda was first deployed to Lubang Island in the Philippines on Boxing Day 1944, when he was just 22 years old. It was here the young intelligence officer would make his decades long stand. He explained in 2010: "Every Japanese soldier was prepared for death, but as an intelligence officer I was ordered to conduct guerrilla warfare and not to die. Advertisement "I became an officer and I received an order. If I could not carry it out, I would feel shame.' American and Filipino forces captured Lubang in 1945, which saw more Japanese occupiers either die or surrender. But Onoda led his squad mates into the island's mountainous jungle to carry on the struggle. He remained completely unaware that two atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of the war. Hiroshima survivor breaks silence 79yrs after nuke burned faces off 'alligator people' His Emperor's declaration of surrender would not persuade him to lay down his arms, and he kept on the fight for decades after. Advertisement Onada and his three fellow guerrillas were convinced that surrender documents dropped from the skies over the island were a fake. The band of soldiers survived by eating wild fruit and stolen food from the island's farms. During their decades of guerrilla campaigning, around 30 Filipino islanders were killed. Onada and the other troops would often shoot an "enemy soldier" they believe was disguised as a "farmer or policeman". But by the time their campaign came to an end, Onada was the last man standing. Advertisement 9 Hiroo Onoda saluting after handing over a military sword Credit: Getty 9 Onoda listens the order to surrender by former Japanese Imperial Army Major Yoshimi Taniguchi Credit: Getty 9 After his surrender, he moved to Brazil for a few years for a stint as a cattle rancher Credit: Getty One of the group decided to surrender in the 1950s, while the other two died during their struggle. Onada repeatedly rejected search parties and leaflets dropped that were begging him to lay down arms and surrender. Advertisement It wasn't until his former commanding officer, who was by then working as a bookseller, flew out in 1974 to formally rescind his orders that Onada stood down. By then, thirty years had passed since he was first deployed to the island. The 52-year-old handed in his weapons including his sword and Arisaka rifle upon his surrender. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos pardoned him for the islanders he had killed, and he returned to a hero's welcome in Japan. Finding it difficult to settle back in at home, he moved to Brazil for a few years for a stint as a cattle rancher. Advertisement After this, he went back to Japan to run a children's nature camp outside Tokyo. Onada would end up leading a long life, passing away in Tokyo in 2014 at the age of 91. When asked at a press conference upon his return to Japan in the 1970s what he had been doing, he simply said: "Carrying out my orders". His commanding officer told him in 1944: "It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens we'll come back for you." 9 Onoda offering his military sword to then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Credit: AFP Advertisement
Irish Independent
21 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Veteran, 99, says there are ‘not many of us left' ahead of VJ Day anniversary
A 99-year-old Second World War veteran has said ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) that there are 'not many of us left'. Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner on the Arctic convoys and was later posted to the Pacific and Australia. Mr Shelley, who lives in a retirement housing complex in Southend, Essex, said he will turn 100 next month.
