'VJ Day is stark reminder of the immense cost we face for securing peace'
Eighty years ago today, the world finally saw an end to the nightmare of the Second World War, with Japan's surrender bringing six long, brutal years of global conflict to a close.
Today, we mark eight decades on with a special ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum, joined by around 30 remarkable veterans who served in the Far East all those years ago.
Of the millions of brave men who served in the Second World War, only a precious few are still with us. That's what makes this 80th anniversary so poignant—and so vital. We owe it to our extraordinary veterans, and to ourselves, to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.
READ MORE: Prince William and Kate Middleton issue statement after King's address to nation
Like many of my generation, I grew up listening to first-hand accounts from those who served in the Second World War, including members of my own family.
The stories of their service and sacrifice have stayed with me long into adult life. But the next generation rarely gets the chance to hear these stories directly from those who lived them.
That's why today matters so much. We must use this moment to share these accounts and keep the memory of that remarkable generation alive.
VJ Day 80 isn't just about honouring those who fought and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It's also a stark reminder of the immense cost of securing peace.
VJ Day reminds us of the importance of never repeating the horrors of 1945: learning from the past, embracing democracy, and working with other nations. In our increasingly divided world, these lessons are more important than ever.
The veterans we celebrate today understood that freedom and democracy cannot be taken for granted. They stood up to tyranny with incredible courage.
Some survived unthinkable conditions in prisoner-of-war camps, many witnessing horrors that would stay with them forever—all so we could live in freedom.
When we observe our two-minute silence today and watch the Red Arrows soar overhead, let's remember that peace means more than just the end of conflict. It's about guaranteeing that everyone can enjoy justice, freedom, and hope.
The generation we honour today gave us these precious gifts through their service and sacrifice. So let's remember them, thank them, and carry their legacy forward—not just in words, but in the values we live by.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Putin's dark childhood from mother's eye gouged out to being chased by rats
Vladimir Putin has become one of the most powerful men in the world, but his childhood was marked by tragedy and violence in Leningrad, now known as St. Petersburg The world has been watching President Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin with baited breath - and whilst the US leader is determined to forge a reputation as a peacemaker, it is yet to be seen how much success can be found in his Alaska summit with the President of the Russian Federation, with no deal being reached. Putin might now hold a formidable reputation, but he undoubtedly has come a long way since the early years of his childhood, which were mired by poverty and violence in Leningrad - now called St. Petersburg. Some experts have gone so far as to claim the Russian President's unrelenting attitude to his invasion of Ukraine can be traced back to these early experiences. The Mirror looks back at his childhood as Putin warns of nuclear war after unleashing another night of hell on Ukraine. Putin was born on 7 October 1952, seven years after the Second World War ended, in St. Petersburg, then known as Leningrad. His parents, Vladimir and Maria, had previously had two sons before he was born, both of whom had died. Putin is reported to be notoriously reticent about mentioning his deceased siblings, and only the name of one is known: Viktor. The other sibling is said to have died whilst an infant, but Viktor's death during the 872-day German siege on Leningrad is reported to have occurred in "terrible circumstances" - per Psychology Today. Aged just one year old, Maria, who was "near death" due to starvation caused by the siege, put Viktor into a children's home, hoping that he would be protected there. Heartbreakingly, he was no safer in the home in reality, and he died from diphtheria and was buried in an unmarked mass grave - one that Putin is said to visit during official commemorations of the long siege. By the time Putin was even born, his life was marked by tragedy, and not just that of the death of his elder brothers. Before his parents even married, a terrifying attack from Vladimir Senior against Maria is claimed to have been the start of their relationship, due to the "disgrace" he brought upon her with his violence. An explosive book, The Tsar in Person: How Vladimir Putin Fooled Us All, about the Russian President's life, claimed that in a "fit of rage" his father gouged out his mother's eye with a pitchfork. The book alleges that Putin's father went with male friends to Maria's home - who was known as Marusya - when she was there by herself in 1928, according to someone who lived in the village in the Tver region. The young woman refused to let them in, causing Vladimir Senior to become enraged. "They took the pitchfork that was standing by the fence and started breaking down the gate. She got scared, ran out of the house, and raced up to the fence. "And Volodka [Vladimir senior, Putin's father] at that moment broke through the gate with the pitchfork and hit Marusya right in the face. "In short, he accidentally gouged out her eye. He took her to the hospital right away. There, Marusya's eye was removed." This was seen as a "disgrace" so Maria's mother "threatened Volodka: if you don't marry, I'll put you on trial. So they got married. Marusya was very embarrassed about her glass eye later, never looked you in the face when talking, and tilted her head to the side." The villager added that Putin's father was notorious for abusing and terrorising local girls, "He liked to lift up girls' skirts and tie them in a knot over their heads," so that he and other local men could see their underwear. Putin totally denies that this interpretation of his parents' characters, but he has admitted that he had a tough childhood in some respects. In his memoir, Putin described the vermin-ridded neighbourhood he grew up in, and wrote about a time he had an encounter with a rat. "It had nowhere to run,' Putin said. "Suddenly it lashed around and threw itself at me… Luckily, I was a little faster and I managed to slam the door shut in its nose.' Some have argued that experiences like this one, along with the fact that he was scrawny, small and often bullied and attacked in his area as a child, have influenced his attitude that there can be no backing down from a fight. His close pal from his schooldays is reported to have said about him, "He could get into a fight with anyone… He had no fear… If some hulking guy offended him, he would jump straight at him – scratch him, bite him, pull out clumps of his hair." At home his parents are said to have doted on him wildly, but outside of the house, this certainly was not the case, "As he himself admits, it was then, in neighbourhood brawls, that he learned lessons that he has followed ever since – to take on any and all adversaries, never to retreat, and to fight to the finish," reports The Week.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
King Charles leads 80th VJ Day commemoration in UK
King Charles led VJ Day commemorations in the UK as a national service of remembrance and two-minute silence marked the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the second world war and the end of the six-year-long conflict. He was joined by the queen, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and veterans who served in the far east theatres of war as wreaths were laid at the National Memorial Arboretum service in Staffordshire. Powerful testimonies read aloud reminded of the terrible cost of war, while a flypast featured the Red Arrows and historic second world war aircraft, including a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber. Guests of honour included 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105. A Royal Navy veteran, Alfred Conway, from Lincolnshire, watched as his great granddaughter laid a wreath on the Burma railway memorial at the arboretum. George Durrant, who served in the intelligence corps, appeared on stage to urge people not to forget the sacrifices made by his comrades. In Japan, Emperor Naruhito spoke of his 'deep remorse' on the anniversary and said he felt 'a deep and renewed sense of sorrow' in a sombre speech in an indoor arena in the centre of the Japanese capital. A visit by two cabinet ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo angered countries that suffered Japanese military atrocities, particularly China and South Korea, AFP reported. The shrine, which the country's Asian neighbours view as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression, honours 2.5 million mostly Japanese soldiers who perished since the late 19th century but also enshrines convicted war criminals. Japan's prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, a political moderate, sent a customary offering to Yasukuni, according to Kyodo news. No Japanese prime minister has visited the shrine since 2013, when a trip by then-premier Shinzo Abe sparked fury in Beijing and Seoul. China's foreign ministry on Friday summoned the chief minister of Japan's embassy in China, Yokochi Akira, to lodge solemn representations over Japanese politicians visiting the war shrine, according to a ministry statement, Reuters reported. In an audio message before the national service of remembrance to the nation, realms and Commonwealth, Charles spoke of allied prisoners of war 'who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance' and the 'mental and physical scars' the war left on those who survived. He vowed the service and sacrifice of VJ Day heroes 'shall never be forgotten'. In what is believed to be the most direct reference by a British monarch to the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after their atomic bombings, he said: 'We should also pause to acknowledge that in the war's final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.' More than 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan, and nearly 30,000 died according to the Royal British Legion, while more than 12,000 Britons were among the 190,000 Commonwealth troops held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Of the Allied forces, the US suffered the greatest losses, with more than 100,000 killed in action. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than 200,000 people were killed by the US bombs and in the months after succumbing to radiation sickness, the effects of burns and other serious injuries. Hundreds of buildings across the UK were due to be lit up on Friday evening to mark VJ Day 80, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower 42, the Shard, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, the Cenotaph and the White Cliffs of Dover.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
UK's first Windrush Commissioner welcomed to Wales
Reverend Clive Foster MBE, appointed by the UK Government to represent the Windrush Generation and their descendants, was welcomed by Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jane Mudd during a visit to Cardiff. He is tasked with advocating for those who arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries in 1948, who helped rebuild Britain after the Second World War. Ms Mudd said: "It was a real privilege to meet the UK's first Windrush Commissioner and welcome him to Wales. "Only last month, we marked 77 years since HMT Empire Windrush arrived on our shores. "It is important that we continue to remember those men and women who contributed so much to our communities. "Reverend Foster's appointment is a powerful step forward, showing that their voices are now being heard and that action is being taken to ensure they receive the recognition they truly deserve." The meeting was attended by members of Newport's Windrush community and representatives from Age Alive, a volunteer group supporting social inclusion for Black and ethnic heritage residents over 50 in Gwent.
