VJ Day anniversary marked in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Southampton
Southampton was a landmark in the homecoming of men and woman who had been prisoners of war and civilian internees in South East Asia.In the months that followed the war, more than 22,000 people were repatriated through the then town's port.Veterans and families of those who served in Asia will board Cunard's Queen Mary 2 for a commemorative lunch hosted by the Lord Mayor of Southampton on Friday.In August 1945, the original Queen Mary was in port and joined other ships in sounding her whistle to mark the end of the war. The same whistle is now fitted to Queen Mary 2 and it will sound again just after the national two minutes' silence at 12:00 BST.At 20:30 a beacon will be lit at Holyrood Church in the city. The church, badly damaged during the Blitz, now stands as a memorial to the Merchant Navy.On Saturday, a commemorative service and wreath laying at the Cenotaph at 11:00.It will be followed by a veterans' march through East Park into Palmerston Park which will later hold a Picnic in the Park with live music, military and heritage displays.Alex Winning, leader of the city council, said Southampton's role in VJ Day and the months that followed was "a powerful testament to our city's resilience"."As we mark the 80th anniversary, it is important we honour the sacrifices made, remember the stories of those who returned home, and ensure their legacy is never forgotten."More on Southampton's VJ events on Visit Southampton.
Isle of Wight
On the Isle of Wight, East Cowes Esplanade is hosting a Victory over Japan Day on Friday with an afternoon and evening of live music, a dog show, and beacon lighting.The town council said it would be a "meaningful community celebration by the sea".
Totton
Totton is staging a weekend of remembrance and reflection to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the war.A memorial service is being held at the town's war memorial at 18:00.It will be followed by Reading for Reflections - an outdoor performance of a collection of poetry and prose looking at different perspectives of World War 2 and events around VJ Day in the Town Park performance area.A Lamps of Peace parade begins at 20:45 and is followed by music at the Totton and Eling Community Centre.
Aldershot
The Royal Garrison Church in Aldershot is holding a commemoration service with the themes of conflict and hoped-for peace.The church gardens will be open from 1700 for bring your own picnic, with the service starting at 1830. The service finishes ahead of the lighting of the beacon in Manor Park.In the lead up to the beacon lighting, there will be music with a Vera Lynn tribute act, a short talk from local historian Paul Vickers, other readings and memories of the so-called forgotten army who fought in Asia.A parade of veterans associations and uniformed youth groups and cadets will march to the beacon before it is lit.
Details of other events taking place in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can be found on the VE/VJ Day 80 website.
You can follow BBC Hampshire and Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
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The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Charles & Camilla weep at VJ Day ceremony as veteran goes off script with royal tribute before telling of horrors he saw
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'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 9 9 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. "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 9 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'. 9
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran WW2 veteran remembers VJ Day 80 years on
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ITV News
7 hours ago
- ITV News
Two minute silence at Cenotaph as Northern Ireland marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day
The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day has been marked in Northern Ireland. A two minute silence was held at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall on Friday. The Japanese surrendered on this day in 1945 brought an end to the Second World War, three months after Germany had surrendered in Europe. An estimated 71,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries died fighting Japan. The bravery of a submariner from west Belfast who was awarded the Victoria Cross was marked at the special event in the city to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Leading Seaman James Magennis was awarded the prestigious military honour for valour for his actions on July 31, 1945, when he exited his midget submarine in Singapore harbour to attach mines to the hull of a Japanese cruiser vessel, the Takao. A memorial to him stands in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. It was the scene of a poignant wreath-laying ceremony on Friday to mark 80 years since Victory over Japan Day. Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly placed the wreath at the foot of the memorial, before the Last Post was played by bugler Louise Bell from the First Old Boys' Silver Band. Those in attendance bowed their heads for a two-minute silence. The wreath-laying came after a reflective event inside City Hall that included historical discussions about the conflict in the Far East and music from the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra. One of those gathered at the memorial on Friday was Norman Leslie, 84, from Bangor, Co Down. Mr Leslie, who served as a submariner in the Royal Navy during the Cold War, said he felt it was important to honour the memory of James Magennis. He said the event acted as a 'timely reminder' to younger generations. 'To me it was just to let all the young ones know that there was stuff happening that probably their father or grandfather did during the war, and to let them know what was happening, because some maybe just don't know anything whatsoever about what happened,' he said. Ms Kelly said it was a special occasion. 'It is important to keep on doing these things because it's something we should never forget, and especially the younger generation today, hopefully they will never go through what people in those days went through,' she said. 'But it's important to have a service of reflection, a service of remembrance. 'And to me, it's something that if you have people who are going to fight in a war, who are going to sacrifice and lose their life, and we don't know where some of those bodies went, there's no graves for quite a few people, to remember that and reflect on that, especially for the younger generation today, is very, very important.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
