Hartlepool will pay its tribute on VJ Day anniversary

Published Friday, 14th August 2020

Hartlepool will join with the rest of the nation to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day - on Saturday 15 August.

Whilst VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and VJ Day marks the day that Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, ending the Second World War.

VJ Day 75 will pay tribute to the service personnel from across the UK and the Commonwealth who fought and died in the war against Japan, including all those who were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.

As with the VE Day anniversary, national and local events have had to be scaled back due to the COVID-19 situation and the need for physical distancing, but there are still lots of ways people can mark this milestone and pay tribute to those who served in the Far East and the Second World War as a whole from their own homes and while maintaining physical distancing.

VJ Day logo

Throughout the day a number of local highlights will be streamed on the Council’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hartlepoolcouncil :

* 11am – A civic ceremony of remembrance led by the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Brenda Loynes, beginning with a national two-minute silence. Please note – due to physical distancing restrictions this is a broadcast-only event.

* 12 noon – A video message from the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon.

* 1pm - Remembrance readings.

* 2pm – A civic toast, featuring the Cere- Remembrance readings.monial Mayor of Hartlepool, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion Councillor Lee Cartwright and representatives of Hartlepool Armed Forces Liaison Group.

* 3pm – Raising of VJ Day flags outside Hartlepool Civic Centre.

* 4pm – Acts of remembrance across the town by Hartlepool Armed Forces Liaison Group.

* 6pm – A further act of remembrance.

The national highlights will include:

* 11am – HRH The Prince of Wales, accompanied by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, will lead the country in a two minute silence for all those who served in the Far East from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire as part of a national remembrance event broadcast on BBC One from 9.30am-11.30am.

8.30pm – ‘VJ Day 75: The Nation’s Tribute’ will be broadcast on BBC One until 10pm.

The national event website www.ve-vjday75.gov.uk has lots of great ideas to help people take part, including activities for children and details of how to research your family’s wartime history online.

People can also share wartime memories and tributes on social media using #VJDay75.

Councillor Brenda Loynes, the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, said: “Coming after VE Day, VJ Day has sometimes in the past been referred to as ‘the forgotten victory’, but nothing could be further from the truth and on this its 75th anniversary, Hartlepool pays full and rightful tribute to all those who served in the Far East, not least those who suffered as prisoners of war.

“This anniversary is also a further opportunity for us to honour the remarkable courage and tenacity of the Second World War generation as a whole, who continue to set us such an inspiring and unparalleled example.”

Councillor Lee Cartwright, the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, added: “The conflict in the Far East saw some of the bitterest fighting of the whole of the Second World War, set against the background of the added horrors of dense jungle conditions.

“All those who served showed the highest bravery and deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. We will honour their memory always.”