VJ 80 Commemorations

Lichfield

The VJ 80 Commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield was held on Friday 15th August and attended by HRH King Charles 3rd and Queen Camilla, alongside the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. LiMMA was represented by Jean Clements, her son Gage Garside, Anthony Jones, Gerry Borge, Paul Hanson and his wife, Geoff and Julia Haviland, Brian and Gillian Finch.

There were several readings from veterans of WW2, videos of veterans talking about their war experiences and videos of survivors of Civilian Internment Camps in Japan, a fly-over from the Red Arrows and a Lancaster Bomber accompanied by Spitfires.

COFEPOW also organised an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day at Lichfield Cathedral on 16th August 2025, which was attended by many COFEPOW members and Geoff Haviland and his wife representing LiMMA.

The service featured the Captives Hymn and the Happiness Box, composed by Far East prisoners, one as a civilian internee and the other as a POW. Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving were written and read by young members of COFEPOW families. The prayers confirmed our commitment to the memory of those who gave their lives for their country in war. The Last Post and Reveille were played with a two minute silence between and followed by one of the children reciting the Kohima Epitaph.

Southampton

Southampton was one of the repatriation ports for FEPOWs and there is a memorial listing the the names of the ships involved, including the Queen Mary, which brought home some of the Lisbon Maru survivors.

To commemorate VJ 80 in Southampton on 15th August 2025 a flag raising ceremony took place at the Civic Centre, followed by by wreath laying at the Repatriation Memorial in Southampton’s Town Quay Park and attended by FEPOW relatives, including Robert Golding representing LiMMA.

Then there was then a civic reception on board the Queen Mary 2 for local dignitaries including the Lord Mayor and local MP, as well as a number of FEPOW descendants.

The reception included 2 minutes silence, followed by a blast of the old steam whistle from the original Queen Mary.

Events later that day included a Lancaster fly past and a beacon lighting ceremony at Southampton’s Holyrood Church.

Then on Saturday 16th August 2025, the Royal British Legion led a parade, followed by a commemorative service and community picnic in Southampton’s Palmerston Park.

Edinburgh

The Royal Scots Regimental Trust marked VJ 80 with a Thanksgiving Service at The Royal Scots Memorial Garden, Lauriston Castle Estate, Edinburgh remembering all those who served their country to secure the freedom we enjoy today. The service was attended by many Far East POW relatives, including three relatives of Lisbon Maru Royal Scots FEPOWs Gerry Borge, Janette Donoghue and Iain Gow, representing LiMMA.

The service was conducted by Rev Dr Iain May, Chaplain to the Royal Scots Association, Gerry read a Prayer for the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day and Iain read the FEPOW Prayer. The service also included the lament, the Flowers of the Forest, two minutes silence, Reveille: Hey, Johnnie Cope, laying of wreaths and the Kohima Epitaph.

Also in Edinburgh was the Royal Scots Museum Outreach Team's VJ Day 80 event, Central Library Edinburgh. The exhibition featured many pictures and articles about the Lisbon Maru and men from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots, who were on board.

Weymouth

Weymouth's VJ 80 Commemorations included a remembrance service organised by the Royal British Legion at Weymouth Cenotaph on 15th August 2025 and attended by Mandy Stubbs representing LiMMA.

As part of the service, Mandy was invited to share the Lisbon Maru story and that of her grandad Arthur W Bright, whose story you can read here on LiMMA's digital memorial page the Men on Board the Lisbon Maru.

Then on 16th August 2025 the Royal Bristish Legion held a celebration of VJ Day at the Nothe, a beautiful park by the sea in Weymouth.

There was music from the Decadettes and Mandy was asked to speak again about the Lisbon Maru and her grandad.

Warminster

Warminster's VJ 80 Commemorations were organised by the Royal British Legion and held at the Chapel of St Lawrence.

The remembrance service included the Ode of Remembrance, read by the Rt Hon Andrew Murrison VR MP, the Last Post, two minutes silence, the Reveille and the Kohima Epitaph and was attended by many relatives including Ken Williams, representing LiMMA.

There was also a short sunset ceremony to remember the 52 men from Warminster, who never came home from World War II.

London

The London VJ 80 Commemorations included a reception at No. 10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer for veterans and their families, attended by Mandy Stubbs representing LiMMA.

Other attendees included a veteran of the war in the Far East, the organiser of the Suez Maru Families Group and Dan Snow the historian.