A former Japanese POW, now living in Chelsea, attended the 70th anniversary VJ commemorations in London on Saturday (August 15).
Douglas Hassall, now 97, was one of several Chelsea Pensioners invited to represent the veteran community at national VJ Day anniversary commemorations on Saturday (August 15).
The commemorations, led by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion, took place in central London and were attended by the Queen and other members of the royal family.
Mr Hassall was captured by the Japanese Army in 1941, and was a Prisoner of War for three-and-a-half years working at the docks in Saigon.
He remembers VJ Day vividly as the American Forces dropped leaflets over their camps to let them know the war had ended. He said: “We had an idea that it might be over about a week before; the Japanese were preparing to shoot us. We were starting to dig our own graves.
“They dropped the second bomb and the Japanese Commander, wisely, had a change of heart. I was quite fortunate as a Japanese Prisoner of War, I was with my friends. We were all in there together which made it easier.
“I have made my peace with the Japanese, I believe in forgiving and forgetting.”
VJ Day - or Victory in Japan Day - pays tributes to all those who played their part in securing the end of the war in the Pacific in August 1945.
Speaking on the day of the commemorations, Col Rupert Lucas, Captain of Invalids at the Royal Hospital Chelsea said: “It is an honour to be taking part in the parade alongside veterans, civilians and former Prisoners of War.
“The veterans who served in the Far East were still fighting for three months after Victory in Europe Day was celebrated. Both my grandfathers’ fought in Burma and so it means a great deal to me to be here today.”
