VJ Day 80 celebrations will include flypasts, music and commemorations across the globe
The Armed Forces will lead the nation in marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ Day 80) with a series of spectacular ceremonies next week.
The military contribution to the commemorations will include:
Flypasts, musicians and a guard of honour at the Royal British Legion’s national commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum
A sunset ceremony and lightshow recognising the contribution of the Commonwealth to the Second World War on the eve of VJ Day
Performances by military bagpipers at dawn on VJ Day to mark 80 years since peace was restored to the Far East
A service of remembrance on board the flight deck of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, as the UK Carrier Strike Group continues its deployment to the Indo-Pacific
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The bravery and sacrifice of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces during the Second World War continue to inspire us today.
“The nation will come together on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day to thank those who served and remember those who died.
Our UK Armed Forces today continue the legacy of the Greatest Generation – protecting the peace they secured through their courage and commitment across the world.”
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “The Armed Forces are proud to be at the heart of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day this month.
“The service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation continues to inspire the men and women of today’s Armed Forces.
“The alliances and partnerships forged during the Second World War – in NATO, the Commonwealth and in the Far East – still keep us safe today.”
Around 400 members of the Armed Forces will pay tribute to Second World War veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum for the national commemorative event hosted by the Royal British Legion (15 August).
The national event in Staffordshire will include a guard of honour of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and flypasts by the Red Arrows and The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
The historic Second World War-era aircraft appearing during the ceremony will include The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.
Gurkhas from the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas will also form part of the guard of honour in recognition of the contribution of 120,000 Gurkha soldiers during the Second World War, particularly in Malaya, Burma and Singapore.
The VJ Day 80 commemorations will begin on the evening of 14 August with a spectacular sunset ceremony at the Memorial Gates in London to pay tribute to Commonwealth personnel who served and died in the Far East.
An emotive lightshow projected on to the Memorial Gates, using images and stories from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s digital story-sharing platform For Evermore, will tell the story of people from around the world who served in support of the allies during the Far East campaign.
Lord Boateng, Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, will lay a wreath on behalf of HM The King during the ceremony.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Torch for Peace will be lit to close the ceremony, in a reminder of our shared commitment to peace and security.
The Ministry of Defence will also lead a moment of reflection at The Cenotaph, the United Kingdom’s national monument to UK and Commonwealth personnel who died in the world wars.
At dawn on VJ Day itself, military bagpipers will perform the lament Battle’s O’er at The Cenotaph, in the Far East section of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and at Edinburgh Castle.
The dawn lament will coincide with a remembrance moment at a Japanese peace garden to reflect the reconciliation which has taken place between the UK and Japan in the decades since the Second World War.
The simultaneous performances will be broadcast live in the UK at dawn as the nation gathers to mark 80 years of peace in the Far East and remember those who died during the campaign.
They will be joined in unison by military pipers performing in key locations around the world to recognise the contribution of communities across the Indo-Pacific to the Second World War, including on board HMS Prince of Wales, at sea in the Far East.
This includes performances by UK Armed Forces pipers in Japan, Nepal, Brunei and New Zealand.
The ship’s company of HMS Prince of Wales will hold a short service of remembrance on board the aircraft carrier’s flight deck, led by a Royal Navy chaplain and including a minute’s silence.
The aircraft carrier is currently leading the UK Carrier Strike Group on deployment to the Far East, where the flagship is leading a convoy of 12 allies to demonstrate their operational capability, bolster the UK’s commitment to NATO and to protect peace and prosperity in the region.
Armed Forces personnel on duty in the UK and on operations and exercises around the world will pause to mark the anniversary, remembering those who died and thanking veterans of the Second World War for their service.
List of ceremonies and events taking place across the UK to allow people to pay tribute to the life of Her Majesty The Queen and mark the Accession of His Majesty King Charles III:
Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Council will be screening the State Funeral on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyrood House. More information can be found on the council’s website.
Scottish Canals
In partnership with The Church of Scotland, Falkirk Council will hold a service of reflection at the Kelpies this Sunday 18th September 2022 at 7.30pm. Further details can be found on their Facebook page.
London
You can view guidance on Her Majesty’s Lying-in-State at the Palace of Westminster here. Details of accessibility arrangements are available here.
In the evening, the grandchildren of Her Majesty The Queen will conduct a vigil at the Lying-in-State.
Other Events
The following public events are taking place in towns and cities across the UK during the period of National Mourning. For more information about local events in your area please check your local authority’s website.
Moments of Reflection – Sunday 18 September, 8pm
Blackpool
The Blackpool Tower Illuminations- which have been changed to red, white and blue throughout the period of mourning in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – will turn off for the Moment of Reflection at 8pm. You can find more information here.
Cheltenham
A Moment of Reflection will be held outside Cheltenham’s Municipal Office, led by the Mayor of Cheltenham, at 8pm on Sunday 18 September. For more details please visit the Cheltenham Borough Council website
Luton
The National Moment of Reflection will be observed in a special event at 7.30pm on the steps of Luton Town Hall to commemorate the life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Please visit the Council’s website for more details.
Southend
In the City of Southend-on-Sea, the Mayor will lead a moment of silent reflection at 8pm on Sunday 18 September, to reflect on a lifetime of service which Her Majesty devoted to the United Kingdom, the Realms and Territories and the Commonwealth. For more details please visit the Southend-on-Sea website
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent will hold a commemoration service on the eve of the funeral, at 6.30pm on Sunday 18 September at Stoke Minster. It will be followed by the observation of the national moment of reflection at Stoke Cenotaph at 8pm. For more details please visit the Stoke-on-Trent council website.
Swindon
The National Moment of Reflection will be observed on Sunday, 18 September with a short service on the steps of Swindon’s Town Hall. Members of the public are asked to arrive by 7.45pm for the service to begin at 7.55pm. For more information, please visit the Council’s website.
Ceremonial events
Northern Ireland
Coleraine
Coleraine Town Hall will broadcast the National Moment of Reflection on Sunday 18 September. On Monday they will also show the State Funeral.
Lisburn
The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II streamed from Westminster Abbey will be shown on the screen in Lisburn City Centre on Monday 19 September from 10.00am.
East of England
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth Borough Council will hold a civic service of thanksgiving and remembrance for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 6pm on Sunday 18 September at Great Yarmouth Minster. For further information visit the Council’s website.
Ipswich
A big screen will be showing the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the Cornhill, Ipswich on Monday 19 September.
The funeral of HM The Queen will be live streamed in the Nave of Norwich Cathedral. All are welcome to watch the live broadcast from 9am, free of charge. No ticket is required. You can find more information on the Cathedral website.
Norwich Theatre Royal will also broadcast the live coverage of the State Funeral of HM The Queen, free of charge. Please book tickets in advance here.
Midlands
Bedford
Bedford Borough Council will be holding a public screening of Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday 19 September at Bedford Corn Exchange. Residents must book their place to watch the proceedings in advance. For further information visit the Bedford Borough council’s website.
Birmingham
The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on a big screen in Centenary Square on Monday 19 September. For further information visit the Birmingham council’s website.
Coventry
The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be screened live in Coventry city centre on Monday 19 September. A large screen is to be set up in University Square – between the Cathedral steps and Coventry University – to help people watch the 11am service and pay their respects. For further information visit the Coventry council’s website.
Lichfield
Lichfield Cathedral will be holding a service of commemoration at the Cathedral at 3.30pm Sunday 18 September. There will also be a minute’s silence and outdoor vigil at the Memorial Park at 8pm, Chasetown. You can find more information can be found on the Cathedral’s website.
Lincoln
The grounds of Lincoln Castle will remain open and a large screen will be displaying the funeral for those wishing to pay their respects. Please check local information for details.
Nottingham
A multi-faith event remembering Queen Elizabeth II will take place in the Old Market Square from 7pm, incorporating the national Moment of Reflection at 8pm. More information can be found on the Council’s website.
Stoke-on-Trent
The City of Stoke-on-Trent Council will be holding a service of commemoration (with procession) for Her Majesty The Queen at 6.30pm on Sunday 18 September at Stoke Minster. For further information visit the Stoke-on-Trent council’s website.
West Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire Council will be holding a remembrance service for Her Majesty The Queen at 11am on Sunday 18 September at All Saints Church, Northampton. For further information visit the West Northamptonshire council’s website.
A service of commemoration for Her Majesty The Queen at 3.30pm on Sunday 18 September at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Market Place, Kettering. For further information visit the West Northamptonshire council’s website.
Durham Cathedral will hold a special Service of Reflection to give thanks for Her Majesty The Queen’s life. This event will be ticketed, and the service will also be live streamed on Durham Cathedral’s Facebook page. For further information, please visit Durham Cathedral’s website.
The National Moment of Reflection will be marked with an event at 8.00pm on Sunday 18 September in Durham Market Place. More details are on the council’s website.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Live coverage of the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on a screen in Old Eldon Square, Newcastle on Monday 19 September. Further information on the screening can be found on the council’s website. A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place at 4pm on Sunday 18 September. Further information on the service can be found on Newcastle Cathedral’s website.
North Tyneside
North Tyneside Council will hold a service a service of remembrance to commemorate the distinguished service of Her Majesty The Queen at 6pm on Sunday 18 September at the Christ Church in North Shields. For further information visit the North Tyneside council’s website.
North West
Blackburn
A service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday 18 September at 2pm. The service will also be live streamed.
Blackpool
A moment of reflection for Her late Majesty The Queen by the Blackpool Standard Bearers will take place at 11.00am, at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum on Moor Park Ave. Please refer to the Council’s social media and website.
Church services will take place on various dates across Chester, including at Chester Cathedral, Neston Parish, St Thomas Ellesmere Port and St Chad’s Winsford. For further information visit the Chester council’s website.
Liverpool
The official civic service of Remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 18 September at 3pm. Doors will open for members of the public at 2pm. For further information visit the Cathedral’s website.
Manchester
A requiem mass giving thanks for the life of the Queen will take place at 10:30am Sunday 18 September at Manchester Cathedral. A Service of Thanksgiving will also be held at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday at 2.30pm. More information can be found here.
On Monday 19 September, big screens will show coverage of the State Funeral at three locations from 9am: Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and inside Manchester Cathedral. Each site will be open to the public without the need for tickets. More information can be found here.
North Yorkshire
York
York Minster will hold a service a service of commemoration for Her Majesty The Queen (with a respectful procession of City of York Council members and the civic party, between York Mansion House and York Minster) at 4pm on Sunday 18 September at York Minster. For further information, visit the City of York council’s website and York Minister’s website.
South
Chichester
Special services of Choral Evensong with Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Chichester Cathedral at 3.00pm on both Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September. Further details on the Saturday and Sunday services can be found on the Cathedral’s website.
Reading
Live coverage of the State Funeral and procession to Windsor will be shown in Reading’s Forbury Gardens. There will also be a church service at Reading Minster on 18 September from 2pm. Further information can be found on the Visit Reading website.
Winchester
Winchester Cathedral will be hosting a one-hour service of commemoration at 6pm on Saturday 17 September. On Monday 19 September, a screening of the State Funeral will be held at 11am, with doors opening at 9am. The day will end with a ‘Closing Act of Remembrance’ at 7.30pm. Details for Saturday and Monday can be found on the Cathedral’s website.
South East
Canterbury
A special Civic Service will take place at Canterbury Cathedral at 11am on Sunday 18 September to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The service will also be streamed live on the cathedral’s website and YouTube channel. For more information, visit Canterbury Cathedral’s website.
Hastings
The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen on Monday 19 September will be shown on a big screen in Alexandra Park on the top lawn (nearest entrance is in Dordrecht Way).
Hastings Borough Council is organising the event, in partnership with Love Hastings, the Business Improvement District for Hastings. Visit the council’s website for more details
Hatfield
On Monday 19 September from 10.00am, Hatfield Park will be showing live coverage of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on a large screen in Palace Green outside the Old Palace. Please refer to the website for more details.
Rochester
There will be a Requiem Eucharist at Rochester Cathedral at 3.15pm on Saturday 17 September, attended by representatives from across the Diocese and the civic life of Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley. All are welcome to attend this service. The service is not ticketed, and seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Bristol Cathedral will offer a ticketed screening of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Please check Bristol Cathedral’s website for further information.
Exeter
The funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September is being screened at Northernhay Gardens and Sandy Park at the Exeter City Football Club. Further details are available at Exeter City Council’s website.
Gloucestershire
Gloucester Cathedral will be holding a service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at 1500hrs on Sunday 18 September. This is a ticketed event for both local officials and members of the public. The expected attendance is around 1,100 people. All tickets are applied for via the Gloucester Cathedral website.
Plymouth
There will be a church service held on Sunday 18 September at the Minster Church of St. Andrew, Royale Parade at 3pm. Her Majesty’s funeral will be screened on Monday 19 September at the Lyric Theatre. More information can be found on the Plymouth council website.
Salisbury
Salisbury Cathedral will be live streaming the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September at 11:00. The Funeral service will be shown on a large screen and seating will be available in the Nave. No booking is required. For more details, visit Salisbury Cathedral’s website.
Truro
Truro City Council, working with Truro Cathedral, has arranged for a large screen to be placed within Truro Cathedral on the day of the State Funeral for those wishing to attend a public viewing. Further information can be found on Truro City Council’s website.
South Yorkshire
Doncaster
A Service of Commemoration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Doncaster Minister on Saturday 17 September at 6.00pm. More details can be found on the website.
Sheffield
Sheffield Cathedral will hold a commemorative service on Sunday 18 September at 6pm, with a National Moment of Reflection at 8pm. The service will also be shown on a large screen outside the cathedral on the forecourt, and streamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Head to the Cathedral’s website for more details.
Sheffield Cathedral will also be screening the funeral of The Queen inside and outside the Cathedral. The Cathedral doors will open from 8:30am with morning prayer at 8:45am. Please refer online for more details.
West Yorkshire
Bradford
There will be a Civic Service at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 18 September. The Cathedral will also be screening the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. Further details are available on Bradford Cathedral’s website.
Leeds
Live coverage of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on Leeds Big Screen in Millennium Square on Monday 19 September between 10am – 6pm (times subject to confirmation of TV broadcast schedules). Further details are available on the Leeds City Council website.
‘Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all’
Edinburgh is to honour the life of its most famous canine with a special event at Greyfriars Kirk today.
Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal terrier known for guarding his master’s grave for 14 years after his death, passed away 143 years ago and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The city council is marking the date with a commemorative ceremony organised by the Library and Information Service. Among the participants will be Greyfriars Bobby lookalike Maggie the Cairn terrier, sporting a specially-designed coat and badge in honour of her double.
Also attending are members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who will speak about the fire which gutted Old Greyfriars in the mid-19th century, shortly before Bobby’s arrival.
As the one o’clock gun sounds, the time at which Bobby is said to have left his master’s grave each day for a free meal at a nearby café, pupils from George Heriot School will lay flowers on the grave. This will be followed by ‘Tribute to Greyfriars Bobby’, played on bagpipes by Jennifer Hutcheon.
Deidre Brock, Depute Lord Provost, who will host the event, said:”Greyfriars Bobby, whose memorial reads ‘Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all’, still inspires enormous affection and respect in people across the globe.
“Even now visitors flock to see his grave, his statue, and the many mementos of his life displayed in our Museum of Edinburgh, marvelling anew at the timeless story of the little dog who would not leave his master’s grave.”
After the death of Bobby’s owner John Gray, the then Lord Provost, Sir William Chambers, ensured the dog’s freedom by purchasing a license and dog collar, allowing him to roam the graveyard.
Capturing the hearts of passers-by every day, Bobby’s statue was erected a year after his death in 1872 by the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, and has since become a landmark for the capital.
Such is the popularity of Bobby’s statue that the wee dog famously had to have a ‘nose job’ in 2013 – hundreds of thousands of citizens and tourists have rubbed Bobby’s nose for good luck over the years and his nose had to be renewed!
Every year, D-Day 1944 is celebrated, particularly in Normandy where the people express gratitude for their liberation by organising many ceremonies.
Tremendous efforts are made and much kindness and respect is shown to those veterans attending. It is very moving to be on the receiving end of such friendship, particularly when so much devastation was inflicted on Normandy during those summer months of 1944.
There are very many monuments, commemorative sites, museums, etc. maintained to express this continuing gratitude, but I have long thought that the Allied governments should erect a suitable tribute dedicated to the people of Normandy for their endurance, courage and sacrifice. It is long overdue but should be done.
I believe this tribute would attract the support of many sections and ages of the UK population, particularly as 2015 will be the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
