Myanmar News Articles: Sedgefield veterans remember VJ Day

Thursday, 15 August 2013

Sedgefield veterans remember VJ Day

3:43pm Thursday 15th August 2013 in News

By Duncan Leatherdale

VETERANS and villagers came out in force to pay tribute to the British servicemen who served in the Far East during the Second World War to mark the 68th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Sedgefield Veteran's Group organised a service around the town's war memorial to celebrate Victory over Japan Day, which officially marked the end of the war in 1945.

Les Butler, 92, one of the last surviving members of the West Yorkshire Regiment which fought the Japanese in Burma, was the guest of honour and laid a wreath at the memorial with the help of Air Training Corps (ATC) cadet James Simon of the Newton Aycliffe ATC.

Mr Butler, who was awarded the Burma Star, first approached the veteran's group five years ago to ask if they could hold an event to mark VJ Day since when the service has been held every year on August 15.

Durham County Council chairman Pauline Charlton also laid a wreath along with Sedgefield mayor Mel Carr.

Councillor Carr said Sedgefield has a proud history of remembering the wars and said events are already being planned for next year to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.

David Hillerby from the Sedgefield Veteran's group, who also paid tribute to the three SAS soldiers who died recently in the Brecon Beacons, said: "Not only is this about respecting the dead but also the future, we do not want any more wars like those we have had.

"We do not realise how many people died during the Second World War, we always focus on the European campaign but the picture was much bigger."