VJ Day anniversary commemorations

The bravery of all who served in the Far East during the Second World War will be remembered at a special service at Norwich Cathedral to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on 15 August.

The service has been organised in partnership with the National FEPOW Fellowship Welfare Remembrance Association (NFFWRA) and will be attended by the association’s royal patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, who will be accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester.

Please note entry to this service is by ticket only and the deadline to apply for tickets has now passed.

The service will be live streamed via the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel.

While VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in combat in the Far East for a further three months after this.

VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) marks the day Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which ended the Second World War.

A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day will take place at Norwich Cathedral at 11am on Friday 15 August, with a parade through the Cathedral Close at 10.30am.

The Revd Canon Aidan Platten, the Cathedral’s Canon Precentor, who is overseeing the planning for the service, said: “It is a real privilege to be hosting the national VJ Commemoration Service here in Norwich. Many of those who were Far East Prisoners of War had travelled from the eastern region of England and the first Kohima memorial now resides in the cathedral.

“During the service we will remember those who lost their lives in service of our nation and in the cause of peace. We will remember and hear the words of those who suffered the horrors of imprisonment, and in these dangerous and uncertain days, we will commit ourselves to strive for peace.”

The service will be sung by Norwich Cathedral Choir, and Bishop Peter Eagles, a former Army Chaplain, will be preaching.

Entry to this service is by ticket only and the deadline to apply for tickets has now passed.

The service will be live streamed via the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel.

Please note that parking at the Cathedral is only available to ticket-holders who have already pre-arranged this. The Cathedral car park is at now at capacity for Friday 15 August and there are no further spaces available.

Click here for details of nearby car parks and public transport options.

There will be no vehicle access to the Cathedral Close between 10am and 12 noon.

Please also note that on Friday 15 August, the Cathedral and Cloister will be closed to general visitors from 9am, with the Cathedral reopening at 12.45pm and the Cloister reopening at 1pm.

Far East Prisoners of War: The Experience and The Legacy

The day after the VJ Day service, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum will be presenting an event called Far East Prisoners of War: The Experience and The Legacy in the Town Close Auditorium at Norwich Castle.

The event, from 10.30am until 2pm on Saturday 16 August, will feature talks, film and drama commemorating those of the Royal Norfolk Regiment who became FEPOWs. For more information, visit https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/article/70575/Far-East-Prisoners-of-War-The-Experience--The-Legacy

Top picture: FEPOWs celebrating release

Second picture: The Kohima Memorial

Third picture: Voluntary P.T. on board HMS Implacable for ex-FEPOWs regaining some strength and fitness on the long journey home

Picture credit for the top and third images: Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum

Picture credit for second picture: Bill Smith