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| VJ Day: Queen to lead 70th anniversary commemorations | VJ Day: Queen to lead 70th anniversary commemorations |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Queen is to lead events to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, when Japan surrendered and World War Two ended. | The Queen is to lead events to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, when Japan surrendered and World War Two ended. |
| She and the Duke of Edinburgh will join the prime minister and former prisoners of war at a remembrance service at St Martin's in the Field church in London. | |
| A service will also be held in Horse Guard's Parade, followed by a flypast and march by veterans of the Far East. | A service will also be held in Horse Guard's Parade, followed by a flypast and march by veterans of the Far East. |
| In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the date by expressing "profound grief" at his country's actions in WW2. | In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the date by expressing "profound grief" at his country's actions in WW2. |
| Although fighting in Europe ended in May 1945, the battle between the Allies and Japan continued. | Although fighting in Europe ended in May 1945, the battle between the Allies and Japan continued. |
| It was only after two atomic bombs were dropped on the country that the Japanese surrendered on 15 August that year. | It was only after two atomic bombs were dropped on the country that the Japanese surrendered on 15 August that year. |
| The service at St Martin's in the Field will recall the estimated 71,000 British and Commonwealth casualties of the war against Japan, including more than 12,000 prisoners of war who died in Japanese captivity. | The service at St Martin's in the Field will recall the estimated 71,000 British and Commonwealth casualties of the war against Japan, including more than 12,000 prisoners of war who died in Japanese captivity. |
| The last post will be sounded and a piper's lament played as wreaths are laid at the church's memorial to Far Eastern Prisoners of War. | The last post will be sounded and a piper's lament played as wreaths are laid at the church's memorial to Far Eastern Prisoners of War. |
| Later, in Horse Guards Parade, there will be a fly-past of WW2 aircraft, attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. | Later, in Horse Guards Parade, there will be a fly-past of WW2 aircraft, attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. |
| Veteran march | Veteran march |
| The service will include a reading of The Road to Mandalay, a poem which inspired a marching tune used by the 14th Army while fighting in Burma, now known as Myanmar. | The service will include a reading of The Road to Mandalay, a poem which inspired a marching tune used by the 14th Army while fighting in Burma, now known as Myanmar. |
| Veterans and civilian prisoners will then parade down Whitehall accompanied by marching bands to a reception in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. | Veterans and civilian prisoners will then parade down Whitehall accompanied by marching bands to a reception in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. |
| Services are to take place across the UK, including at: | |
| A service will also be held at the national Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where wreaths will be laid at the Malayan Volunteers Group Memorial. | A service will also be held at the national Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where wreaths will be laid at the Malayan Volunteers Group Memorial. |
| Clare Makepeace, historian of modern warfare at University College London, told BBC Radio 5 live: "VJ Day has definitely been in the shadow of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) and that's partly because the war in Europe was the main priority of Britain." | |
| She added that it was "great to be here today seeing it receive the same prominence". | |
| VJ Day 70: The Nation Remembers is on Saturday 15 August from 10:30 BST on BBC One. | |
| Further reading | Further reading |
| WWII: History's most savage and devastating war | WWII: History's most savage and devastating war |
| What's the secret code that helped win WWII? | What's the secret code that helped win WWII? |
| Countdown to Hiroshima: timeline of the bomb that changed the world | Countdown to Hiroshima: timeline of the bomb that changed the world |
| Was it right to bomb Hiroshima? | Was it right to bomb Hiroshima? |
| I fought the Japanese in Burma aged 18 | I fought the Japanese in Burma aged 18 |