Queen emotional as veteran goes ‘off script' to honour King's cancer battle
Charles and Camilla joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific at a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire on Friday.
VJ Day on August 15 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the six-year war, but much of the celebration in 1945 focused on VE (Victory in Europe) Day in May, with those who served in the Far East labelled The Forgotten Army.
Yavar Abbas, who was a captain in the 11th Sikh Regiment, took to the stage at the National Memorial Arboretum to read extracts from his diaries during his time in Burma in 1945, but took a moment to pay tribute to his 'brave king' first.
Camilla looked at her husband sitting next to her and appeared to wipe away a tear as Mr Abbas, 105, originally from Lucknow in India, said: 'I make no apologies 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 is under treatment for cancer.'
Applause rang out among the crowd of around 1,500 guests as Mr Abbas said he had also battled cancer, adding that he hoped it would bring 'comfort' that he had been rid of the disease himself for 25 years.
He added: '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 sobriquet again of The Forgotten Army.'
The ceremony was hosted by actress Celia Imrie and featured readings by actor Robert Lindsay and veterans, as well as musical performances from the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, Jennifer Pike and the Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums.
Ahead of the service, the King, in a pre-recorded audio address to the nation, vowed that the sacrifice of heroes who fought and died in the campaigns 'shall never be forgotten'.
He also significantly acknowledged the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which led to Japan's surrender, describing the 'immense price' paid by its citizens as one 'we pray no nation need ever pay again'.
He said: 'Please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity – a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.'
After the service of remembrance, which started with a two-minute silence and a Red Arrows flypast, the King made his way to the Far East corner of the arboretum, where he met Silas Sarbah and Khadak Chettri, the grandsons of Second World War soldiers, as well as William Slim, the great-grandson of General Bill Slim, who led the so-called Forgotten Army.
He viewed tributes at the Burma Railway memorial, which is constructed from 30 metres of original track from the so-called 'Railway of Death', and took a moment of reflection at the Burma Star Memorial and the Chindit Memorial, before heading to a reception for VJ veterans and their families.
The King and Queen were joined by the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer, as they met some 30 veterans who served in the Far East during the Second World War for the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, accompanied by their families and carers.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Charles & Camilla weep at VJ Day ceremony as veteran goes off script with royal tribute before telling of horrors he saw
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 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'.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Queen emotional as veteran goes ‘off script' to honour King's cancer battle
Charles and Camilla joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific at a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire on Friday. VJ Day on August 15 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the six-year war, but much of the celebration in 1945 focused on VE (Victory in Europe) Day in May, with those who served in the Far East labelled The Forgotten Army. Yavar Abbas, who was a captain in the 11th Sikh Regiment, took to the stage at the National Memorial Arboretum to read extracts from his diaries during his time in Burma in 1945, but took a moment to pay tribute to his 'brave king' first. Camilla looked at her husband sitting next to her and appeared to wipe away a tear as Mr Abbas, 105, originally from Lucknow in India, said: 'I make no apologies 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 is under treatment for cancer.' Applause rang out among the crowd of around 1,500 guests as Mr Abbas said he had also battled cancer, adding that he hoped it would bring 'comfort' that he had been rid of the disease himself for 25 years. He added: '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 sobriquet again of The Forgotten Army.' The ceremony was hosted by actress Celia Imrie and featured readings by actor Robert Lindsay and veterans, as well as musical performances from the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, Jennifer Pike and the Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums. Ahead of the service, the King, in a pre-recorded audio address to the nation, vowed that the sacrifice of heroes who fought and died in the campaigns 'shall never be forgotten'. He also significantly acknowledged the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which led to Japan's surrender, describing the 'immense price' paid by its citizens as one 'we pray no nation need ever pay again'. He said: 'Please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity – a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.' After the service of remembrance, which started with a two-minute silence and a Red Arrows flypast, the King made his way to the Far East corner of the arboretum, where he met Silas Sarbah and Khadak Chettri, the grandsons of Second World War soldiers, as well as William Slim, the great-grandson of General Bill Slim, who led the so-called Forgotten Army. He viewed tributes at the Burma Railway memorial, which is constructed from 30 metres of original track from the so-called 'Railway of Death', and took a moment of reflection at the Burma Star Memorial and the Chindit Memorial, before heading to a reception for VJ veterans and their families. The King and Queen were joined by the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer, as they met some 30 veterans who served in the Far East during the Second World War for the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, accompanied by their families and carers. A dinner reception was held after the service at which The King, the Queen, and the Prime Minister chatted at length with several of the Far East veterans, including Mr Abbas. Speaking after the reception, the 105-year-old veteran, a retired write and TV producer, told reporters: 'I make no apology for going off the script. 'I admire the man… I admire The King. He has similar views about things as I have, about the environment for example. 'He's human. When I went up to him and talked to him, he said something very touching to me. He said to me when you said that I almost cried. That's our King and he's a great King.' Intelligence Corps veteran George Durrant, aged 100 and from West Sussex, addressed the service alongside his great-granddaughter Elsbeth. He enlisted as a private in 1942 and trained to be a tank driver, before volunteering for a special mission which turned out to be serving in Burma. In his reading to the commemoration, Mr Durrant said people always talked about how brave the veterans were, but added that few of them saw it that way. He told the service: 'We must look to the future and ensure that the next generation remember our sacrifices so that they can strive for a more peaceful tomorrow.'
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Queen emotional as veteran goes ‘off script' to honour King's cancer battle
Charles and Camilla joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific at a national service of remembrance in Staffordshire on Friday. VJ Day on August 15 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the six-year war, but much of the celebration in 1945 focused on VE (Victory in Europe) Day in May, with those who served in the Far East labelled The Forgotten Army. Yavar Abbas, who was a captain in the 11th Sikh Regiment, took to the stage at the National Memorial Arboretum to read extracts from his diaries during his time in Burma in 1945, but took a moment to pay tribute to his 'brave king' first. Camilla looked at her husband sitting next to her and appeared to wipe away a tear as Mr Abbas, 105, originally from Lucknow in India, said: 'I make no apologies 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 is under treatment for cancer.' Applause rang out among the crowd of around 1,500 guests as Mr Abbas said he had also battled cancer, adding that he hoped it would bring 'comfort' that he had been rid of the disease himself for 25 years. He added: '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 sobriquet again of The Forgotten Army.' The ceremony was hosted by actress Celia Imrie and featured readings by actor Robert Lindsay and veterans, as well as musical performances from the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, Jennifer Pike and the Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums. Ahead of the service, the King, in a pre-recorded audio address to the nation, vowed that the sacrifice of heroes who fought and died in the campaigns 'shall never be forgotten'. He also significantly acknowledged the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which led to Japan's surrender, describing the 'immense price' paid by its citizens as one 'we pray no nation need ever pay again'. He said: 'Please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity – a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.' After the service of remembrance, which started with a two-minute silence and a Red Arrows flypast, the King made his way to the Far East corner of the arboretum, where he met Silas Sarbah and Khadak Chettri, the grandsons of Second World War soldiers, as well as William Slim, the great-grandson of General Bill Slim, who led the so-called Forgotten Army. He viewed tributes at the Burma Railway memorial, which is constructed from 30 metres of original track from the so-called 'Railway of Death', and took a moment of reflection at the Burma Star Memorial and the Chindit Memorial, before heading to a reception for VJ veterans and their families. The King and Queen were joined by the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer, as they met some 30 veterans who served in the Far East during the Second World War for the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, accompanied by their families and carers. A dinner reception was held after the service at which The King, the Queen, and the Prime Minister chatted at length with several of the Far East veterans, including Mr Abbas. Speaking after the reception, the 105-year-old veteran, a retired write and TV producer, told reporters: 'I make no apology for going off the script. 'I admire the man… I admire The King. He has similar views about things as I have, about the environment for example. 'He's human. When I went up to him and talked to him, he said something very touching to me. He said to me when you said that I almost cried. That's our King and he's a great King.' Intelligence Corps veteran George Durrant, aged 100 and from West Sussex, addressed the service alongside his great-granddaughter Elsbeth. He enlisted as a private in 1942 and trained to be a tank driver, before volunteering for a special mission which turned out to be serving in Burma. In his reading to the commemoration, Mr Durrant said people always talked about how brave the veterans were, but added that few of them saw it that way. He told the service: 'We must look to the future and ensure that the next generation remember our sacrifices so that they can strive for a more peaceful tomorrow.'
