King Charles says war heroes will 'never be forgotten' in VJ Day address
It is the anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allies following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, effectively ending the Second World War.
In an audio message to the nation and Commonwealth, Charles will reflect on the horrors experienced by prisoners of war and innocent civilians 'whose suffering reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life'.
The six-minute speech, recorded earlier this month references the historic audio broadcast made by Charles's grandfather King George VI.
He 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'.
Charles will say this demonstrated how '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 will be released at 7.30am on Friday ahead of a service of remembrance attended by the King and Queen, Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. More Trending
Charles was pictured looking serious with his hands clasped as he sat at his desk at his London residence Clarence House, with a microphone angled towards him, as he prepared to read his address.
Friday's televised service, broadcast live by the BBC, will pay tribute to all those who served in the Asia-Pacific theatre, including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans, former prisoners of war, and those who fought in pivotal battles including Kohima and Imphal in India.
The event, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, will see the King and his wife leave floral tributes, as will other senior figures.
A national two-minute silence will conclude with an aerial display by the Red Arrows and the service will draw to a close with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, before the King and Queen attend a reception with Second World War veterans.
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Powys County Times
4 hours ago
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Remembering VJ Day and the Powys hero who returned home
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North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
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Appeal for 100th birthday cards for Second World War veteran
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Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Appeal for 100th birthday cards for Second World War veteran
Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner and said earlier this year: 'There's not many of us left.' The sailor, of Southend in Essex, was on a ship in Hong Kong when news came through of Germany's surrender, and said in a previous interview that it 'couldn't have been better'. 'The war killed so many people it's unbelievable,' he said. 'All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans. 'But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It's either kill or be killed. 'When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn't welcome it much better.' Mr Shelley, who has no known surviving family, will turn 100 on September 23. John Hawes, chairman of the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association, is appealing for people to send birthday cards for Mr Shelley, which will be collated at the local branch and shown to him at a party on the day. The 76-year-old said Mr Shelley was the branch's 'last Arctic convoy veteran and also he was at D-Day'. Mr Shelley's carer Paul Bennett said Mr Shelley was on the HMS Milne on D-Day 'supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft'. Mr Hawes said the veteran had previously been the local branch's chairman, secretary and treasurer but 'as he got older he had to stop some of those jobs'. 'He's always been there, he's always got a smile, he always wants to chat,' he said. 'He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened. 'He's always been with us on the Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody's pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend.' He is hoping to collate at least 100 birthday cards for Mr Shelley. 'I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he'll be over the moon,' said Mr Hawes. 'Dougie always likes to let everybody know he's there and this will blow his socks off I think.' Mr Hawes, who was a chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is to make Mr Shelley's birthday cake – a Victoria sandwich. He said Mr Shelley 'does like his tot of rum' and that this would be offered to guests, with a bottle of Pusser's Rum presented to the veteran. Mr Hawes asked for birthday cards for Mr Shelley to be sent to the Royal Naval Association club, 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ.
