WHITEHILL town mayor Councillor Katie Anscomb led Whitehill & Bordon’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day last Saturday.

Accompanied by the mayoral escort, Cllr Catherine Clark, she attended the town’s war memorial in Bordon to pay tribute to all the men and women who made sacrifices and served their country in the conflict with Japan during the Second World War.

Also there were three members of the Bordon & District Branch of The Royal British Legion – president Don Morrison, secretary Darron Back and Ian Driver, along with Whitehill Town Council’s deputy leader Cllr Bisi

Kennard.

Mr Driver was honoured to wear the Burma Star medal awarded to his father for operational service during the Burma Campaign in the Far East.

The mayor said she was “delighted” to talk with Mr Driver and to hear all about his father’s distinguished service record – he was ranked as a gunner at the time – and the close links that his family still retain with the services.

She added that she was “very proud” to lay a wreath on behalf of Whitehill Town Council and the town in honour of the

occasion.

At 11am a two-minute silence was held to reflect on the sacrifices made during the Second World War, which ended with the surrender of Japan on VJ Day.

Britain declared war on Japan in 1941 following its attacks on the British colonies of Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong. Six days later it attacked Burma, another British colony.

Days after the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito declared Japan’s surrender in a radio broadcast on August 15, 1945.