VETERANS and civic leaders will gather at a town war memorial overlooking the River Wye to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory in Japan) and the end of the Second World War.

The remembrance event will be a scaled down ceremony owing to the current Coronavirus restrictions, with a strict limit of just 30 people allowed into Ross-on-Wye’s Prospect Gardens to attend Saturday morning’s solemn tribute.

But people will be able to see the Ross-on-Wye town crier give the “Cry for Peace” beneath St Mary’s bell tower shortly after the 11am commemoration ends, after which the church bell will toll 75 times to mark the anniversary.

The day’s events will be kicked off at 6.30am by the Rector of Ross, Rev’d Sean Semple, who will be playing Battle’s O’er on the pipes from the tower of St Mary’s Church.

Battle’s O’er will sound again across the town from the Church Tower at 10.30am, followed by the bells of St Mary’s, reminding the people in the town of the commemoration about to take place.

Ross-on-Wye Royal British Legion chairman Graham Aplin said: “Sadly the war memorial element will have to be restricted, as gatherings of more than 30 are not allowed in England at the moment.

“We’ve had to undergo health and safety assessments so the commemoration can go ahead with social distancing, and we have to abide by that. There will be stewards on the gates to limit the numbers to those who have been invited.

“The bugler will start the ceremony just before 11am and there will also be a two-minute silence.

“We also hope to have a bugler play at sunset on the Prospect, as part of a nationwide part of the VJ anniversary.”

Mr Aplin said that with the euphoria felt by people at the end of the war in Europe, the conflict in Asia, which continued for another three months, was sometimes forgotten.

“Victory in Europe was a massive, massive relief for everybody after six years of struggle, but it’s important that we don’t forget the sacrifice of so many in the Asian-Pacific conflict as well.

“VJ Day can get a little bit lost as the conflict wasn’t so close to home, but we need to remember all of those who gave so much, those comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

“And it was the end of the last global conflict. We’ve had 75 years of peace since, and the moment when it ended must not be forgotten.

“As the custodians of remembrance, it’s important to all members of the RBL and other service organisations that we don’t let these dates fade from memory.

“It’s sad that more of our members can’t attend the ceremony, but during lockdown, we’ve been keeping in touch with our older comrades, some who have had to self-isolate and helping them.

“It’s been very rewarding to remember and help them during lockdown, and we are grateful we can at least hold a proper memorial for the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.”