Malmesbury mayor Cllr Stephen James will be leading VJ Day commemorations (Victory over Japan Day) by commemorating the 80th anniversary on Friday August 15.
VJ Day marks the day that Imperial Japan surrendered to Allied Forces in 1945. After the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Russia declaring war with Japan, the 15th of August saw the announcement of Emperor Hirohito’s acceptance of surrender across Japanese radio.
It was on September 2 1945, that the official written confirmation of surrender from Japan marked the official end to all World War 2 conflict.
Malmesbury’s VJ Day commemorations will be held from 3:30pm, with residents and visitors welcomed to take part in the events.
Cllr James said: “It’s important as a community that we mark a day like this and remember those who gave their service and many their lives so that we live in freedom today. We welcome anyone who wants to be part of our activities to honour those people.”
Cllr James, who became Malmesbury’s mayor in May, had an illustrious career in the Armed Forces. He spent 41 years in the Royal Artillery, reaching the rank of Colonel. He served in Germany, the Balkans, Iraq, Italy and the UK. He is passionate about commemorating an often-overlooked anniversary.
“The Far East campaign tends to be overlooked. Remote from the experience of most people at home and often sidelined in the contemporary press, it became known as the forgotten war, fought by a forgotten army,” he said. “We must not forget how important these armed forces were in ending the war.”
Events begin at Malmesbury Abbey with a special service, followed by refreshments, at 3:30pm.
At 7:30pm there is a civic reception for invited guests in Malmesbury Town Hall and at 8:00pm Cuckingstool Mead will be open to the public, with a bar and barbecue provided by the Rose and Crown.
At 9:10pm Cllr James will give his Mayoral address with the Royal British Legion and prayers by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Oliver Ross. To conclude, the VJ Day beacon will be lit at 9:15pm.
“On VJ Day we will remember the 120,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who gave their lives in the longest continuous land campaign of the war, at sea and in the air,” said Cllr James.
To find out more visit: https://www.malmesbury.gov.uk
Article by Jo Smyth, Word Worker
Photo credit to Barbara Leatham
