Latest news with #VJDay80
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Western Telegraph
VJ Day marked in Tenby with special services in town
Commemorative events in the town began at 11am with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tenby war memorial, with town mayor Cllr Dai Morgan amongst the many representative of local groups and organisations paying tribute. VJ Day marks 15 August 1945, the day Japan surrendered and brought World War Two to a close. Tenby Royal British Legionchairman Shane Roberts lays a wreath, watched by the mayor of Tenby. Cllr Dai Morgan. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) Piper Graham Phillips played during the service. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) A large and respectful gathering stood in Tenby's South Parade for the wreath-laying, remembering the sacrifices of thousands of servicemen and women, including those who faced extreme conditions as prisoners of war or served in some of the most challenging theatres of war. Town Crier Erin Morgan proclaimed the start of the war memorial service. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) One local resident who served in the Far East is 99-year-old Duncan Hilling of Saundersfoot, who has just been honoured by Wales First Minister, Eluned Morgan. Mr Hilling is the senior member of Tenby Male Choir, whose proud fellow choristers said they saluted his service. Dyfed-Powys Police was amongst the organisations represented at the service. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) The ceremony at the war memorial was followed at midday by a special service of commemoration in St Mary's Church, Tenby conducted by the Rev Steven Brett. Youth organisations joined in the Tenby tribute. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) The chairman of the Tenby branch of the Royal British Legion, Shane Roberts, then led a presentation celebrating the lives of veterans and loved ones connected to the conflict, as well as local organisations affiliated to the Royal British Legion. The mayor of Tenby, Cllr Dai Morgan, lays a wreath on behalf of the town. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) The beautiful floral cross in the Tenby war memorial grounds. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) Members of Tenby Town Council joined in the service. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) VJ Day 80 marks the end of World War Two in 1945. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) The mayor of Tenby, Cllr Dai Morgan said: "VJ Day allows us to pay tribute to those whose service and sacrifice in the Far East are too often overlooked. "These commemorations are a chance for our community to come together, to remember, and to ensure that their legacy lives on." Tenby Town Council also acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the Tenby Branch of the Royal British Legion, who continue to ensure the stories of these veterans are remembered and respected.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
'VJ Day is stark reminder of the immense cost we face for securing peace'
Today marks the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which saw the Second World War come to an end - and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy explains why this anniversary is so poignant Eighty years ago today, the world finally saw an end to the nightmare of the Second World War, with Japan's surrender bringing six long, brutal years of global conflict to a close. Today, we mark eight decades on with a special ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum, joined by around 30 remarkable veterans who served in the Far East all those years ago. Of the millions of brave men who served in the Second World War, only a precious few are still with us. That's what makes this 80th anniversary so poignant—and so vital. We owe it to our extraordinary veterans, and to ourselves, to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten. READ MORE: Prince William and Kate Middleton issue statement after King's address to nation Like many of my generation, I grew up listening to first-hand accounts from those who served in the Second World War, including members of my own family. The stories of their service and sacrifice have stayed with me long into adult life. But the next generation rarely gets the chance to hear these stories directly from those who lived them. That's why today matters so much. We must use this moment to share these accounts and keep the memory of that remarkable generation alive. VJ Day 80 isn't just about honouring those who fought and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It's also a stark reminder of the immense cost of securing peace. VJ Day reminds us of the importance of never repeating the horrors of 1945: learning from the past, embracing democracy, and working with other nations. In our increasingly divided world, these lessons are more important than ever. The veterans we celebrate today understood that freedom and democracy cannot be taken for granted. They stood up to tyranny with incredible courage. Some survived unthinkable conditions in prisoner-of-war camps, many witnessing horrors that would stay with them forever—all so we could live in freedom. When we observe our two-minute silence today and watch the Red Arrows soar overhead, let's remember that peace means more than just the end of conflict. It's about guaranteeing that everyone can enjoy justice, freedom, and hope. The generation we honour today gave us these precious gifts through their service and sacrifice. So let's remember them, thank them, and carry their legacy forward—not just in words, but in the values we live by.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
King hails heroes' courage on VJ Day and reflects on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
His reflection on the nuclear attacks, which paved the way for the end of the Second World War, comes at a time of increased concern about the global threat of nuclear conflict. The King recording his message at Clarence House earlier this month (Aaron Chown/PA) In an audio message to the nation, realms and Commonwealth, the King spoke of the horrors faced by allied prisoners of war 'who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance', and the 'mental and physical scars' the war left on those who survived. And he vowed the service and sacrifice of VJ Day heroes 'shall never be forgotten', telling their families and the 'sadly dwindling band of veterans': '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.' The King, in what is believed to be the most direct reference by a British monarch to the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, said it was right to pause and acknowledge the impact of the 'war's final act' on the people of the Japanese cities. 'Innocent civilian populations of occupied territories faced grievous hardships, too,' he said in the broadcast released at 7.30am on Friday. Tune in to @BBCOne on Friday as we mark 80 years since victory over Japan, the moment the Second World War finally came to an end. We are honoured to host the national commemoration at the @Nat_Mem_Arb, and will be joined by veterans who served in the Far East.#VJDay80 1/2 — Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) August 13, 2025 'Their experience reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life – a tragedy all-too vividly demonstrated by conflicts around the world today. 'On this landmark anniversary, we should also pause to acknowledge that in the war's final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.' He added: 'But in recalling so much suffering, we must not lose sight of how great was the cause and how sweet the victory.' The then-Prince of Wales chats with a veteran after the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2020 (Oli Scarff/PA) VJ Day on August 15 marks the anniversary of the end of the six-year-long war. 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. The King's six-minute address was broadcast ahead of a national service of remembrance due to be attended by Charles, the Queen and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Also there as guests of honour will be 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105, who served in the Far East and Pacific. Iconic aircraft will join the nation's tribute to veterans of the Far East campaign this Friday. ✈️ Around 400 members of the UK Armed Forces will honour their predecessors on the 80th anniversary of #VJDay, at the National Memorial Arboretum. 🫡 🇬🇧 A tri-service Guard of… — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 11, 2025 A national two-minute silence will be held at noon and the Red Arrows will join historic Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft for flypast over the commemorations. By 1945, some 365,000 British and 1.5 million Commonwealth troops had been deployed across Asia and the Pacific. More than 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan, and nearly 30,000 died, while more than 12,000 Britons were among the 190,000 Commonwealth troops held as Prisoners of War by the Japanese. Of the Allied forces, the US suffered the greatest losses, with more than 100,000 killed in action. The King and Queen will attend a service at the at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Friday (Aaron Chown/PA) In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than 200,000 people were killed by the US bombs and in the months after succumbing to radiation sickness, the effects of burns and other serious injuries. The King described the 80th anniversary as a day of 'profound remembrance' and said of his grandfather King George's VI's 'The war is ended' audio broadcast at the time: 'Seldom can a simple message have resonated with such a potent mix of relief, celebration, and sorrow for those who never lived to see the glow of freedom's new dawn.' He also painted a vivid picture of when 'high above those monsoon-lashed jungles, allied pilots displayed their own fearless bravery, flying fighters, bombers and transport aircraft into enemy fire and nature's fury'. This year we mark the momentous milestone of 80 years since the end of the Second World War. We cannot do so without honouring those who continued to fight and be held in brutal captivity in the Far East and Pacific, long after the VE Day celebrations erupted.#VJDay80 (1/10) — Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) August 11, 2025 The speech made no mention of the King's father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who was in Tokyo Bay on board the destroyer HMS Whelp, a warship he served on as second-in-command, when Japanese officials formally signed the surrender on the USS Missouri on September 2 1945. But Charles paid tribute to his mentor and great uncle Earl Mountbatten, who oversaw the defeat of the Japanese offensive towards India as Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command. He recalled how Lord Mountbatten taught him about the 'horrors and heroism' of the conflict. Charles with his great uncle Earl Mountbatten (PA) The King said: 'The war in South East Asia had reached its climax under the leadership of my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, from whom I learned so much about the particular horrors and heroism witnessed in those furthest fields of combat. 'The forces aligned under him comprised over one million men and women, drawn from many different countries, religions and communities, but united by common purpose and indomitable spirit.' Charles said he was aware of the 'mental and physical scars' the conflict left on those who survived. 'Twenty-Nine Victoria Crosses bear eloquent testimony to their valour, but I know full well of the toll it took on so many – measured not only in gravestones, but in the mental and physical scars of those who survived,' he said. He also cited the collaboration across faiths and cultural divides, saying: 'Together they proved that, 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. 'That remains a vital lesson for our times.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
VJ Day is rapidly slipping from active memory – we must document it now
There will be a day soon when there will be no one alive who fought in the Second World War. Collecting and preserving the first-hand stories of those who served – Britain and the Commonwealth, yes, but from every nation – is an act of national and global importance. VJ Day 80: We Were There (BBC Two) was not just a fascinating and moving documentary, but a profoundly important document of a time rapidly slipping from active memory. One imagines many more hours of interviews were filmed than the brief 60 minutes we had here. Hopefully every minute has been catalogued. There has always been a bitter irony that 99 days passed between VE Day and VJ Day, with those in the UK hanging up the bunting and swinging from lampposts while the Fourteenth Army continued a brutal and harrowing war against the Japanese in Singapore, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), India and the Pacific Ocean. It was not lost on those interviewed here, most of them over 100. As Reg Holbrook of the Fleet Air Arm said: 'What did it matter to us if the German war started or finished?' Presented by Radio 5 Live's Rachel Burden, We Were There deserves credit for refusing to sentimentalise, romanticise or censor the testimony of the veterans. Some of it was appalling to hear and much anti-Japanese sentiment was expressed, but these were honest, raw interviews with people who were often in visible distress. Robin Rowland of the British India Army remembered Japanese soldiers bayoneting 31 British soldiers who lay in a field hospital and coming across mounds of Japanese troops who had starved to death. Jim Wren of the Royal Marines, who seemed visibly weighed down by the awfulness of his memories, was blunt: 'It's ruined my life. To see men die like that.' A Pathé newsreel of the time announced that 'the triumph in Burma has brought everlasting glory to our fighting men'. Yet here were those lucky fighting men who survived. None of them mentioned glory. There was no glory for Olga Henderson, a prisoner of war in Singapore aged nine, who looted the bodies of Japanese officers who had committed suicide after the surrender. She tried to pull gold teeth out of their mouths, 'with no feeling at all'. When taken prisoner, Henderson and her family had crossed a bridge lined with the decapitated heads of Commonwealth soldiers. Later, in a moment that would have had a statue in tears, Henderson wept at seeing a news report of a starving little boy begging for food in a modern-day war. 'That's what we were doing,' she said. 'What have we done? What are we doing to the world? Nothing's changed.' There was light in the dark. Tales of 'friendships' formed between soldiers and nurses on a boat to India, of the beautiful feeling of a monsoon on your body after weeks of baking heat, of one soldier's amazement at all the yellow balloons that suddenly appeared when the Japanese surrendered (they were condoms). And the wonderful Yavar Abbas, of the 11th Sikh Regiment, who was sent to Japan as part of the occupying force after the war and 'fell in love' with the people. The end credits informed us that many of those interviewed have since died, underlying the sheer importance of this film.
