King hails veterans’ courage and sacrifice

King III and Queen Camilla joined the Second World War veteran to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the VJ Day.

33 people between the ages of 96-105 in the Army in the Far East and Pacific were the guests of Honor at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The wreaths were thrown by the royal couple before the RAF’s red arrows and a national two -minute national silence.

The event heard accounts from the veterans and civilians caught in the war. Previously, the king issued a voice message that the veterans greeted the courage and sacrifice.

Victory against VJ Day or Japan’s Day is commemorated every year on August 15, and in 1945, when Japan surrendered to allied forces, and ends World War II after about six years.

An estimated 71,000 soldiers from the British and the Society of Nations died by fighting Japan, including 12,000 war prisoners.

Actor Celia Imrie told the story of the war in the Far East in the Service organized by the Royal British Legion, because the experiences of the participants were personally and through the films shown on the screen.

George Durrant, who worked at the Intelligence Corps, appeared on the stage with his great grandson, saying that he was not a hero, not as a hero, but a person who witnessed the price of freedom.

Alfred Conway, the royal navy veteran of Lincolnshire, watched his great grandchildren put a wreath on the Burma Thai Railway Monument in Arboretum.

There was a praise from the poet Sir Ben Okri, from the countries in the British Nations Society and his contribution to fighting in Burma (now Myanmar).

The Queen was originally from Lucknow in India, experienced Yavar Abbas, “Although he was under cancer treatment, to greet my brave king with his beloved queen,” a tear.

105 -year -old, 25 years free of cancer, “comfort” hopes will bring, he added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also participated in the service of the World War two -term aircraft, Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber ended with a flypast.

Later, a reception was made to meet the veterans and their families of the King and the Queen.

Among those in service, 100 -year -old Edward Hadfield, Burma, served at the 8th Punjab Regiment and took part in a boat in the Indian Ocean on the VJ Day.

“You have never heard such a cheer in your life,” BBC remembered the BBC. “The war was over, and you were alive and I was alive.”

However, he said he remembered his friends who did not survive. [their] We can get our tomorrow today. “

The 83 -year -old Katharine Canning was in the National Memorial Arboretum. It was 11 months old when his family was declared “enemy aliens” in Japanese occupied China.

Together with his family and brother, he was taken to a concentration camp, where he spent the first few years of his life and remembered that he had been rescued by parachutists on VJ Day at the age of three.

99 -year -old Stanley Roberts, another veteran at the event, said the VJ Day ceremony was “deeply important” for “90th.”

The son of a Japanese military doctor went to England to attend the ceremony.

Yoshi Sekiba said that he paid respect to the deceased British troops: “Unfortunately, we fought each other during the Second World War, but now we are good friends.”

In a message published before the service, King Charles promised that those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East will “never be forgotten”.

80 years ago, his grandfather King George VI announced that the war had ended – the “war tired world has long been praying”.

Now he said that he was talking with the spirit of the same memorial and celebration, because we honored everyone who sees the powers of freedom and sacrifice. “

The King referred to the British, British community and allied forces known as the “forgotten army”, which continued to fight for months after the end of the war in Europe.

Authorized, Japanese captivity “terrible” conditions and occupied areas “great difficulties” innocent civilians encountered, he said.

“His experiences remind us that the real cost of war goes beyond the battlefields, touches every aspect of life – a tragedy shown very lively by the conflicts in the world today.”

The King also adopted the “tremendous price” paid by Hiroshima and Nagasaki citizens, where more than 200,000 people died in August 1945 due to US atomic bombings.

He said that this was “a price we pray for any more”.

King added: “But when we suffered too much, we shouldn’t see how big the cause is and how sweet the victory is.”

He continued to state the cooperation between beliefs and cultural distinctions and said, “The courage and friendship shown in the darkest time of humanity will flames against eternity – a sign that honors our past and guides our future.”

On Thursday, VJ Day commemoration ceremonies began with a sunset ceremony that paid tribute to the staff of the Nations in Gates in Gate Park in the center of London.

While Dawn was broken on Friday, the British military unseen in the Far East of the National Monument Arboretum and Edinburgh Castle and Nepal, Brunei, New Zealand, Japan and Wales Prince, currently played Lamement Battle’s O’er in the Far East.

In decades of a pipeer, a Piper has also performed in a Japanese peace garden in Western London to reflect the reconciliation between England and Japan in decades.

From 21:00 on Friday, buildings throughout the country, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, London Tower, Blackpool Tower, Durham Cathedral and Cardiff Castle and the Cranji war monument in Singapore and the white rocks of Dover in Singapore.

Activities to commemorate its 80th anniversary will result in a reception for veterans in Windsor Castle in autumn.