VJ Day 70th anniversary events to take place

Queen Elizabeth II led ceremonies in Britain on Saturday marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japan during World War II.

A series of events will commemorate the sacrifices of British Second World War forces who fought and died defeating Japan.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are attending a service this morning at St Martin’s within the Field church in London.

Veterans, civilian internees, and their families and descendants will be invited to Horse Guards Parade to take part in an event supported by military bands and soldiers.

During the event, actor Charles Dance will read The Road To Mandalay by Rudyard Kipling. However, a successful British campaign in Burma saw the Japanese army halted and driven back.

Big screens will be put up in and around Whitehall for the public to see the VJ Day veterans’ ceremony and then a parade, as they head to a reception at Westminster Abbey.

It wasn’t until two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that the Japanese surrendered on August 15 of that year.

Historian Rafe Heydel Mankoo told Sky News: “Many veterans feel that their accomplishments and the awful tragedies they had to endure have been overlooked”.

Despite the threats the Queen is set to appear at a major event today.

Scotland Yard said the Met had been working closely with the events’ organisers and relevant partners to ensure the policing operation is “proportionate and appropriate”.

The memorial was followed by a service led by lay minister Meg Cook and attended by the Bitterne Royal British Legion who carried in standards into the service.

“I would also like to reiterate our long-standing advice to residents and visitors to remain vigilant and alert. And they didn’t start returning home until three or four months later”.

Bishop to the Armed Forces Nigel Stock, whose uncle was a prisoner of war, delivered the sermon, saying, “we remember as we need to be reminded of what the human spirit can achieve”.

Hundreds of spectators are expected to cheer them on.

David Cameron said it was important to “honour the memory of those that died”.

“I think it’s also particularly important perhaps, this anniversary, where so numerous participants are now such a great age”.