They were the soldiers who found themselves in the midst of a military disaster – and regarded themselves as the Forgotten Army at the end of the Second World War.
But, although few of the Gordon Highlanders who were captured after the fall of Singapore are still alive, Scotland will today commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day when the Allies defeated imperial Japan.
The thousands of Scottish troops who were captured came from every part of the north and north east and their incarceration in prison camps and the terrible conditions they endured meant those who did return were psychologically damaged.
Yet some were determined not to let their experiences define them. Men such as Alistair Urquhart from Aberdeen, who wrote a book called The Forgotten Highlander, which chronicled his extraordinary life: and Granite City artist, John Mennie, who depicted the often harrowing scenes he witnessed.
Stewart Mitchell, the historian at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, said it was important their contribution was remembered.
He added: “Although VJ Day was celebrated nationally, these prisoners didn’t reach home until the end of October 1945 by which time the majority of people in Britain had moved on and just wanted to forget the war.
“This meant that, apart from family reunions, they did not receive the heroes’ welcome which they deserved.
“Many of the soldiers lamented the lack of focus on the conflict in the Far East, compared to the attention lavished on the European arena.
“That feeling was not just harboured by the POWs, but the two battalions of Gordon Highlanders and myriad other servicemen from Scotland who had fought the Japanese in Burma and also returned home some time after VJ Day.”
A Red Arrows flypast will be one of the only physical events marking VJ Day in Scotland this year due to coronavirus.
An online concert and service of remembrance will lead today’s commemorations.
Among other events planned is a message from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon thanking the Second World War generation, and a two-minute silence.
The Red Arrows will perform a flypast of Edinburgh and Legion Scotland will issue medallions in honour of those who contributed to the war effort.
Further information is available at
https://www.legionscotland.org.uk/vj-day-75th-commemoration
