Thousands of servicemen were held as Far East prisoners of war from 1941-1945, caught up in a conflict that endured long after the celebrations for VE Day. The contribution of those who had the misfortune to be held as pows, many of whom did not survive, deserves to be remembered nationally. Over 50,000 UK servicemen were held as Japanese prisoners of war in South East Asia between 1941-1945, of whom twenty-five per cent were either killed or died during captivity. With few survivors now left, this conflict is fast disappearing from living memory. These brave men felt cruelly overlooked upon their repatriation and beyond, and a national day of commemoration would go some way to putting that right. Please sign the petition, let us not forget them. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236760
I would add that we dont really recognise VE Day either although we do both on here Perhaps you have information you could add to the below links.You will see from this that they are not forgotten Burma & India War Against Japan V-j Day
I understand your sentiments, but I note you only include servicemen who were POW's in your post and on your petition. I would have thought you might have included all those soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in combat - the civilians who were also held captive and died in that captivity. There is also those who survived and where part of what became known as 'The Forgotten Army' and had to endure their future with their memories TD
This is my dad . The one with him standing to attention is taken in 1939 when he signed up with the 5th Lancashire loyal regiment ( later to become the 18th reconnaissance ).The other was taken in new Zealand late 1945 after being released from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Japan . In this photo , even though he is smiling he looks tired and unwell. He never talked about his time in captivity and I only found out what he had suffered after he died in 1989 whilst researching his army service. His ship , The empress of Asia, was sunk off Singapore in 1942 and when he was rescued he walked straight into 3 years of captivity at the fall of Singapore. He was forced to worked on the Death Railway in Burma under terrible conditions , contracting several jungle diseases, transported to Japan on a "Hell ship " and forced to work with dangerous chemicals in a pow camp near Nagoya which was only 200 miles from where the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. After VJ Day He returned home via New Zealand to recuperate in late 1945. He never complained but suffered ill health on and off for the rest of his life due to his captivity . I will be remembering VE day and remembering all the brave men and women who give this country our freedom. I will also be remembering on 15th August VJ day ( victory in Japan) and the forgotten army in the far east who suffered and sacrificed so much and like my dad just got on with life. My Dad My hero . Descendants of these men ( the survivors are becoming fewer as each year passes ) have set up a petition to honour Far East prisoners of war and all men women both military and civilian who served and suffered in the far east and by having a commemorative day for VJ Day ( victory in Japan ) on the 15th August each year in line with the V.E day . Please consider signing and sharing the petition Many thanks Dave https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236760?fbclid=IwAR0EbvF6mXS19ooFqvM_EhQSv1CG3U12nOQKA0ZULui3pVE4Dlk_y_FI5dY
This is my dad . The one with him standing to attention is taken in 1939 when he signed up with the 5th Lancashire loyal regiment ( later to become the 18th reconnaissance ).The other was taken in new Zealand late 1945 after being released from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Japan . In this photo , even though he is smiling he looks tired and unwell. He never talked about his time in captivity and I only found out what he had suffered after he died in 1989 whilst researching his army service. His ship , The empress of Asia, was sunk off Singapore in 1942 and when he was rescued he walked straight into 3 years of captivity at the fall of Singapore. He was forced to worked on the Death Railway in Burma under terrible conditions , contracting several jungle diseases, transported to Japan on a "Hell ship " and forced to work with dangerous chemicals in a pow camp near Nagoya which was only 200 miles from where the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. After VJ Day He returned home via New Zealand to recuperate in late 1945. He never complained but suffered ill health on and off for the rest of his life due to his captivity . I will be remembering VE day and remembering all the brave men and women who give this country our freedom. I will also be remembering on 15th August VJ day ( victory in Japan) and the forgotten army in the far east who suffered and sacrificed so much and like my dad just got on with life. My Dad My hero . Descendants of these men ( the survivors are becoming fewer as each year passes ) have set up a petition to honour Far East prisoners of war and all men women both military and civilian who served and suffered in the far east and by having a commemorative day for VJ Day ( victory in Japan ) on the 15th August each year in line with the V.E day . Please consider signing and sharing the petition Many thanks Davehttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236760?fbclid=IwAR0EbvF6mXS19ooFqvM_EhQSv1CG3U12nOQKA0ZULui3pVE4Dlk_y_FI5dY
Duplicate post moved over to/merged with this original thread. Please don't post same information across the forums. It's unnecessary, can lead to confusion. Cheers.
Frederick William Keeton Paul . His details have already been on a recce post sometime ago which I think you commented on at the time.
