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The Advertiser
4 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Sombre day of reflection as Australians mark 80 years since Victory in the Pacific
The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said.
Sky News AU
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Buckingham Palace announces King Charles will give major statement next week to mark 80th anniversary of VJ day
King Charles will deliver a historic audio message to the Commonwealth next Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ (Victory in Japan) Day. Also known as Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day in Australia, August 15 marks the end of the Second World War and will be commemorated across the globe. It is understood the monarch's message will be pre-recorded and include a nod to his grandfather, King George VI's historic speech on August 15, 1945. On that day, King George VI proclaimed the dawn of a new chapter for Britain and Europe after six years of devastating war. "Japan has surrendered, so let us join in thanking Almighty God that war has ended throughout the world, and that in every country men may now turn their industry, skill, and science to repairing its frightful devastation and to building prosperity and happiness,' King George VI said. "Our sense of deliverance is overpowering, and with it all, we have a right to feel that we have done our duty. 'I ask you again at this solemn hour to remember all who have laid down their lives, and all who have endured the loss of those they love." Buckingham Palace has unveiled a full itinerary of royal engagements to coincide with the historic anniversary. Next Friday, King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The national service will be followed by a reception during which the royal couple will have the opportunity to meet surviving World War 2 veterans. Meanwhile, The Duchess of Edinburgh will meet Second World War veteran, Jim Wren, who was serving on HMS Repulse when he was captured and held on the island of Sumatra. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral, before joining a second commemorative service dedicated to the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk. The commemorations come months after the royal family celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day - marking Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender that took effect on May 8, 1945.
