While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic means there’ll be no VJ Day parades, public services or get-togethers, those in the north and north-east are being urged to commemorate at home instead.
Today marks 75 years since Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on August 15, 1945, ending hostilities during the Second World War.
A nationwide two-minute silence will be held at 11am before people are invited to watch the Legion Scotland Facebook page’s live streamed service of remembrance from 10.30am and concert from 2pm.
A Red Arrows flypast over Edinburgh will be one of the few physical events to mark VJ Day, however in Aberdeen wreaths will be laid at the City War Memorial in Schoolhill at 11 and at The Gordon Highlanders statue on Castlegate at 11.30am.
In Moray wreath-laying ceremonies will take place at war memorials on the Plainstones in Elgin and in Forres at 11am.
Across the region’s towns and villages some small wreath-laying will also take place at 11am and pipers will play ‘The Battle’s O’er’ at the same time.
Legion Scotland will be issuing medallions in honour of those who made a contribution to the war effort.
The charity’s chief executive Claire Armstrong said: “Whilst VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of armed forces personnel were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East.
“This campaign saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War and in some of the harshest conditions, with many thousands of British and Commonwealth forces and civilians being taken as prisoners of war, enduring terrible mental and physical trauma.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “In marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember everyone – the soldiers and civilians on all sides – who paid the ultimate price during the conflict.
“We think of those who served in the armed forces – from across Scotland, the UK, the Commonwealth and the other allied nations.”
