VICTORY over Japan Day on August 15 marks the surrender of Japanese forces, which in effect ended the Second World War.

For months after Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, war continued to wage in the Asia-Pacific region and only came to an end after two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9 respectively.

The Japanese government on August 10 communicated its intention to surrender under the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.

On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito’s announcement of Japan’s acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese people over the radio.

And as the news of the Japanese offer of surrender began filtering around the world Allied soldiers in London danced in a conga line along Regent Street and Americans based in Paris joined with French men as they paraded on the Champs-Elysees.

In the August 16, 1945 edition of the Ross Gazette, under the headline ‘Peace Again’ the newspaper states: “The Prime Minister, the Hon Clement Attlee announced over the radio that Japan had accepted the surrender conditions and that peace had once more returned to the world.”

Mr Attlee also declared that the Thursday and Friday would be public holidays. The news was greeted with great rejoicing everywhere.

Eighty years on the country will come together to remember the contribution of all British Commonwealth and Allied Forces, without whom victory and the freedoms and way of life we enjoy today would have not been possible.

VJ Day events will be remembered in Ross-on- Wye by a short commemoration and flag raising at the Market House at 10 am on the 80th anniversary, Friday August 15. This will be followed on Sunday, August 17 at noon by a Service of Remembrance, Reflection and Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church.