HYTHE AND SALTWOOD BRANCH
VJ DAY
THURSDAY 15TH AUGUST 2024 - 10.45AM
Welcome Dudley Shipton, Branch Padre.
The Beatitudes St. Matthew Chapter 5 Verses 1-10, Branch Secretary.
Praying Together - Branch Padre
Response to May God Give Peace.
May God Give Peace.
Exhortation
Major Keith Miles, Chairman RBL Hythe and Saltwood.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".
All - "We will remember them".
The Last Post
Silence- two minutes
Reveille
Kohima Epitaph
Major Keith Miles - " When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today."
A Wreath will be laid - John Sinclair Thomas, member of Hythe and Saltwood Branch. Royal British Legion.
Prayer of Commitment - Branch Padre.
Lord's prayer - Branch Padre.
The Blessing - Branch Padre.
VJ DAY
Victory over Japan Day on 15 August marks the surrender of Japanese Forces, which in effect ended the Second World War. For months after VE Day on 8 May 1946 war continued to wage in the Asia-Pacific region and only came to an end after two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
From 1941 to 1945 conflict between Japan - a key ally for Germany, and Britain, the Commonwealth, and its Allies had raged in the Asia-Pacific region after Japanese aircraft attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbour.
The scope of the war was vast – an area far larger and more diverse than those of Europe, North Africa and the Atlantic theatres of war combined. Fighting took place from Hawaii to the north-east borders of India and from Papua New Guinea in the south to Manchuria in northern China on the border with the Soviet Union.
By 1945 365,000 British and 1.5 million Commonwealth troops were deployed. The men and women who fought came from all corners of the world from Ghana to Bangladesh and from Fiji to Gambia. The Fourteenth Army was one of the most diverse armies in history, where it is estimated that 40 different languages were spoken.
The Japanese surrender was met with relief and celebration that after 6 long years the Second World War was finally over.
Some 90,332 British Troops were casualties in the war against Japan, of which 29,968 died and 12,433 were held as prisoners of war. The US lost 100,000 killed in action. Estimates of Chinese losses both civilian and military are approximately 20 million. Over 2.6 million Japanese people lost their lives as a result of military action, disease or starvation.
