Nation to Honour WWII Veterans on 80th Anniversary of VJ Day
The King and Queen will join the nation in paying tribute to Second World War veterans on the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. A service of remembrance will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire, with the Royal British Legion (RBL) as guests of honour.
Among those attending will be 33 veterans, aged between 96 and 105, who served in the Far East and Pacific theatres of war.
King Charles, in his role as patron of the RBL, will be present alongside Queen Camilla and Sir Keir Starmer at the event. The commemoration will honour the British, Commonwealth, and Allied veterans who served in the Far East, including Myanmar, and across the Pacific and Indian Ocean territories.
In a pre-recorded audio address to the nation, the King will pledge that the sacrifices of those who fought and died in these campaigns “shall never be forgotten”. He will reflect on the horrors endured by prisoners of war and innocent civilians in occupied lands, stating that “whose suffering reminds us that war’s true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life”.
The King will also emphasise the importance of international collaboration, saying 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”.
Approximately 1,500 guests will attend the national commemoration, where they will hear firsthand accounts from veterans who experienced the conflict in the Far East. The war concluded with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender and VJ Day on 15 August 1945.
The service will commence with a national two-minute silence. A flypast by the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane, and Lancaster aircraft will also take place, accompanied by military bagpipers playing at dawn in the Far East section of the Arboretum.
Prime Minister’s Tribute
The Prime Minister hosted a special reception at Downing Street for veterans, describing the government as one of “service.” He drew parallels between the past and present, referencing a meeting with President Zelensky, “who is fighting for the same values as we were fighting for. And so when we say never forget, we must pass on the stories of those who have gone before us.”
During the Downing Street garden party, veteran Stanley Elliss, aged 103, and his daughter shared wartime photographs with the Prime Minister.
Labour Leader’s Statement
Sir Keir Starmer commented: “Eighty years since our victory in the Second World War, we pay our respects to the many who fought, were captured, and made the ultimate sacrifice in the Far East. Our country owes a great debt to those who fought for a better future, so we could have the freedoms and the life we enjoy today. We must honour that sacrifice with every new generation.”
Untold Stories
Many of the veterans attending the Arboretum event have never shared their stories before, having registered with the RBL specifically to participate in the 80th-anniversary commemorations of Victory over Japan.
The veterans present served in various branches of the British Armed Forces, including the British Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force. Their roles encompassed a wide range of duties, from submarine deployment to minesweeping and destroyer operations, as well as serving as Spitfire pilots and combat cameramen.
Among the oldest veterans attending are Yavar Abbas and Owen Filer, both aged 105. Other notable attendees include two of the last surviving Chindits – Charlie Richards, 104, and Sid Machin, 101 – who served in the elite Special Forces unit renowned for their deep jungle warfare tactics as part of Operation Thursday.
Mr. Richards, who served in the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, spent months operating behind enemy lines, ambushing Japanese supplies and communication lines. He said: “I am so proud to attend the RBL’s national event, and I think it will be a really poignant moment for those of us left. I want to represent all those who saw action in the Far East and remember those who never made it home, including my best friend and comrade, Son Johnson, who was killed in action in Burma. It will be such a special day for me and my family.”
A Veteran’s Plea for Peace
Joseph Hammond, 100, who fought in Burma in the 82nd Division, will be watching the live broadcast from his home in Ghana. He sustained a serious eye injury during his service and remained hospitalised until the war’s end.
In 2020, Mr. Hammond walked 14 miles over seven days to raise £500,000 for frontline workers and veterans during the Covid pandemic. Reflecting on his experiences, he said: “Why should such a thing happen? Man killing his fellow man. Humanity, destroying humanity. Never allow your country to go that way. It’s no good. I know how it feels, so I have to advise everybody to keep away from war. Let us continue to enjoy our peace.”
Broadcast Details
The service will be broadcast live on BBC One, hosted by actress and author Celia Imrie. Imrie stated: “It is an honour to be hosting this momentous occasion with The Royal British Legion, to pay tribute to these courageous and inspiring veterans who are able to join us at the National Memorial Arboretum on VJ Day, and to remember those who never made it home.”
Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, added: “It is an enormous privilege for the RBL to be leading the nation on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with our service of remembrance at National Memorial Arboretum broadcast live on BBC One. Victory over Japan would not have been possible without the diverse contribution of Allied Forces from Britain, the Commonwealth and beyond, and this is one of our last chances to thank veterans who fought in the Far East and Pacific for their service and sacrifice. Their contribution brought an end to the Second World War and this is a moment for the country to come together and commemorate this momentous anniversary and pay tribute to their courage and bravery.”
A Nation Remembers
Around 5 million men and women served in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War, with millions more mobilised from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, Canada, and across the Commonwealth, including African and Caribbean nations.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated: “We must never forget this vital part of our national story. By coming together to hear the stories of our brave VJ Day veterans first-hand, we can ensure that the legacy of our British Armed Forces and those from across the Commonwealth is passed on to future generations.”
National Landmarks Light Up
To mark VJ 80, hundreds of buildings across the country will be illuminated, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower42, The Shard, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, the Cenotaph, the Kranji War Memorial in Singapore, and the White Cliffs of Dover.
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