VJ Day 80th Anniversary, Friday 15th August 2025
The Parish Council commemorated the end of the war in Europe on 8th May 2025 (VE Day) by an event in the Village Hall, the lighting of a beacon, a tribute and a roll call of those from the village who died in conflict, but the end of the second World War did not finally happen until 15th August 1945 (VJ Day). Our event in May formed part of the national programme of events over 4 days to recognise that important date in the nation’s history.
However, at that time 80 years ago, thousands of British and Commonwealth military personnel continued to fight Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific for a further three months before Victory over Japan (VJ Day) was declared on 15 August 1945, following Imperial Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces. Alongside British Armed Forces, hundreds of thousands of people served in the Far East from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nepal and from African nations.
Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principal fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history – more than 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented. It is often referred to as the ‘Forgotten Army’
The descendants of many of the Commonwealth veterans of that army are today part of multicultural communities around the world, a lasting legacy to the success and comradeship of those who fought in the Asia-Pacific.
A Service of Remembrance will honour and remember those who fought and died during the Second World War in the Far East at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which will be broadcast live on BBC1 from midday.
Second World War veteran and Royal British Legion ambassador Tom Berry, 101, from Macclesfield, who was serving on HMS Tartar in the Pacific at the time of the Japanese surrender, said:
‘For veterans like me and all those who carried on fighting until VJ Day was announced, this will be a very emotional day – a moment in history. I’ll be watching the service at home, and I’d ask the country to do the same – to stop and remember all those who gave so much for our freedoms, and those who never made it back’
A national two-minute silence on Friday 15 August at noon will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and as we will not be holding another event specifically to commemorate VJ Day, the Parish Council would like to encourage everyone who wishes to acknowledge and remember this moment in history to join in the silence.