VJ Day 75th anniversary: Author whose Great Uncle died in Far East tragedy urges people to join commemorations

People are being invited to join in the VJ Day 75th anniversary commemorations in Southport this weekend.

This Saturday (August 15) marks three quarters of a century since the official surrender of Japan to Britain and the Allies, which marked the official end of World War II. The defeat of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis on May 8, 1945 ended the war in Europe, but there was three months of bitter fighting still left for the men and women serving in the Far East. 

There will be  a VJ commemoration with standard bearers and veterans at the Cenotaph on Lord Street in Southport this Saturday (15 August) for 10:30am last post at 11am. It is being organised by the Friends of the Burma Star. 

They will then move to the gardens for a short service, while asking people to maintain social distancing. People attending are being asked to wear a face cover or a mask. 

The standards that are attending are the Burma Star, Southport Branch RBL, SSAFA Sefton.

Among the VIPs present will be Jacquelyn Frith, whose great uncle Jack Frith was a Far East Prisoner of War during the conflict. He was murdered by Japanese forces after two years in captivity. 

Two weeks after his 23rd birthday, he survived a torpedo attack when the ship he was being transported on was sunk in the Java Sea. Ordered to build a runway for the planned Japanese invasion of Australia, he had endured almost two years as a Far East Prisoner Of War where he suffered horrific beatings, disease, malnutrition and forced marches at the point of a bayonet.

But as he swam away from his sinking vessel, the Suez Maru, he was among around 250 British and Dutch POWs to be gunned down in the water by his Japanese captors.

One of the worst atrocities of the Second World War was kept a closely guarded secret for decades by his own Government. 

Jacquelyn, aged 48, has just published a book about her heroic great uncle’s life story called Unwritten Letters To Spring Street. 

The Mum-of-one is urging people to either attend the service in Southport this Saturday or to hold two minute’ silence or to light a candle to remember those who served or died at 11am. 

Southport author Jacquelyn Frith

A memorial to the British POWs aboard Suez Maru who were murdered by the Japanese was dedicated on 29 November 2013, the 70th anniversary, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It was designed by Jacquelyn and her father, and built by the families of the Suez Maru men.

Jacquelyn said: “Jack survived almost two years in a Prisoner Of War camp, in relentless inhumanity. He then survived a ship being sunk in a torpedo attack, only to be shot as he struggled in the sea.

“They suffered atrocities in the camps and the atrocity of the murder at sea, only for it to be concealed by the British Government.

“I grew up knowing I was named after my Great Uncle Jack, as Jacquelyn. But I didn’t know what had happened to him.” 

Now she is urging people to join in the commemorations this Saturday. 

She said: “The motivation behind the day is to remember, to give thanks for our freedom, and to remember their sacrifice.

“During the war those who fought in Europe, in North Africa, in the Far East, they were all brothers in arms, no matter where they were.

“I know the celebrations will have to be different this year because of the coronavirus outbreak, and people have to remain safe. But there should be some show of support.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War Two. Not another year should pass without some formal recognition of their sacrifice, their courage and what they did and what they went through.

“The few Far East veterans we have left are disappearing fast.

“Somebody should use this 75th landmark to indicate their gratitude for all the men and women who served in the Far East. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.

“VJ Day should be named as a National Day for formal recognition.

“On August 15, put a light in your window, put a poppy on your door and fly the VJ Day flag.”

To find out more about Jacquelyn’s book, please visit unwrittenletterstospringstreet.co.uk

Unwritten Letters To Spring Street is available via Amazon.

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