Veterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pub

A pub in Mirfield held an emotional remembrance for the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on Saturday.
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VJ Day remembers the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered and effectively marked the end of The Second World War.

The ceremony at the Old Colonial, on Dunbottle Lane, was attended by servicepeople and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant Tim Hares, who remembered those who lost their lives between 1939 and 1945.

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The Old Colonial owner, Tim Wood, 66, said: “We started the day at 10.45am specifically to prepare for 11am when there’s a two-minute silence.

Veterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pubVeterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pub
Veterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pub

“It’s important to commemorate the day because it’s the official end of the Second World War.

“Unfortunately, it’s arguably a forgotten part of the war.

“We hold a remembrance event every five years, but because Kirklees is in lockdown due to coronavirus we weren’t allowed more than 30 people in attendance.”

The 66-year-old pub owner, who has run the venue for 20 years, said he is motivated to hold the events due to the fact his family had served in both the Great War and The Second World War.

Veterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pubVeterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pub
Veterans hold moving service for VJ Day at Mirfield pub
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“The fact I had family which served in both wars makes the day very emotional and important to me,” said Mr Wood.

“There is an incredible passage which I think is poignant, ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say: For your tomorrow, we gave our today’.”

Later this year Mr Wood will be helping out with Remembrance Sunday on November 8, with it being a personal milestone for him this time around.

He said: “I’ve been helping out with the Mirfield Remembrance Sunday event, starting out as a drummer boy. In fact, it will be my 50th year as a volunteer for the parade.”

The ceremony at the Old Colonial, on Dunbottle LaneThe ceremony at the Old Colonial, on Dunbottle Lane
The ceremony at the Old Colonial, on Dunbottle Lane
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Ian Grange, Honorary Chaplain of Mirfield Branch Royal British Legion, said: “We support the organisation of remembrance services at the Old Colonial because there’s a small memorial there.

Tim Wood deserve a lot of praise for his organisation. Everyone remembers Victory in Europe Day, but as Winston Churchill said, we didn’t win the war until the Allied Forces got the surrender of the Japanese.”