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Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
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'VJ Day wasn't of any great consequence to us'
A 100-year-old World War Two veteran said VJ Day did not seem to be of any "great consequence" at the time, even though he was serving in the Pacific. Richard Clegg, from Bozeat, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was on board HMS Victorious on 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered. Events to mark the 80th anniversary were held on Friday and over the weekend across the UK. Mr Clegg said the events were "for people who weren't there to remember it. People who were there I don't think make a fuss about it really". Victory over Japan Day commemorates the Japanese surrender that brought the war to a complete end. Mr Clegg said that 80 years ago, HMS Victorious was "delivering a load of American planes into the middle of the American Pacific Fleet". He told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos they "got halfway there to our destination" when they were stopped. 'No communication' "We didn't know what had happened, and the next day they then told us that the first atom bomb had been dropped [on Hiroshima], and then... three days later they dropped the second atom bomb [on Nagasaki] so they then said the fleet will disperse," Mr Clegg said. The bombs killed more than 200,000 people – some from the immediate blast and others from radiation sickness and burns – and led to Japan's surrender. Mr Clegg said HMS Victorious sailed to Brisbane and was then used to take Japanese prisoners of war home or to hospital. "[VJ Day] wasn't of any great consequence to us at the time because we were never directly involved with fighting the actual Japanese people," he said. The veteran also said VE Day – marking Victory in Europe – which happened earlier in the year, in May, was not celebrated in the Pacific because it "wasn't possible – there was no communication". The centenarian is the last of his friends from the services still alive, and he put his longevity down to "good fortune". He added: "I've always kept fit. You just learnt to look after yourself when you are in the navy." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories 80th VJ Day service is poignant moment for veteran VJ Day explained in 60 seconds Related internet links Royal Navy
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
'VJ Day wasn't of any great consequence to us', says Bozeat vet
A 100-year-old World War Two veteran said VJ Day did not seem to be of any "great consequence" at the time, even though he was serving in the Clegg, from Bozeat, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was on board HMS Victorious on 15 August 1945 when Japan to mark the 80th anniversary were held on Friday and over the weekend across the Clegg said the events were "for people who weren't there to remember it. People who were there I don't think make a fuss about it really". Victory over Japan Day commemorates the Japanese surrender that brought the war to a complete Clegg said that 80 years ago, HMS Victorious was "delivering a load of American planes into the middle of the American Pacific Fleet".He told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos they "got halfway there to our destination" when they were stopped. 'No communication' "We didn't know what had happened, and the next day they then told us that the first atom bomb had been dropped [on Hiroshima], and then... three days later they dropped the second atom bomb [on Nagasaki] so they then said the fleet will disperse," Mr Clegg bombs killed more than 200,000 people – some from the immediate blast and others from radiation sickness and burns – and led to Japan's Clegg said HMS Victorious sailed to Brisbane and was then used to take Japanese prisoners of war home or to hospital."[VJ Day] wasn't of any great consequence to us at the time because we were never directly involved with fighting the actual Japanese people," he veteran also said VE Day – marking Victory in Europe – which happened earlier in the year, in May, was not celebrated in the Pacific because it "wasn't possible – there was no communication".The centenarian is the last of his friends from the services still alive, and he put his longevity down to "good fortune".He added: "I've always kept fit. You just learnt to look after yourself when you are in the navy." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Memorials held across the West to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Memorials have been held across the West to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) – signifying the end of World War Two. Crowds took part in a national two-minute silence at 12:00 BST led by the King, Queen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the National Memorial Arboretum in VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was celebrated on 8 May 1945, thousands of military personnel continued to fight Japanese forces for three more surrender was ultimately sparked by the United States' nuclear strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, the day was marked by veterans bearing military banners in the town's Italian Gardens. In the Gloucestershire towns of Quedgeley and Cheltenham, crowds gathered at war memorials. In Marlborough, Wiltshire, council dignitaries invited the public to join them in the silence from the steps of the town was preceded by a bugler playing the Last Post and the Kohima Epitaph was spoken from the steps. Ted Allen, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, said: "The war in Asia was almost the forgotten war. So while we celebrated the incredible relief in Europe in May this year it is absolutely right that we celebrate victory in Japan. We should never forget." Jane Norris, of the Royal British Legion, was among those who took part in the silence at Victoria Park, in Frome, Somerset. She said wreaths were laid and Rudyard Kipling's poem Recessional was read. "This was a sober, sombre reflection of the atrocities that went on and the endurance of people in the jungle and in the prisoner of war camps, not forgetting those who suffered when two atomic bombs fell," she said. Also at Victoria Park was Gina, who said her father served in Burma, now Myanmar. While most of the nation was celebrating the end of the war in Europe, her family knew the fighting was ongoing."It has to be remembered," she Painter, from Marlborough, said his father volunteered in the Navy's Fleet Air Arm. "I thought it would be nice to remember him for the service he did during the war and remembering how it affected him very deeply, especially collecting the prisoners of war from Japan," Mr Painter said. He said his father watched an atomic bomb go off. "He was in a ship in Japanese waters, so all these things really deeply affected him," Mr Painter said.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
South East marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day
People across the South East gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and honour those who fought for the world's freedom. VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, is commemorated on 15 August each year and marks the date in 1945 when Japan surrendered to Allied forces, bringing World War Two to an end after nearly six the war against Japan alone, 71,000 UK and Commonwealth soldiers died while 12,000 prisoners of war were held in Japanese captivity. Commemorations took place across the South East, including at Hailsham War Memorial, where armed forces personnel, veterans and residents gathered to pay tribute. David Calvert said he wanted to remember his father and his wife's grandfather's involvement in the Far East campaign."I am here to remember the men and women who fell during the Japanese war, in particular my father who was in the Royal Airforce," he Calvert said his father served as a code decipherer on Motorina Island near Papua New Guinea and was one of the few RAF members awarded the Pacific Star medal."My wife's grandfather served in Burma and suffered very serious injuries which affected him for the rest of his life. "These people should be remembered. Attending this commemoration is not glorification but an act of remembrance." A service was also held at the Historic Dockyard in was led by Brigadier Peter Gilbert QVRM TD DL VR, deputy lieutenant of Kent, and attended by veterans and dignitaries and Medway's Vince Maple, leader of Medway Council, said: "Medway has a long and proud history with our Armed Forces, and I know many of us will have a strong personal connection through veterans or current personnel they know. "We saw how communities across Medway came together to mark VE Day earlier this year, and though VJ Day is a more sombre and reflective day, it's another chance for us to show that we continue to honour and remember the legacy of those who came before us." Councillor Chrissy Stamp, Medway Council's armed forces champion, said: "Anniversaries like this give us all the opportunity to pause and think about the unimaginable sacrifices that people made to secure our freedom. "Those sacrifices are still being made today, and we are committed to supporting veterans and those who are still serving as best we can." Guildford Borough Council has also paid tribute to those who fought in Asia. The Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Stephen Hives, laid flowers of remembrance at Guildford Castle war was joined by Graham Chilton, the secretary of the Surrey Branch of Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association. The council says this act of reflection "honours not only those who served but also the enduring legacy of peace they helped secure".Mr Hives said: "We honour the extraordinary bravery, resilience and sacrifice of those who served in the Far East. "Their courage in the face of unimaginable hardship helped secure the peace we enjoy today. It is our duty to remember them, not just today, but always."Other memorial services took place in Crawley, Burgess Hill, Crowborough and Worthing. In Kent, events were held at Hythe War Memorial, Maidstone County Hall and Westgate. A service is also due to be held at Horley Memorial in Surrey on Saturday at 12:00 BST.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police attend ceremony to mark end of Second World War
PCSO 5133 Larmour attended a flag-raising ceremony outside Penrith Old Town Hall to mark the anniversary of Victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War. He met with a group of local people who helped support the event, coming together to remember the sacrifices made by so many during the conflict. The flag was raised in a short, respectful ceremony, serving as a reminder of the importance of honouring those who served and those who lost their lives. The day is a time to remember those who served in the Far East campaign and the many who lost their lives before peace was finally declared in August 1945. It also honours the civilians who endured hardship at home and abroad.
