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How you can still play your part this VJ Day

Victory in Japan Day will be marked on Saturday (15 August), although national 'celebrations' to mark the 75th anniversary will be very different to those planned due to the pandemic. 

The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought an end to the Second World War and the conflict with Japan.

It was the dawn of the nuclear age that brought and wrought unimaginable horrors on both cities - but is credited with saving the lives of countless thousands of allied forces with the war against Japan anticipated to continue for many more months - or longer.

Back in May we reported on VE Day - when on May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered, speaking to those whose relatives fought in the war and who remembered the street parties back home.

Forgotten

But not everyone could celebrate then for the conflict in the Far East against Japan was still going on with many thousands of British troops involved in action, not to mention many thousands more who had been taken prisoner.

After VE Day, VJ Day can all too often be forgotten, yet it marked 75 years ago since the first use of the atomic bombs - and the true end of the war. 

This week we look back at how we reported the news back then and also share some of the fascinating stories of those from our area whose fathers fought against the Japanese.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the national service to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day at St Martin’s-in-the Fields in London will not take place - many holding dear the memories of the 70th anniversary held there five years ago.

However, more locally, people are still being asked to recognise VJ Day this Saturday, and a number of memorial services and street parties have been organised for the day. Online too a special website - which you can visit by clicking here - has been dedicated to VJ Day 75 encouraging and explaining ways people can get involved too.

This includes researching your family tree and finding out about your ancestors who may have been involved - or celebrated the day themselves, plus a dedicated toolkit to help you decorate your home for the occasion. You can also share your World War Two stories via Twitter at #VJDay75.

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