On Friday 15th August the Royal British Legion, in partnership with the Government, will hold the National Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day when Japan announced its surrender to the Allied forces, marking the end of the Second World War.
Over 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan - 30,000 died and 37,500 were held as prisoners of war.
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 commemoration at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial. The event will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 11:30am to 1pm, and will also be available to view on a large screen within the grounds of the Arboretum for members of the public.
The commemoration will feature 400 members of the Armed Forces and include music performances, readings and veteran testimonies, as well as a flypast from the Red Arrows and historic aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Locally, an Act of Remembrance, including the National Two Minutes Silence at 12.00 noon, with laying of Wreaths will take place at the Bedford War Memorial on the Embankment from 11.45am. This is organised and hosted by the Bedford & District Branch of the Royal British Legion.
