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Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
VJ Day heroes remember those who paid ultimate sacrifice for freedom
Veterans of the appalling conflict in the Far East in World War Two gathered for a poignant ceremony of remembrance marking the day fighting came to an end 80 years ago 'I can never forget it. I saw the boys coming out of the jungle, their bodies came out but their minds were still there.' Breaking down in tears, his eyes bloodshot, Owen Filer's powerful words stopped people in their tracks at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Friday. They listened in awe as the 105-year-old, the joint-eldest of the 33 heroes to attend the VJ Day 80 Years On service, spoke to the Mirror on his way to recite the Kohima Epitaph. Recalling his time in India near the border with Burma, now Myanmar, he said: ' We must never forget. They'd been through hell, the PoWs on the railway. They were skeletons. 'They sent a lot of them to Australia to feed them up, get them fat. They wouldn't send them home like that. They couldn't converse normally because their minds were gone. They were in a bad state. 'I was on duty one day in Bombay [now Mumbai] and I found one walking down the street, and he was talking out loud to himself.' Veteran Owen, from Cwmbran in South Wales, said he called out to the Brit who just kept walking. He went on: 'So I caught up with him and I steered him into a building and sat him down. I spoke with him, asked him about his regiment, and he'd been sent to Bombay to recuperate. 'He couldn't remember where he'd come from, where he had to go back to. It's history that should be remembered for ever.' Owen was so determined to make us remember, he endured 27C heat and left his wheelchair to walk a painful 50 yards, with help from a serving soldier, to quote the Epitaph: 'When you go home, tell them of us and say, 'For your tomorrow we gave our today'.' He was speaking in front of the Armed Services Memorial, on which 16,000 names are etched into the Portland stone. His fellow veterans listened, some in tears, some with lips trembling and others staring fiercely ahead. Fellow veteran Herbert Pritchard, 100, a former Royal Marine from Wrexham, told how he is haunted by the state of the rescued PoWs he helped take home. He said he went up on HMS Newcastle's deck the morning after they arrived in Australia and saw them all lined up. He recalled: 'There were about 50, all rags and bones.' The few attendees still dry-cheeked at that point were brought to tears at the end of a two-minute silence, when eight Red Arrows streaked overhead trailing plumes of red, white and blue. Geoffrey Mesure, 71, from Battersea, South West London, sat in the audience wearing his dad Alfred's scarf, with a map of Burma printed on it for emergencies. He said: 'It's the only thing he had left after everything he collected was stolen by the dockers when he got home.' George Durrant, 100, from West Sussex, served in the Intelligence Corps in Burma. He said of the service: 'It brought back lots of memories. We were the forgotten ones because we were so far away. But no longer. That's nice.' He did a reading at the ceremony beside his nine-year-old great-granddaughter Elspeth. She said: 'Great-grandad never spoke about the war until a few years ago, I love hearing about when he found snakes in his boots.' George added: 'People always talk about how brave we were but few of us felt that way at the time. We just thought that we were there to do our duty. I speak to you now not as a hero but as someone who witnessed the price of freedom. 'We must look to the future and ensure that the next generation remember our sacrifices so that they can strive for a more peaceful future.' The two last surviving veterans of the special forces Chindits, Charlie Richards, 104 and Sid Machin, 101, sat side by side during the ceremony. Actor Robert Lindsay said it was an honour to have them attend, and read out some of their memories of daring operations behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma. He read: 'Being a Chindit was never easy. At one point, we went 10 days through the monsoon. We couldn't get any food or ammunition, and the thought of home was the only thing getting us through. 'The Japanese were ruthless fighters. They didn't think of life as we did. They saw it as an honour to be killed in action. As we neared the end of our time in Burma, death became an everyday occurrence. 'When we came back, it felt like people forgot what we did, and as time went on, the number of Chindits started to fall. You don't get together as a group because there isn't a group to get together with, and so you too start to forget. But at long last, people are starting to remember what we did.' In the afternoon, Charlie and Sid went over to The Chindit Memorial, in the peaceful shade of the Far East area of the arboretum, to lay a wreath to their lost colleagues. Charlie was visibly moved when Last Post sounded, tears silently rolling down his cheeks. He raised his trembling hand in a salute and placed a wreath silently, before humming the final few notes of the haunting bugle call.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran WW2 veteran remembers VJ Day 80 years on
105-year-old Owen Filer was just 20 when he was called up to serve in the Second World War. In 1944, he sailed to India and was in Bombay (now Mumbai) when news broke that the war had ended. Today he was among 30 veterans of VJ Day who attended our special commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day 105-year-old veteran Owen Filer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire (Image: BBC) Speaking at the service Owen read aloud a powerful quote from the Kohima Epitaph, often associated with remembrance for those who died in war. He said: 'When you go home tell them of us and for your tomorrows, we give our today.' Speaking about VJ Day in a video posted online by the Royal British Legion earlier, Owen reflected on his time in the Welsh Fusiliers and Royal Military Police. He said: 'In 1944 I sailed from Liverpool at 6 o'clock in the morning. They told us on arrival in India that our convoy was the second biggest convoy about to leave the UK. 'That made everybody think what's it all about navy, army and air force. You couldn't see the Mediterranean for ships.' Owen Filer a 105-year-old veteran who fought in the second world war (Image: RBL) Owen is adamant that we must not forget the sacrifices made during this time. He said: 'We absolutely cannot forget what took place. We were just happy it was over. 'I lost two very good friends in the Burma campaign left in the jungle. Sad very, very, sad. God bless them all all of them. 'When I found out the war was over on VJ Day I didn't celebrate it. At least we know now we won't be going to Japan.' Japan's surrender came after the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The aerial bombings killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, (most of whom being civilians) and remains the only uses of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. Owen Filer in his military police uniform during the second world war (Image: RBL) On this landmark anniversary a range of commemorative events are taking place around Newport and Gwent. Today, a concert marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day will take place at Newport Market from 6.30pm to 8pm. This free event will be hosted by west end performer, Anthony Stuart-Lloyd and will feature music from the City of Newport Male Choir and sea shanty group Bois Y Bryn.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Wales' oldest man shares memories on VJ Day anniversary
Owen Filer, 105, from Cwmbran, served as a member of the British Military Police in India during the Second World War. He reflected on his experiences as the nation prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Mr Filer said: "When I found out the war was over on VJ Day I didn't celebrate. "I didn't go down the pub, there was no pub. "I was just lucky, and we were just happy the war was over. "We absolutely cannot forget what took place." Called up just four months after the war began, he began his service with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at age 20. After contracting meningitis during training and spending a month in hospital, he was transferred to the British Military Police. Mr Filer was assigned to the 'Vulnerable Points' corps, guarding sites at risk of enemy attack. In January 1944, he sailed to India aboard the RM Ship Cape Town Castle. He said: "I remember smelling the spicy air around the Strait of Gibraltar which was coming from Morocco. "We knew then we were heading for the Far East." Based primarily in Bombay (now Mumbai), he described the conditions as 'primitive.' Mr Filer also recalled missions near the Burma border, supporting operations behind Japanese lines. During his time overseas, his son was born on VE Day. He said: "My boy was nine months old when I first met him. "He was fast asleep when I got home, and I was desperate to pick him up. "I had to wait until the morning, that was tough." Mr Filer will attend a special VJ Day service at the National Memorial Arboretum, hosted by the Royal British Legion. He regularly visits his local primary school to share his wartime experiences and emphasise the importance of remembrance.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
VJ Day veterans to be honoured on 80th anniversary
Veterans who served in the Far East during World War Two are being invited as guests of honour to a service to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied victory there. The Royal British Legion (RBL) is asking both veterans and their families to register for the event, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, on 15 August. VJ Day (Victory in Japan) marks Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended the war. The service will pay tribute to all those who served in the region, including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans and former prisoners of war. It will also commemorate those who fought in pivotal battles, including Kohima and Imphal in India. Veteran Owen Filer, 105, who was serving in India on VJ Day in 1945, plans to travel to the event from his home in Cwmbran, Wales, and said it would be a "poignant day". He said: "This is a significant moment for my generation and for all those who served out there and back home before Japan surrendered. "It will be an honour to be with the Royal British Legion and fellow veterans 80 years after the world went through so much, and to remember those who never made it back." Amrit Dhatt, whose grandfather Rajindar Singh Dhatt was drafted to East Asia with the Indian army, said he and comrades had "fought for our peace for today". "We need to come now together to remember that and to remain in unity," she told BBC Breakfast. The former Sgt Maj died on 21 May, at the age of 103 and Ms Dhatt said he had lived an "incredible life". "He was always so fond of speaking about his memories and for that I'm grateful because I had that first-hand experience of learning about what he went through," she added. The event comes weeks after the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. RBL research suggests there are about 8,000 surviving World War Two veterans in England and Wales, based on census and ONS data. The charity warned the number was likely to fall to below 300 over the next decade. Director General Mark Atkinson described the 80th anniversary as "one of the last opportunities" for the nation to thank veterans for their service. "We owe it to all those with a connection to VJ Day to pause and reflect on their contribution and legacy," he added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: Veteran, 100, recalls 'getting squiffy' on VE day VE Day 80: Poignant thank you to a heroic generation VE Day, VJ Day, D-Day: What's the difference? Royal British Legion
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Staffordshire honours VJ Day veterans at 80th anniversary event
Veterans who served in the Far East during World War Two are being invited as guests of honour to a service to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied victory Royal British Legion (RBL) is asking both veterans and their families to register for the event, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, on 15 Day (Victory in Japan) marks Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended the service will pay tribute to all those who served in the region, including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans and former prisoners of war. It will also commemorate those who fought in pivotal battles, including Kohima and Imphal in India. Veteran Owen Filer, 105, who was serving in India on VJ Day in 1945, plans to travel to the event from his home in Cwmbran, Wales, and said it would be a "poignant day".He said: "This is a significant moment for my generation and for all those who served out there and back home before Japan surrendered."It will be an honour to be with the Royal British Legion and fellow veterans 80 years after the world went through so much, and to remember those who never made it back." The event comes weeks after the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe research suggests there are about 8,000 surviving World War Two veterans in England and Wales, based on census and ONS charity warned the number was likely to fall to below 300 over the next General Mark Atkinson described the 80th anniversary as "one of the last opportunities" for the nation to thank veterans for their service."We owe it to all those with a connection to VJ Day to pause and reflect on their contribution and legacy," he added.
