Latest news with #JamesFenton
ITV News
18 hours ago
- ITV News
Burma veteran James Fenton's 200-mile journey to pay his respects alongside King Charles for VJ Day
James Fenton's 200-mile journey from the Isle of Man to the National Memorial Arboretum One of the last remaining Burma veterans has travelled more than 200 miles to pay his respects to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. At his peaceful home on the Isle of Man, James Fenton received an invitation to attend the national commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. However, at 103-years-old James rarely leaves the Isle of Man, but it was an offer he couldn't refuse - leading to an unforgettable journey. It began on Wednesday, two days before the 80th anniversary commemorations on 15 August. James was busy packing for the journey, looking ahead at what was to come. He said: "As time has gone on, I've got more and more excited. "I'm hoping that I'm going to see some other veterans - there can't be many!" James fought in what many describe as 'The Forgotten Army'. Deployed in Burma at the age of 20, where he fought with the 178 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. The following day James arrived at Ronaldsway Airport, ready to fly to Birmingham. He was accompanied by his carer Sheila Healey, who has been dedicated to looking after veterans on the Isle of Man for many years. She lost her uncle Pte James Owen during WWII who fought in the Burma campaign, believed to be killed in action during the Battle of Imphal in May 1944, aged 23. Both James and Sheila received special treatment through Ronaldsway Airport and onto the plane, before listening to a personal message from the pilot as they boarded. Speaking the passengers, the captain said: "We are joined by Burma veteran James Fenton. It's an honour to be a part of your journey to the memorial James, and thank you for your service". Once in Birmingham, James travelled to his hotel, ahead of the special commemoration the next day. On Friday 15 August 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific, gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum. A commemoration marking 80 years since Victory over Japan, or VJ Day, that will likely be one of the final major gatherings of veterans from the conflicts. Also in attendance was His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla, giving James the opportunity to meet with both. Speaking with the King after the service, James invited the monarch to visit the Isle of Man, while also handing him a Manx pin badge, which he took away with him. He told the monarch: "It's an invitation hoping that you will come, in the very near future, and visit our island. And we would most be welcoming Sir.' The King replied: "I must try". James also spoke with the Queen during the outdoor ceremony, followed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who was also in attendance. The event included a guard of honour from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, with music provided by military bands. A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight led a flypast featuring the historic Dakota, Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft, followed by a national two-minute silence held at midday. At dawn, military bagpipers performed the lament 'Battle's O'er' at The Cenotaph, in the Far East section of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and at Edinburgh Castle. A piper also performed at a Japanese peace garden to reflect the reconciliation which has taken place between the UK and Japan in the decades since the Second World War. James concluded by describing the commemoration as "the most special day of my life", adding that meeting the King and Queen was "wonderful". The 103-year-old finished the day posing for a group photo, showing some of the last few remaining veterans he fought during WWII. Concluding what will likely be one of James' final journeys of remembrance, and rounding off a visit he will never forget.
ITV News
4 days ago
- General
- ITV News
What one of our oldest veterans asked King Charles as they marked the VJ Day anniversary
103-year-old James Fenton, the last Burma Star recipient living on the Isle of Man, travelled to the National Memorial Arboretum to join the commemorations.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
James Fenton: Burma Star veteran recalls 'godsend' of VJ Day
Veteran James Fenton was in India preparing for an attack on the Japanese mainland when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on 15 August 1945, ending World War 103-year-old described the surrender as a "godsend" for his unit, who were fighting in East last surviving Burma Star recipient living on the Isle of Man, Mr Fenton will be joining other veterans at a service at the UK's National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Burma Campaign was a series of battles fought between December 1941 and September 1945, concluding after Japan's Fenton, who was born in Lancashire, said it was only then that he thought he "might have survived the war". Mr Fenton grew up in Oswaldtwistle before being drafted into the Lancashire Fusiliers in July 1942, joining the Royal Artillery after his basic training was February the following year, the 178th Field Regiment he was part of was sent the journey onboard the Britannic, a leisure ship seconded to the military as part of the war effort, he said: "We didn't know where we were going."They had given us tropical kit but, of course, it's all very secretive and nobody wants to say where you're going to give anything away to the enemy."Arriving six weeks later in Cape Town, South Africa, the regiment transferred to another ship for the journey to Bombay in India, now known as Mumbai."When we got there, of course, we knew it was fairly obvious where we were going - we were going to be fighting the Japanese in Burma." Mr Fenton said combat in the jungle posed several practical challenges when advancing towards enemy forces."The difficulty is, when you're moving forward, you had to move somewhere where you could fire the guns," he said."In the middle of the jungle you couldn't just put them anywhere, you had to fire so that the guns weren't obstructed by the jungle or the trees."He recalled men sleeping in pairs in trenches, dug into the ground in a circle to protect the gun position, as the "nights were pretty calm".He said although the Japanese forces "didn't very often attack at night", they did "frequently shell us to keep us awake"."We didn't very often fire back during the night it was just a straight occasion, it was the Japanese firing us."Remembering the news filtering through of the Allied forces' victory in Europe in May 1945, he said: "Everybody was having street parties and we were there in the middle of a jungle firing guns, and Japanese firing at us, and this was still carrying on." As the Allied Forces drove the Japanese forces out of Burma in 1945, Mr Fenton's unit was moved to prepare for another offensive."Because my unit was an assault unit they then took us back into India and we were retraining again to make an attack on the Japanese mainland," he said."And that would have been a terrific problem and horrible for us."He said when news of the Japanese surrender came through he and his comrades were "more than relieved".That surrender was announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August 1945, following the United States' destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."We realised if they hadn't dropped that atomic bomb at that time, if perhaps they had delayed that for three months, maybe four months, we were in a position then to make a landing on the Japanese mainland," he said."And that eventually would mean the slaughter of so many of the British and European and native soldiers that were making this attack."So that fortunately was really a godsend as far as I was concerned because I knew then that I might have survived the war." But VJ Day did not mark the end of Mr Fenton's service in East Asia, as his unit went into Singapore as occupation troops. "After this my time came along to get back home to England and I had then to wait for a ship to sail me back from Singapore back to Britain," he said."Getting back to England was a great sensation, we were going back sailing up through the channel, and disembarking at Liverpool we got a great welcome." Mr Fenton said he had only shared his memories later in life as ex-servicemen "never ever used to talk about the war" in its said he and his brother, Harry Fenton, who took part in the D-Day landings, had fought in the same war in different parts of the world but never discussed their experiences."I don't know what beach, or even where he landed," he being invited to attend the Royal British Legion's national service to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, Mr Fenton was keen to accept."I heard that there were going to be people asked to celebrate, if you don't mind - celebrate - this occasion because it was going to be the last one," he said. "I thought, I can't say I'm a fit man and there are many things wrong with me, but I thought well if I can still manage to get there, I'm going."So there I am, I'm going." The BBC will broadcast a special programme live on BBC One and iPlayer, on Friday 15 of August between 11:30am - 1:00pm from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
10-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ceremony to remember Isle of Man Burma Star veterans
People are being encouraged to join a special service to remember those who fought in East Asia during World War Two, as part of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) ceremony, at 15:00 BST in the Arboretum in St John's, will see 103-year-old James Fenton - the last surviving Burma Star veteran living on the Isle of Man - lay a wreath at the Burma Campaign was a series of battles fought between December 1941 and September 1945, concluding after the surrender of Japan to the Allied Sheila Healey said it was important to remember the "very brave men" who fought in what was often referred to as a "forgotten army". A former secretary of the Isle of Man Burma Star Association, which folded several years ago, Mrs Healey has continued to organise an annual memorial service, along with social events for the remaining the commemoration had "always been a quiet affair, with just the members and the families of the members of the Burma Star", it was felt there should be greater public awareness around the 80th anniversary, she said. For Mrs Healey the commemorations hold a personal connection because her uncle, Pt James Owen, from Bolton in Lancashire, was killed during the campaign, at the age of 22."He was one of those missing, believed killed, and never came back - so I was brought up with that [and] really, to respect the forgotten army, as they're called."My mum used to get all these letters out and read them to me, and show me his medals."Everyone, they always celebrate VE day - and then we tend to forget VJ, which is actually the end of the Second World War, because these men were still fighting out in the Far East against the Japanese." A ceremony featuring the standards of all the branches of the Royal British Legion on the island, will take place at the Burma Campaign memorial, which is positioned at the top end of the National Arboretum in St John's.A verse at the bottom of the memorial reads: 'When you go home/tell them of us and say/for your tomorrow/we gave our of the wreath-laying, the Lieutenant Governor will give an address, with the service concluding with refreshments in the Methodist Hall. Mrs Healey said, despite eight decades passing by since VJ Day, it remained vital to commemorate those who took part in the campaigns surrounding it."To me going back to how I was brought up, my mum instilling into me that we should never, ever forget these brave me that fought for us."I just think the bravery, the stories that they've told me, particularly the prisoners of war were horrendous stories, and I just don't think we should ever forget that."I still instil in the children that this war happened and we wouldn't be living like we are now but for these very, very brave men."And I just think we shouldn't forget them."Further commemorations will also be held across the island to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Friday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy expert dismantles common misconception holding homeowners back from rooftop solar: 'That's not really true'
Energy expert dismantles common misconception holding homeowners back from rooftop solar: 'That's not really true' Many homeowners still believe that solar panels don't work on cloudy days, but energy expert James Fenton explained, "That's not really true." "Even on a very cloudy or rainy day, you'll get some electricity," Fenton, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, told CNET. "But on real cloudy days, you might only get half as much electricity as you would on a sunny day." The reality is that solar panels continue producing power even when the sun isn't shining brightly. While performance drops without direct sunlight, panels don't just shut off when skies turn gray. Interest in using solar energy is growing fast, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, as solar accounted for 66% of new U.S. electricity-generating capacity in 2024. If you're solar-curious, a smart place to start is by using EnergySage's free tools to get instant estimates and compare quotes from trustworthy installers. Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to turn sunlight into electricity, and they don't require full sun to do it. "The panel is always working," Fenton said. He added that the amount of electricity generated is based on how much light it can utilize to produce it. While output drops to near zero at night, even small amounts of ambient light can sometimes generate trace energy. To power your home after the sun has set, solar users can add a battery system or stay connected to the grid and use net metering to offset costs. Going solar can be one of the best ways to lower monthly energy bills while also cutting down on planet-overheating pollution. With solar panels on your roof, your home can run more cleanly and efficiently, helping reduce your reliance on dirty energy. Another reason to act soon is to take advantage of the Federal Investment Tax Credit, which allows homeowners to deduct 30% of the cost of installing a solar system for their home. Upon the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill, though, this incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2025. What would it take for you to get rid of your gas stove? I'd pay for it myself Give me the new stove for free I'd need at least $2K I already have an electric stove Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. According to EnergySage, the average solar customer can secure up to $10,000 in savings by claiming the ITC and other incentives. To make the most of those benefits, EnergySage also offers a state-by-state mapping tool that breaks down the average cost of solar panels in your area and shows exactly which local and federal incentives may be available to you. The bottom line is that installing solar panels is an energy hack that can drive your electricity bill close to zero. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
