A Southport woman has spoken about how her Dad got married just before being called up to fight the Japanese during World War Two.
For the next three years, as Walter Roberts served in Africa, India and then Burma, his distraught new wife Margaret and his family didn’t know whether he was alive or dead, as they prayed for his safe return home.
Today people are being invited to join in the VJ Day 75th anniversary commemorations in Southport.
Sally Preston said: “My Dad fought the Japanese in Burma with the Liverpool Scottish Regiment. He also trained soldiers in Africa.
“He spoke very little about what went on in Burma, but the one thing he did share with me about what the Japanese soldiers did is too horrendous to contemplate.
Walter Roberts of the Liverpool Scottish Regiment. Walter fought in Africa, India and then Burma during World War Two, Photo by Sally Preston
“My Mum didn’t know if he was dead or alive for more than three years having married a few days before he had to go away.
“He returned home weighing under 8 stones, but he came home.
“He suffered the effects of malaria for years and had nightmares for the rest of his life – he used to wake up shouting and screaming. His feet were rotten due to walking through the swamps and he had back problems all his life.
“He got off very lightly. It makes all the arguments about staying home or wearing a mask seem a small price to pay right now!
“We must not forget these men and women.”
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.
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