People invited to attend VJ Day 80 anniversary service in Great Yarmouth

The commemorative service will take place at 6pm on Friday, August 15, at the Far East Prisoner of War (FEPOW) Memorial on Marine Parade in the town.

VJ marks the day in August 1945 when Imperial Japan surrendered, effectively bringing the Second World War to an end. There is strong local significance to VJ Day because many men from the borough served in the Far East.

This year's milestone service will be marked nationally with a Royal British Legion - in partnership with the Government - National Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on August 15.

Paying tribute to all those who served in the Far East and the Pacific, a national two-minute silence will be held at midday, followed by a one-hour service at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial. The event will be broadcast live on BBC One. 

The commemoration will feature 400 members of the Armed Forces and include music from military bands, as well as a flypast from the Red Arrows and historic aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. 

The service in Great Yarmouth will be led by Revd Canon Simon Ward, Rector of Great Yarmouth and Rural Dean, Great Yarmouth Deanery. An Act of Remembrance will be led by FEPOW Chaplain Pauline Simpson BEM, chaplain and secretary/welfare officer for the National FEPOW Association.

During the service there will be a two-minute silence followed by a wreath laying where the Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Carl Annison, will lay a wreath on behalf of the borough.

Councillor Annison said: "VJ Day is an enormously important opportunity for our community to pay its respects to Far East prisoners of war. This year and every year we invite people across the borough to join us at our annual service to remember the price they paid for our freedom."

Anyone who would like to attend the service to honour and recognise those who served and those who sacrificed their lives in the Far East and ultimately brought an end to the Second World War, is asked to please arrive at 5.50pm for the 6pm start.