A SPECIAL service was held in Alcester last Friday (August 15) to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day).
About 30 people gathered at the war memorial on St Nicholas Church Green to remember the end point of the Second World War and those that had sacrificed their lives in the so-called ‘Forgotten Army’ – the name given to the Fourteenth Army, one of the main fighting forces in the Far East.
A service was conducted by Revd Julie Lindsay, with wreaths laid on behalf of Alcester Royal British Legion (Alcester RBL) and Alcester Town Council by its chairman Mark Cargill and mayor of Alcester David Henderson, respectively.
Also in attendance was Alcester RBL branch president, Mike Gittus, vice president Christine Tolman and Henry Seymour, 9th Marquess of Herford. The standard bearers were Mike Clarke and Ian Flear.
Mark Cargill, chairman of Alcester RBL said: “VJ Day remembers those who served in the Pacific and Asia conflict, often referred to as ‘The Forgotten War’.
“In contrast to the euphoria of the VE Day celebrations, VJ Day commemorates a conflict defined by its cruelty and the hardships endured and the significant loss of life.
“The war ended abruptly with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing many thousands. Doing so was believed to have saved many more lives from an ongoing conflict.
“It would be many months before those service people were able to return home.”
