Royals and Red Arrows commemorate 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Welcome to BFBS Forces News coverage of events taking place across the UK and Commonwealth to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
We'll bring you the latest updates throughout the day, including coverage of the King's address to the nation and a remembrance service to take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Please refresh the page regularly to see the most recent stories.
What is happening across the UK today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day?
Commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day began on Thursday with a sunset ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates in London.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also held a reception for VJ Day veterans at Downing Street yesterday afternoon, where he said: "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.
"We must honour that sacrifice with every new generation."
An audio message from the King is expected to be broadcast shortly, before the King and Queen make their way to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to take part in a ceremony of remembrance.
A two-minute silence at midday will conclude with an aerial display by the Red Arrows.
A flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will close the service. The King and Queen will subsequently attend a reception with Second World War veterans.
The King recognises 'Forgotten Army' and prisoners of war in VJ Day address
In an address to the nation, the King recognised the "unyielding support" of "devoted battlefield commander" Field Marshal William Slim in bringing about the British victory in Burma during the Second World War.
"As Patron of the now Burma Star Memorial Fund… it has been my privilege to reassure the remaining veterans that they and their fallen comrades shall never be forgotten," he said.
The King also paid tribute to the prisoners of war, who endured "years of brutal captivity", and the Allied pilots that displayed "fearless bravery, flying fighters, bombers and transport aircraft into enemy fire and Nature's fury".
He concluded his address by recognising the impact of the atomic bombs on the civilians of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing the catastrophic events as "a price we pray no nation need ever pay again", before issuing a call for unity and community as a lesson from the events of VJ Day.
In pictures: the sunset ceremony to recognise Commonwealth veterans for VJ Day
The four stone pillars of the Commonwealth Memorial Gates were lit up yesterday evening with the names and faces of Commonwealth soldiers who contributed to victory against Imperial Japan.
The countries who fought alongside Britain were also projected onto the memorial before the Last Post was played.
Armed Forces still draw inspiration from service of what was the greatest generation, Defence Secretary says
Defence Secretary John Healey has told BFBS Forces News that it is an important occasion for the modern Armed Forces as 400 current serving personnel will take part in the national service at the National Memorial Arboretum.
"It signifies the way that I think our forces today still draw inspiration from the service and sacrifice of what was the greatest generation," Mr Healey said.
"It’s a proud day for them as well to be part of the service, part of the Red Arrows flypast and, of course, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as well."
Cunard’s newest cruise ship, Queen Anne, returns to Mersey as part of VJ commemorations
The Queen Anne, the newest liner in cruise company Cunard’s fleet, returned to the River Mersey this morning to lead commemorative events marking Victory over Japan Day.
At 12:02 BST, she will lead ships sounding their whistles to end a two-minute silence, a tribute to remember the day the Second World War ended in the Pacific.
The tribute also honours Cunard’s pivotal role in the war. Working from the Cunard Building at the city’s Pier Head, the company was praised by Prime Minister Winston Churchill for its invaluable contribution to the war effort.
Some of Cunard’s most famous ships, including the world’s largest, Queen Elizabeth, and the fastest, Queen Mary, were turned into troop carriers. The Queen Mary set a record that still stands today, carrying 16,683 people on one trip.
In the final months of the war, Cunard ships sailed west to bring Allied troops home to North America and east to return British prisoners of war freed from the Japanese camps.
Prince and Princess of Wales post VJ Day tribute on social media to those who served
The royal couple said to mark the 80th anniversary, they "especially think of those British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the Asia-Pacific."
They added: "We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful. Lest we forget."
I get inspired by the legacy and bravery of my grandfather, Gurkha soldier says
A serving Gurkha soldier, who is a third-generation member of the Brigade of Gurkhas, has said that we would not have been able to enjoy peace around the world without the effort of his grandfather in the Far East back then.
"I get inspired [by] the legacy and the bravery of my grandfather," WO2 Khadak Chhetri revealed to BFBS Forces News.
"My father followed [in] his footsteps, and he joined the same regiment, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles. So, my grandfather was in the second Gurkha Rifles.
"My father joined the 1st Battalion, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles, and then, many years later, in 1992, I joined the same regiment."
WO2 Chhetri also said his grandfather was captured by the Japanese and he spent three-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war in Japanese captivity during the conflict.
King lays wreath during ceremony to mark VJ Day
King Charles III, flanked by his wife Queen Camilla, has laid a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to commemorate the sacrifices of those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War.
The King, wearing a stone Field Marshal Number 4 uniform, walked up to the plinth and placed the wreath delicately into position before moving back and saluting the memorial.
Red Arrows conduct flypast at conclusion of the two-minute silence to mark VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum
The RAF’s Red Arrows performed a flypast over the memorial with their customary red, white and blue vapour trails coming out behind the Hawk T1 jets.
During the ceremony, a VJ veteran read The Exhortation and Royal Marine Buglers played The Last Post, and a two-minute silence followed.
The Royal Air Force aerobatic team's flypast signalled the end of the two-minute silence.
Great-grandson of former PoW says he wants to carry on commemorating VJ Day for as long as possible
A current serving leading engineering technician recalls the trials and tribulations his great-grandfather faced as a Japanese prisoner of war during the Second World War.
After being captured in Java, Alfred Hall was sent to the island of Ambon to help build another airfield for the Japanese.
"He went down, sick and injured whilst working on the airfields, he was transported on a health ship, kind of all around the Far East, and eventually ended up in Singapore," recalls LET Callum Williams about his great-grandfather.
Conditions on these ships were dire, with hundreds of men packed in and no room or fresh air. Some of the ships were mistaken for Japanese troop transporters and were sometimes sunk by the Allied forces.
When talking about awareness of conditions on the ships among his colleagues, LET Williams said: "It's not something that’s particularly come up in conversation," but during rehearsals this week, it's allowed him to talk about it more.
"On board a warship, it is a tight, confined space. But we have a lot more room now than people ever have. And especially compared to those ships."
LET Williams attended the service at the National Memorial Arboretum.
"I think it's hugely important. Those boys are the ones who went away and fought for the world that we can live in today. So having something like this is an honour, and people should cherish events like this," he said.
"These commemorations should never stop. Just because time moves on doesn't mean we should forget about what happened.
"We're absolutely willing to carry on these commemorations for as long as we can."
Video: King and Prime Minister observe two-minute silence and Kohima Epitaph read by VJ Day veteran
The King and Queen, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria and dozens of VJ Day veterans have observed a two-minute silence at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The Kohima Epitaph was also read by a 105-year-old veteran attending the service. The verse, which is used by the Burma Star Association, reads:
"When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today."
Dad came out of a battle in only socks and underpants, son of Burma veteran tells BFBS Forces News
The father of former Parachute Regiment officer Levison Wood has said that a friend of his father's told him that his dad came out of the jungle wearing only his socks and underpants after a battle.
"That particular battle, Dad was on picket duty, and his friend told me, who served with him in the same battalion, that I can always remember your dad emerging from the jungle with nothing more than his socks and underpants," Levison Wood Snr said.
"The rest had been ripped off his shoulders."
He said that once he passes away, he knows that son Levison Wood Jnr will continue the legacy of laying a wreath every year in memory of his Burma veteran grandfather.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast rounds off VJ Day 80 ceremony in Staffordshire
A Spitfire, a Hurricane, and an Avro Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have flown over Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum to mark the conclusion of the service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
The trio flew in a triangle formation with the Lancaster in the middle, and the other aircraft either side.
The three vintage aircraft soared through the skies as their propellers rotated and engines kept them chugging along in the bright sunshine, footage released by the National Memorial Arboretum showed.
British Forces Cyprus marks the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in mini heatwave
Serving men and women from British Forces Cyprus have gathered at Dhekelia Cemetery to mark VJ Day’s 80th anniversary.
The memorial service, organised by the Larnaca Branch of the Royal British Legion, included bible readings, the Act of Remembrance, and a two-minute silence.
Alongside veterans from all three services, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Wildish, Station Commander at Dhekelia, plus Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Muir of 4 Scots, joined the event.
The battalion recently took over as Resident Infantry Battalion at Alexander Barracks in Dhekelia.
Lieutenant Sean Sinclair, a piper with the Royal Signals and based on the island, played the traditional military lament, Flower of the Forest.
He said: "I always enjoy playing for these things. It's an honour and a privilege.
"I often feel quite emotional thinking about the sacrifices made."
Lt Sinclair's family all served during the war, including his Great Uncle Pim in Burma with the Royal Signals. "He wouldn't talk about it," the piper said.
The service, held at midday, saw temperatures reach 37°C.
"In Cyprus right now, we're going through a mini heatwave.
"To fight in the Far East, you would have had similar temperatures, 100% humidity, terrain and combat to contend with.
"It would have been very difficult," Lt Sinclair added.
VJ Day commemoration ceremony concludes at National Memorial Arboretum
The VJ Day commemorative events are now coming to an end at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The King and Queen, along with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, met several of the veterans and thanked them for their service and sacrifice during the Far East campaign 80 years ago.
All 33 veterans in attendance also gathered together for a memorable photograph to mark the historic occasion.
That concludes our live coverage of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Thank you for following along.
There are plenty more VJ Day stories across our website, including an exclusive look at artefacts that signalled the end of the Second World War with Japan, a former Royal Marines Commando giving his verdict on the Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill, and reflections on Field Marshal William Slim by those who knew him.
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