End of war in Pacific commemorated

Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, 70 years ago on Saturday.

The years of war left 40,000 Australians dead, more than 100,000 wounded and 30,000 were prisoners of war.

“They would then undertake the economic and social reconstruction of Australia, laying the foundations for the prosperity enjoyed by subsequent generations, including my own”.

“You fought in the air and on the sea, in the jungle and in the desert”.

“You fought against evils that sought to destroy human decency and you fought to build a lasting peace”.

“These are precious gifts bestowed upon us by those who fought, some of who are present here today, some of whom suffered mightily”, he said.

The Australian War Memorial will host seminars in Canberra on the Pacific campaigns and the art of the Pacific War.

But while Australians were commemorated today for their “sacrifice, bravery, comradeship and all those qualities that define us as Australians”, it was also period of deep remorse.

The War Memorial also will display old newspapers from the day.

“In one case we had to attack a building where Japanese soldiers were sending messages back to a big gun which was targeting our ships”.

Dr Nelson said the generation of Australians being honoured today were the greatest generation the nation had ever produced.

“Born in the aftermath of the war that was, growing up through the Great Depression and coming to adulthood under the shadows of the war that was coming, they mobilised to defend our nation, its values and vital interests”, he said.

‘I would encourage all Australians to consider attending and paying their respects to our Second World War veterans and their families, ‘ he said in a statement.

The ceremony began with a fly-over by an RAAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster.

“It’s the last major anniversary where we will have numbers of veterans with us”.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Western Australian State War Memorial in Kings Park, Perth.

The wreath-laying ceremony was one of many events that marked the anniversary across the nation.

The service was attended by the Japanese Consul General Masanobu Joshii, who was among those who laid a wreath.

Tasmania’s RSL president Robert Dick said it was a significant occasion. “It was a war against the military hierarchy bereft of scruples and bent on conquest”, he said.