Various events were held across Devon on Friday 15th August to commemorate Victory over Japan (VJ Day), marking the anniversary of Japan announcing its surrender to the Allied forces during World War II.
PHOTO: Exeter City Council
His Majesty’s Vice Lord Lieutenant, Rear Admiral Chris Snow CBE DL (pictured centre), attended the VJ Day Ceremony at Northernhay Gardens, Exeter, where he lay a wreath at the War Memorial. During the ceremony, he read the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph, as a tribute to those who served and sacrificed during World War II. Also in attendance was the High Sheriff of Devon, Caroline Harlow, and the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Anne Jobson.
PHOTO: David Fitzgerald
His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, Brigadier Simon Young CBE DL (pictured right), attended a special ceremony for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which was held in Plymouth. The service, organised by FEPOW Plymouth (Far East Prisoners of War), was attended by 300 people. Over the last six years, FEPOW have organised the church service, with this year seeing an armed forces marching contingent from St Andrews Church to the Crowne Plaza hotel, to mark the special anniversary. Brigadier Young CBE DL took the salute, along with The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Kathy Watkin, and Major General Richard Cantrill OBE MC.
In attendance was Arie Den Hollander, who was a toddler living in Java when the Japanese invaded. He and his parents were interned and for the duration of the war they suffered at the hands of their captors. Thankfully, all the family survived to be liberated in 1945. Arie laid one of the many wreaths outside St Andrews Church.
Deputy Lieutenant Dr Peta Foxall CBE DL attended the VJ Day Service held in Axminster, where she lay a wreath on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Devon. She also shared a few words remembering the fallen and those who sacrificed their lives, as well as the victory over Japan.