Here are a number of events that have been shared with us by the various organisations and institutions, all of which will be taking place during August and September 2025:
Monday 11th August: To mark the occasion of 80th anniversary of end of the war with Japan, Tony Vickers, Chairman of West Berkshire Council, hosts a gathering of veterans of war and their family members on Monday 11th August (2:00 for 2:30 to 4:15) in The British Legion Hall, Newbury, RG14 1NP
Revenge or Reconciliation: After War, What Next? The discussion will be led by two distinguished international speakers, with relevant family histories:
Professor Edward Vickers, currently UNESCO Chair on Education for Peace, Social Justice and Global Citizenship at Kyushu State University, Japan.
Yukihisa Fujita, former Japanese MP and Government Minister. Much of Fujita's political career has been heavily invested in reconciliation issues.
Info below and link to book here
Thursday 14th August: evensong service at Leicester Cathedral at 5.30pm
Friday 15th August: The Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum: Commemorative Event
Friday 15th August: The National FEPOW Fellowship Welfare/Remembrance Association invites you to attend their VJ 80 commemorations at Norwich Cathedral at 11.00am
Friday 15th August: The Gurkha Welfare Trust VJ Day Lunch with a talk by Dr Robert Lyman, Henley-on-Thames. The event is now sold out but there is an option to join the waiting list - info here
Friday 15th August: A commemoration to be held at the war memorial in the grounds of the parish church, Sidmouth:
Events in the town of Sidmouth begin at 10.45am, with a short procession of veterans and standards from the market place to the War Memorial where a brief Act of Remembrance for those that fought throughout the conflict will take place.
A National Two-minute Silence will be observed at noon.
At 5.30pm the bells will ring out from Sidmouth Parish Church together with church bells across the country, to signify the 80 years since the momentous end of the war 80 years ago.
Then, taking place at York Steps on the Esplanade over our own beach, the main Sidmouth commemoration will take place. This will begin with music from Sidmouth Town Band at 8.30pm.
At 9.00pm the Town’s Royal Standard, together with other Standards and Veteran and Service groups will process from the Market Place to York Steps ahead of the commemoration service around the York Steps Beacon.
As the sun sets and the evening commemorations draws to a close, the lighting of the town beacon signifying a ‘Lamp for Peace’ will be undertaken by the Chair of Sidmouth Town Council at 9.30pm. Such beacons will be lit across the country to signify the light that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war and the celebrations for Victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War.
Friday 15th August: the Kohima Museum will have VJ Day stands with Burma Campaign re-enactors at York Army Museum:
Saturday 16th August: the Kohima Museum will have a stand at a big VJ Day/1940s event at Bankfield Museum in Halifax, home of the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum:
Saturday 16 August 2025: 10:30 until 14:00 at Norwich Castle, home of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum: Far East Prisoners of War: The Experience & The Legacy - Marking the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum presents a special event of talks, film and drama commemorating those of the Regiment who became FEPOWs.
Soldier's Stories, the varied experience of Far East Prisoners of War – A talk by Kate Thaxton, Curator Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum
John Coast; Railway of Death - FEPOW & Documentary Maker - A talk by Sam Wiggan, Curator “Surviving the Railway: Memories of FEPOWs Exhibition” at Stories of Lynn Museum, King’s Lynn, until 21st September
Film - John Coast, Return to the River Kwai
Returning from East to East - The first public performance of a work-in-progress drama, about the difficulties suffered by FEPOWs and their families on their return from captivity. Funded by Arts Council England. Produced by Greg Powles
Short film- The Legacy. Interviews of children of FEPOWs
Use this link to book: Far East Prisoners of War: The Experience & The Legacy Price: Adult £10, Norfolk Museums Passholder £9. Includes access to Museum Galleries, excludes entry to The Keep. Tea or Coffee included.
Saturday 16th August: Children, Families and Friends of the Far East Prisoners of War (COFEPOW) have organised a service at Lichfield Cathedral at 2pm
Sunday 17th August: Service of Reconciliation at Westminster Abbey (part of their Evensong service) at 3pm. The Japanese Ambassador and Japanese families will be attending.
Sunday 17 August: Wreaths will be laid during a short service at the town’s cenotaph on Beast Fair followed by a full service at The Snaith Priory at 10.30am. (Snaith is a small market town between Selby and Goole).
Thur 26th June - Fri 5th September: Kohima Museum in York - a new exhibition: The Victoria Crosses of the Burma Campaign including the VC awarded to Captain John Randle at the Battle of Kohima. Read more here.
Saturday 20th September: The National Army Museum launch of new exhibition Beyond Burma: Forgotten Armies. The NAM exhibition will launch with Burma Day - a day of talks and activities.
Link to Burma Day here
