Frome commemorated the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a series of events organised by the Frome branch of Royal British Legion, all aimed at providing a point for reflection and remembrance, for all generations. “Such notable dates cannot go unrecognised” said Jane Norris, Frome RBL Remembrance coordinator. “It is to the generation who witnessed the time and aftermath, and for some who experienced first-hand the atrocities in the Far East and in the Pacific, that we respectfully acknowledged the 15th August, when Japan surrendered, and WW2 was finally at an end.”
A service on the Eve of VJ Day, held at St John the Baptist Church, Frome, saw a Lantern of Hope lit by Gina Parsons, daughter of one of the bravest of the brave Chindit soldiers who went behind enemy lines in the Burmese jungle, on reconnaissance. Her father never spoke of his experiences. Likewise, Steward Jenkinson, RBL member shared photos of his father, a RM commando who was present at the Japanese surrender after the dropping of two atomic bombs. No one wins in war, as the world is witnessing now.
Jonathan Cheal spoke eloquently at the church service of the purpose of Remembrance, recognising the fall out for ALL; the innocents and civilians in Japan and all Far East countries. He considered the conditions and brutality that had to be stopped.
Hand held candles distributed to all, became the linking theme for the 12 noon Act of Remembrance with wreath laying at the Frome Memorial on VJ Day, 15th August, when Mayor of Frome, Anita Collier read Rudyard Kipling’s poem Recessional. The Last Post and then the recorded voice of Ron Stone, Burma veteran who died aged 101 in 2021, echoed out the words of the Kohima Epitaph. No one present could have been unmoved.
The afternoon continued with Lights of Hope, Music of Peace at the Victoria Park, when the Frome community bunting made to bind VE and VJ Day was set out for the drone photos. The commemorations ended at 6pm with 8 minutes of silence at the Memorial, before then linking and extending the bunting, stretching from the Memorial to St Johns Church, following the route of the soldiers who marched on the Victory Parade in 1946.
“We must do all we can to ensure the Light of Hope is never extinguished, says Jane Norris. As a generation passes, they and their families will never be forgotten…..Lest we forget the lessons learned.”
