Our city will join together to remember VJ Day

WHILST the the war in Europe ended in May 1945, fighting continued until 15th August 1945 in the Far East. As dreadful as the consequences of dropping the bombs were, there would have also been more dreadful consequences if it had not been dropped.

- Gina Wales

The blame lies with the Japanese government who could have prevented it by surrendering before the bombs were dropped.

Between VE & VJ Day thousands were killed as well as imprisoned and although some say that the bombs should not have been dropped, it bought WW2 to an end.

In those short weeks alone hundreds and thousands of deaths were prevented, not only the deaths from the fighting forces but deaths from the atrocities they imposed on FEPOWS - Far East Prisoners of War. They enslaved not only allied forces but civilian men, women, and children in the Far East and in Japan. Taking the women as “comfort women” and using them for their own benefit.

These people would have died in atrocious circumstances as well as the casualties of the fighting forces.

Like so many thousands, British and the Commonwealth Forces, men women and children were taken prisoners for 3.5 years, suffering brutal and mindless cruelty, beatings, barbaric slave labour, disease, starvation, being deprived of real food, only 350 grams of rice a day and any insects or animals that could go with the rice, did so. If you were sick and the Japanese didn't wish you to live another day, you were given 150grams of rice.