The man from Kent who saved Japanese blossom from extinction
Ingram was born in 1880 and was said to have found his love for nature on the Minster Marshes.Upon visiting Japan in 1902, he discovered that cloning of more popular colours of cherry had led to a decline in the number of varieties.He gathered 50 endangered varieties and planted them in his garden in The Grange, Biddenden, for safekeeping.
Ingram became something of an authority on cherries and was invited to address the Japanese Cherry Society, when he was shown the picture of the Taihaku.His initial efforts to send cuttings from Winchelsea to Japan failed. Only on his last attempt, when he sent them buried in a potato by train, did the cuttings take.Now, more than 100 years on, Thanet Urban Forest has arranged two walks to tell the story of Ingram's important work and teach people about planting and blossom.Leading the walks is Peter Hasted, who said: "These were lost species in Japan, [Ingram] spent many years and lots of money trying to re-establish the cuttings in Japan."We come to the cherry blossoms, stop, and appreciate what they are."The walks will be held on 13 April.
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STV News
30 minutes ago
- STV News
King vows sacrifices made by VJ Day heroes 'shall never be forgotten'
The King will pledge that the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East 'shall never be forgotten', in a message to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The King's audio message to the nation, realms and Commonwealth echoes a broadcast made by his grandfather, King George VI, on August 15 1945, known as VJ Day. It stands for Victory over Japan Day and marks the surrender of Japanese forces, which ended the Second World War. In the six-minute message, the King will reflect on the horrors experienced by prisoners of war and the innocent civilians of occupied lands in the region, whose suffering 'reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life'. Charles will describe how the heroes of VJ Day 'gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected, with victory made possible by close collaboration between nations, 'across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides'. He will say this demonstrated that, 'in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear but the arms you link'. The message was recorded earlier this month in the Morning Room at Clarence House and will be released ahead of a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the government. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. The King and Queen will attend the service and then meet Second World War veterans during a reception. The Prince and Princess of Wales are not expected to attend any public events to mark the anniversary as they continue their summer break with their three children. However, other senior members of the Royal Family will participate. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral, before joining a second commemorative service dedicated to the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Call to 'illuminate' VJ Day as Glasgow landmarks light up
For Serena Gear, granddaughter of a Glasgow soldier who survived the horrors of this brutal war in the Far East, it will be a particularly poignant moment. Illuminate VJ80 is her campaign, and it will be part of the nationwide tribute for Victory over Japan Day on August 15. While VE (Victory in Europe) Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel – the 'Forgotten Army' - were still engaged in fighting in the Far East. VJ Day marks the surrender of Japan, which ended the Second World War on August 15, 1945. Around 100 locations across the UK, including Glasgow Science Centre and the Squinty Bridge, are lighting up in white, purple and red to represent peace, land and sacrifice. Serena's grandfather James McLean was a piper with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion. Piper James McLean (Image: Courtesy of Serena Gear) Born in Glasgow in 1915, he signed up for military service in 1934. In August 1939, he was deployed to Malaya and Singapore, where he faced untold horrors as a prisoner of war. James was one of two pipers who marched the famous regiment over the Johor–Singapore Causeway, before it was blown up by the retreating British forces in January 1942, to stall the Japanese advancement into Singapore. Piper James McLean, front right, with friends in the army (Image: Courtesy of Serena Gear) This act of extraordinary bravery is captured in a painting, which hangs in Stirling Castle Museum. The painting commemorates the historic march (Image: Courtesy of Serena Gear) James was captured two weeks later and forced to work on the Burma Railway, known as the Death Railway, for almost two years, where conditions were horrific. In June 1944, he was transported to the Japanese coal mines on one of the overcrowded, squalid ships known as 'hell ships' where prisoners were often subjected to beatings. His ship, along with a further nine in the convoy, was attacked by US Forces, and almost 1000 people died. When he finally arrived in the 'nightmare POW camp' at Fukuoka 17B on February 11, 1945, he was put to work in the Mitsui coal mines, enduring harsh winter conditions and brutal torture. James survived it all, and he finally returned home on January 4, 1946. James with his baby daughter (Image: Courtesy of Serena Gear) Serena believes her grandfather and his colleague, Piper Charles Stuart, showed 'extraordinary bravery' and she is campaigning for the two men to be recognised officially. 'Many who should have been honoured were overlooked in the chaos of war,' she explains. 'Even a posthumous 'mention in despatches' for both my grandfather and Piper Stuart would mean the world.' Serena has also launched #VJPipers, a global call for pipers to post a photo or video in tribute. 'People across Scotland can also take part, whether by playing a tune, sharing a photo, or simply standing in remembrance,' she says. A musical tribute from the British Army is now on YouTube, featuring Forbidden Colours by Ryuichi Sakamoto (from the movie Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence), performed by musicians from the Household Division and narrated by Australian broadcaster and journalist Colin Tyrus. 'The tribute is extraordinary,' says Serena. 'But this is about more than remembrance - it's about education. The Pacific War is barely spoken about or taught. Most people associate it only with Pearl Harbor, unaware that Malaya was attacked at the exact same time, and that Scottish regiments bore the brunt of the fighting. 'I am frustrated with the lack of service, attention and commemoration given to VJ Day, compared to VE Day and D-Day. Eighty years on, they are still the 'forgotten army'.' She adds: 'The campaign was brutal, and the suffering immense. I want children to learn about what these men endured, so that it never happens again. Especially now, with so much friction across the world, it's vital that we remember the cost of war.' People can also participate in #IlluminateVJ80 by simply lighting a candle and posting a photo online. Serena set up the Scotland FEPOW Trust to honour the memories of Scotland's Far East prisoners of war from World War II and to share their stories. 'I hope this trust will continue to be a legacy not just to my grandfather but to all Scottish sons, brothers and fathers who fought in the war and those who never came home,' she says. 'I am also working on trying to get a memorial in Scotland for those who fought in the Pacific, as no memorial exists.' On Friday, Serena says she will be proud to see so many landmarks lit up across the country. 'The support has been overwhelming,' she says. 'I truly hope this moment of remembrance brings long-overdue recognition to those who gave so much.'
Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Wales Online
Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender
Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 01: World War II. Pacific front. The American Marines in Sasebo (near Nagasaki) going past a Japanese poster about the army, September 1945. (Photo by Roger Viollet via Getty Images) (Image: (Photo by Roger Viollet via Getty Images)) A 100-year-old Second World War veteran who witnessed the official ceremony marking Japan's surrender has spoken of his memories 80 years on from the end of the conflict. Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. His memories of his time at sea include rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II's future husband. Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the crew cheered when news of Japan's surrender came from the captain. He said: "All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty. "Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days leave in Hobart. Article continues below "Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall." Mr Draper witnessed the signing of the Japanese instrument of surrender document firsthand when he went on board the USS Missouri to assist his friend, the ship's official photographer. The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day is being marked on Friday with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums. He completed his training at the Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Dundee, Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York. One of his duties on ship was rationing out the rum for everyone to have an 11am tot. Chiefs and petty officers were served theirs neat, while the rum would be watered down for the rest of the crew, he said. "I've drunk Navy rum since I've joined up, whenever I could," Mr Draper said. Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the 100-year-old said: "Well, that's the only thing I put it down to." Mr Draper served on HMS Duke of York when it carried out Arctic convoys to deliver supplies to Russia, and in 1945 when it sailed to Sydney, Australia, before joining the East Indies Fleet. He said: "We started going up to the islands, kicking the Japanese out of the islands as we went." Japan surrendered on August 15 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month. Mr Draper said: "We didn't hear much about it until it got to the captain." HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant. Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked. He said: "We used to have deck hockey on the quarter deck and it was murder playing deck hockey. "He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there's still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick. "He came to see me just to see how I was. They just put a stitch in and it was alright." The pair met again years after the war, when Mr Draper was in the Royal Navy Reserves and training sea cadets in Wirral and Cheshire for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He said Philip saw his medals and remembered he had been part of the crew which escorted his ship, but there was no mention of the hockey games. Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home. The father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust back on dry land. He said: "When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship's bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that. Article continues below "You get used to it. Especially if you're in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep. "One of the most comfortable sleeps I've had is in a hammock!"
