To appropriately mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, and the sacrifice shown by those from Suffolk who were involved, the Suffolk Lord Lieutenant is organising a VJ Commemoration Service at St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds on Friday 15 August 2025 at 2.30 pm. St Mary’s has been chosen for the event as it is the regimental church and spiritual home of the Suffolk Regiment.
The intention is to commemorate all those servicemen and women from Suffolk who took part in the campaigns in the Far East during the second world war. Those campaigns have particular resonance for the people of the county as the Suffolk Regiment sustained particularly high casualty rates. In addition, many families in the county were significantly affected when their loved ones became prisoners of war of the Japanese forces.
The commemorative service will be large and representatives from across the diversity of Suffolk will be present, but the organisers are absolutely determined to include and invite those from Suffolk who were personally affected by the historical events, particularly any surviving veterans, their spouses, widows or descendent children.
Accordingly, any COFEPOW members from Suffolk, or a link with Suffolk, are cordially invited to contact David Murray on dmurrayuk@outlook.com for further details.
