Today (Friday, 15 August) marks 80 years since Victory over Japan Day, the moment Japan surrendered in 1945 and the Second World War came to an end.
Events are taking place across the country to remember those who served in the Far East and those who lost their lives during the final months of the war.
The King and Queen are leading the national commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, joined by the Prime Minister and surviving veterans. The day began with pipers playing at The Cenotaph in London, Edinburgh Castle and the Arboretum’s Japanese peace garden.
At midday, a national two-minute silence will be held, followed by floral tributes from the royals and a flypast from the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
In his address this morning, King Charles said:
“On this day of profound remembrance, I speak to you in that same spirit of commemoration and celebration as we honour anew all those whose service and sacrifice saw the forces of liberty prevail… 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 also spoke about the “Forgotten Army” who fought in the Far East, the bravery of Allied pilots, the suffering endured by prisoners of war, and the immense price paid by the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Across the UK, communities are also holding their own tributes, including:
- A remembrance service in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
- A concert in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
- A beacon lighting in Minster-on-Sea, Kent.
- A flag-raising in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire.
- Memorial services in Wibsey, Taunton, Epsom, Windsor, and Stockport.
At the Arboretum, visitors can also see an exhibition of portraits by British chaplain and prisoner of war Fred Stallard, offering a glimpse into life in Japanese POW camps.
This anniversary is one of the last major VJ Day commemorations likely to be attended by surviving veterans, making today’s tributes especially significant.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
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