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VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:56 pm
by evensteadiereddie
A bit early, the 75th anniversary of VJ Day being this coming Saturday, but I think it's worth remembering the WW11 contribution made by Leonard Greenwood, dad to Bob and me, grandad to Hannah, Beth and Kate and, quite recently, great - grandad to Arlo and the many, many thousands like him.
Dad served in the RAF in India and Burma, having joined up aged 20. His rank was Leading Aircraftman which sounds rather grand but meant you could have been involved in anything remotely connected with helping running the airbase. The giveaway, I guess, is in the nickname an LAC was given - an "erk"...
He didn't do too bad, he was an armourer/rear gun technician working on Wellington bombers and, probably, Hurricanes and Thunderbolts.
As the war progressed, his RAF Wing, 910, consisting of squadrons 79, 146 and 261 - all defence/ground attack squadrons - would move through Burma to India as Japan's surrender neared.
In his letters to his Mum, our grandma, he often talked of every day being the same routine ...............fair enough, perhaps Dad's tale isn't one of derring do and swashbuckling escapades but his and the stories of many, many thousands like him who got back - and many who sadly didn't - should make us realise, even in these awful times, how lucky and privileged we are.
The first photo makes me laugh. Jotted on the back....
"Left to Right
Rocky (Vincent Rock) Staffs
Albert (Rushworth) Yorks
Me (Little Moscow)
Brum (Jimmy Briscoe) Birmingham
Bill (Nungate) London:
I'd forgotten our home town, Nelson, a hotbed of Left - wing politics in those days, had earned its very own nickname.
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Bless the lad.
I've just got back from visiting the Burma Star exhibit at the National Arboretum just down the road from here. TV vans and riggers everywhere, Charles and Camilla doing the honours there on Saturday, apparently, with a fly-past scheduled. It'll be on the BBC, I presume.
I hope the nation does everyone of those Far East heroes proud.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:58 pm
by TommyJohnson
Heroes
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:29 pm
by bobinho
Always love looking at stuff like this. Thanks for posting...
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:32 pm
by Rowls
Thanks for posting "eddie",
My Mum and Dad were also at the NA today remembering my paternal Grandfather who served in the East and was a POW for most of the war.
The sacrifices of all those who served must be honoured and remembered.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:41 pm
by longside72
Respect to every single one of them , each and evrryone played their part , was lucky enough to go to the bridge on river Kwai last year and was a very humbling experience , the sh!t them lads were put through was unbelievable , managed to find graves of a burnley lad and one from haslingden who died within a month of each other
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:44 pm
by Mayoclaret
An excellent and fitting post "ese" to a lost generation. Thank you. I have researched the life of my uncle Gordon, born in 1917, died in 1944. He was with the Cambridgeshire's and was captured at the fall of Singapore. Initially imprisoned in Changi Camp he was later moved to Chungkai Camp where he was made to work on the Burma-Thai "Death Railway". Having completed the Railway the Japanese started shipping those who had survived off to Japan and Korea to undertake more forced labour for them. Gordon was "lucky" - he survived but was put on board the Hofuku Maru (one of the many "Hell Ships", named as conditions aboard well like hell itself, to transport Allied troops to Japan etc). Like many such ships on the journey it was bombed by the Americans (it flew no flag indicating there were POW's on board) and sunk - - 1047 POWs were killed including Gordon aged 26. Some 242 British & Dutch POW's swam to shore and survived to recount the horrendous and cruel time spent on the Death Railway and on board the Hell Ship. I am thankful to The Cambridgeshire Regt and those survivors for all their information in helping me produce something for the younger members of the family which will hopefully ensure his life and those of similar young men and women will always be remembered. If I ever think life is difficult now I give myself a reality check!
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:45 pm
by ElectroClaret
One of my late father's friends was a POW under the Japanese. Was lucky to come out alive, but his health was awful from then on.
We must remember.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:46 pm
by evensteadiereddie
Absolutely. A lot of people there today and quite an emotional experience to be honest. Reading about the Burma Star Association and the "Forgotten Army" and commemorating my Dad was one thing but looking at the Railways of Death and the other POW exhibits was very, very moving.
Goodness knows what it will be like on Saturday. Not a dry eye in the house, I'd imagine.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 6:41 pm
by spadesclaret
My father was with the Royal Norfolks. They sailed into Singapore shortly after the fall and were taken prisoner as they disembarked. My father, front, 2nd left -
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The following is a photo of the Japanese surrender in (I think) Burma -
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Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:13 pm
by Paul Waine
My Dad also served in RAF as an aircraft technician in India. He got to Singapore, after hostilities ended. I think it was 1947 before he was discharged and sailed home. He passed away 10 years ago. I don't have a lot of details of his service record. I know he got malaria, maybe twice, while in India. He also played football for a British forces team in India. He picked up an injury, one time, when he was kicked by the bare toes of player on the opposition team.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:30 pm
by COBBLE
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Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:41 pm
by COBBLE
As you can see I'm not good at this stuff. If anyone can delete the duplication I'd be grateful. Anyway one last shout for Frank.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:49 pm
by mdd2
ElectroClaret wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:45 pm
One of my late father's friends was a POW under the Japanese. Was lucky to come out alive, but his was awful from then on.
We must remember.
I visited a family in Widdrington in the North East in 1969 where the man had been a Japanese POW and clearly had suffered malnutrion and vitamin deficiencies such that he was left with hardly any long term or short term memory and certainly had no recollection of being a POW. And there he was in his late 40's/early 50's with a wife who had thus far survived 23 years with him living at home with little or no help. I know of ex=servicemen who were in the far east who would never buy anything Japanese due to the sheer brutality they witnessed and how the Imperial Dynasty was permitted after 1945 is a real strange one unless it allowed easier rule over the Japanese. Real heroes those men and women.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:15 pm
by longside72
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:32 pm
by evensteadiereddie
Hard to believe....
Bless them all.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:38 pm
by superdimitri
Was reading last night about the atrocities the Japanese caused to those living in Singapore. Persecution and treatment of people was not unlike the Nazi's at all. In many ways, worse.
To this day they still say death numbers are exaggerated and often refuse to admit to numerous war crimes. A real shame in today's world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_ ... _Singapore
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:47 pm
by claret59
My Father-in-Law, Bill (William) Stamford also forced to work on the infamous railway. One dead soldier ( murdered in effect,) for every sleeper laid on the line. He survived it all but as mentioned elsewhere refuse to ever knowingly buy anything 'made in Japan' or to eat rice ever again. On being liberated the were all examined by a Doctor who told them that their life had been shortened by 10 years because of that they suffered. Bill died aged 60 yrs.
He never wanted to surrender and would willingly have fought on but was not allowed to. The greatest shameful surrender in the history of the British army.
On a more humorous note he tells of when he was called up he was actually asked what his trade was and which service he wanted to join. He answered he was a joiner and wanted the Royal Navy only to be told, "We don't build wooden ships any more, you are in the army!
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:18 am
by bfccrazy
Photo and medals of my grandad, his rank was Sudebar, which is a historical rank for only Pakistan/ Indian soldiers... But is equivalent to the rank of second lieutenant in the British army officer rank structure,
He was an absolute unit of a man and even in old aged he dwarfed me when I was 6ft tall.
My other grandad was captured in Japan during the war and from people who k ew him before/after - they said he was never the same person after the war. Just carried on doing everything to support our family but became a bit of a recluse and never cracked a smile til he was diagnosed with lung cancer in his latter days where he decided to just tell all the stories which he’d been holding inside for many years.
These men were a different breed than what people nowadays like to rejoice in. Absolutely crazy the stuff they saw and in the case of my grandad, led their troops into. Unfortunately though, too many people nowadays forget that a huge proportion of those fighting were from the African/Indian subcontinent.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:23 am
by bfccrazy
Looked into them a bit ago and the medals above are -
1947 Pakistan Independence Medal
1956 Republic of Pakistan Medal
1941-45 Burma Star
1939-45 WW2 Star
1939-45 Indian Service medal (x2)
1939-45 War Medal
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:12 am
by ClaretTony
ElectroClaret wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:45 pm
One of my late father's friends was a POW under the Japanese. Was lucky to come out alive, but his health was awful from then on.
We must remember.
A good friend of mine's dad had been a POW under the Japanese. I nice, calmer man you couldn't wish to meet but the very mention of Japan changed him totally. He could never forgive. Thankfully his health was good. He outlived my friend and was 98 when he finally passed away but I sometimes wonder just how he coped with it all when he still had that anger in him.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 2:17 pm
by Burnley1989
Good thread this, thanks for sharing
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:32 am
by karatekid
Just a shame that the bbc tribute to VJ Day is being hosted by Joanna Lumley. Can’t stand her personally.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:57 am
by Corky
I do hope they pay appropriate respects to all those who fought in the East. As bfccrazy has said there were so many nationalities fighting the Japs. One of the most amazing battles was that for Kohima in the Naga foothills. It has been described as the most ferocious encounter anywhere, including the eastern front, in WW2.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:35 pm
by AndrewJB
ClaretTony wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:12 am
A good friend of mine's dad had been a POW under the Japanese. I nice, calmer man you couldn't wish to meet but the very mention of Japan changed him totally. He could never forgive. Thankfully his health was good. He outlived my friend and was 98 when he finally passed away but I sometimes wonder just how he coped with it all when he still had that anger in him.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:39 pm
by AndrewJB
Sorry - my post disappeared. Two books by an Australian soldier called Russell Braddon are very interesting in this regard. He was captured in Malaya in early 1942. His first book which catalogues his captivity, and which is harrowing, is called Naked Island. The second book is called End of a Hate. Both excellent reads.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:12 am
by Polesworth
I'll be at the National Memorial Arboretum today to commemorate VJ Day and paying tribute to my dad. He was a Japanese POW. Aged 20 he was in the 85th Anti-tank regiment and after basic training he sailed from Greenock on November 11th 1941, destined for Iraq and some desert warfare. En-route orders diverted them to Singapore via Capetown, Durban and the Maldives arriving January 13th 1942
As the Japanese approached Singapore his gun battery was deployed on the outskirts of Jahore Baru, Malaysia, on the other side of the causeway. As part of ‘operation rear-guard’ they covered the allied troops retreat over the causeway to Singapore Island. He suffered a shrapnel wound to his head when the area was carpet bombed by Japanese aircraft. He was hospitalised for a short time in Singapore. There was no air cover.
Following capture on the 15th February he cleared bomb damage in Singapore and also worked in the docks before being sent up country into Thailand to build the Thai-Burma railway (aka the Death Railway). They were transported by lorry and freight train, thirty men to a truck. They arrived in Bampong, a journey of five or six days to camp near Kamburi, then Tarso, then on again till Kanu, marching more than a hundred miles,. During captivity he worked 14 to 16 hours a day, creating camps in the jungle and then clearing rock and trees. He moved to Hintok Valley Camp clearing trees to make ‘The Pack Of Cards’ Bridge, then further along to Hintok River Camp. Later he was sent back to work at Kanchanaburi, a hospital camp, where he met Russell Braddon, (author of The Naked Island), ‘Weary’ Dunlop (Australian surgeon) and Ronnie Searle (cartoonist). After five weeks he was sent back to Singapore, via the hellish freight trains to Sime Road Camp, then Changi Jail. He worked on Changi Aerodrome then Adam Road Camp digging underground tunnels before the Japanese surrendered.
Conditions in the railway camps were primitive and horrific—food was totally inadequate, beatings were frequent and severe, there were no medical supplies, tropical diseases were rampant, and the Japanese required a level of productivity that would have been difficult for fully fit and properly equipped men to achieve. 13,000 FEPOWs died constructing the railway – that’s a 1 in 4 death rate.
He rarely spoke about his experiences as a FEPOW and wouldn’t have Japanese goods in the house. Fortunately, in later life, he recounted what I have written here.
Three and a half years working as a slave labourer – now that’s some life changing experience!
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Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:12 pm
by basil6345789
My Dad, Jim Crane, was in Burma for 5 years (no coming home for a break). He wouldn't say much about it save that The Ghurkas were the most sincere, trustworthy and bravest men in the world.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:04 pm
by tiger76
VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute (BBC 1 8.30) just a reminder this is being broadcast tonight.
For some reason the campaign in the far east is always overlooked despite the suffering many allied troops endured, and Burma in particular was brutal, especially those POW'S who were forced to construct the Death Railway.
This is staggering nearly of Britons don't realise what VJ Day even stands for, that doesn't reflect well on what's being taught to our younger generations, and it's vital that the horrors of WW2 are passed down the generations to ensure nothing so horrific ever happens again.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/b ... -22524786
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:08 pm
by evensteadiereddie
I didn't catch the whole of it but Charles' speech seemed pretty impressive to me.
The Arboretum - and the Far East section in particular - looked magnificent.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:49 pm
by Aclaret
Exactly Eddie, some sad and harrowing stories. Bless them all.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:17 pm
by bfcjg
As a small child I remember an uncle who used to be pig ignorant,never spoke when we went round and just sat there. I found out when I got older he was a prisoner of war under the Japanese until liberated . When he died my auntie told us he went to war a confident gregarious young man and came back a broken mentally damaged wreck, no support from the army.In those days you stuck by your marriage vows not sure how many would put up with the awful life she had now. Always remember and now understand him on VJ day.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:32 pm
by evensteadiereddie
So, so sad.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:44 pm
by COBBLE
basil6345789 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:12 pm
My Dad, Jim Crane, was in Burma for 5 years (no coming home for a break). He wouldn't say much about it save that The Ghurkas were the most sincere, trustworthy and bravest men in the world.
MY dad, thought exactly the same. He said the Japanese soldiers were scared to death of them.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 10:07 pm
by Steve1956
Just watching the coverage on the news,very very moving,my Dad used to love reminiscing about his days in Burma.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 10:24 pm
by bobinho
Thanks all who have posted tales of your loved ones on here.
As an ex serviceman myself, I feel a kinship with all of them.
Bless them all...
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:33 am
by evensteadiereddie
AndrewJB wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:39 pm
Sorry - my post disappeared. Two books by an Australian soldier called Russell Braddon are very interesting in this regard. He was captured in Malaya in early 1942. His first book which catalogues his captivity, and which is harrowing, is called Naked Island. The second book is called End of a Hate. Both excellent reads.
Thanks for the heads up on the Russell Braddon books, AndrewJB. I've managed to order both off eBay this morning.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:39 am
by evensteadiereddie
Polesworth wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:12 am
I'll be at the National Memorial Arboretum today to commemorate VJ Day and paying tribute to my dad. He was a Japanese POW. Aged 20 he was in the 85th Anti-tank regiment and after basic training he sailed from Greenock on November 11th 1941, destined for Iraq and some desert warfare. En-route orders diverted them to Singapore via Capetown, Durban and the Maldives arriving January 13th 1942
As the Japanese approached Singapore his gun battery was deployed on the outskirts of Jahore Baru, Malaysia, on the other side of the causeway. As part of ‘operation rear-guard’ they covered the allied troops retreat over the causeway to Singapore Island. He suffered a shrapnel wound to his head when the area was carpet bombed by Japanese aircraft. He was hospitalised for a short time in Singapore. There was no air cover.
Following capture on the 15th February he cleared bomb damage in Singapore and also worked in the docks before being sent up country into Thailand to build the Thai-Burma railway (aka the Death Railway). They were transported by lorry and freight train, thirty men to a truck. They arrived in Bampong, a journey of five or six days to camp near Kamburi, then Tarso, then on again till Kanu, marching more than a hundred miles,. During captivity he worked 14 to 16 hours a day, creating camps in the jungle and then clearing rock and trees. He moved to Hintok Valley Camp clearing trees to make ‘The Pack Of Cards’ Bridge, then further along to Hintok River Camp. Later he was sent back to work at Kanchanaburi, a hospital camp, where he met Russell Braddon, (author of The Naked Island), ‘Weary’ Dunlop (Australian surgeon) and Ronnie Searle (cartoonist). After five weeks he was sent back to Singapore, via the hellish freight trains to Sime Road Camp, then Changi Jail. He worked on Changi Aerodrome then Adam Road Camp digging underground tunnels before the Japanese surrendered.
Conditions in the railway camps were primitive and horrific—food was totally inadequate, beatings were frequent and severe, there were no medical supplies, tropical diseases were rampant, and the Japanese required a level of productivity that would have been difficult for fully fit and properly equipped men to achieve. 13,000 FEPOWs died constructing the railway – that’s a 1 in 4 death rate.
He rarely spoke about his experiences as a FEPOW and wouldn’t have Japanese goods in the house. Fortunately, in later life, he recounted what I have written here.
Three and a half years working as a slave labourer – now that’s some life changing experience!Dad1.jpg
How was your day at the Arboretum, Polesworth ?
My brother has just sent me footage of the flypast, a Lancaster and a mix of Hurricanes and Spits. Eight very loud Merlin engines between them, apparently.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:49 pm
by Pad1951
My uncle was a Japanese POW in Burma, he never would talk about it.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:09 pm
by longsidepies
Corky wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:57 am
I do hope they pay appropriate respects to all those who fought in the East. As bfccrazy has said there were so many nationalities fighting the Japs. One of the most amazing battles was that for Kohima in the Naga foothills. It has been described as the most ferocious encounter anywhere, including the eastern front, in WW2.
The allied soldiers at both Kohima and Imphal halted the Japanese march into India.
I've been to both Kohima and Imphal and visited both commonwealth war graves sites. They are both beautifully well kept and are amazing places to visit. It's also extremely moving to walk amongst the rows and rows of servicemen that died there.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 5:51 pm
by evensteadiereddie
I've seen quite a few Commonwealth war graves sites throughout France, Holland and, bizarrely, Eritrea where a number of Royal Scots Greys, I think it was, were picked off one by one in the mountains.
All sites have been kept beautifully as have, quite properly, a number of German ones.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:24 pm
by Polesworth
Eddie. Yes the ceremony at the arboretum was very touching. I thought it hit the right note including all of the 'forgotten' - POW's, 14th Army, air force, navy, civilian internees and the whole Commonwealth involvement in facing up to the Japanese aggressors. The weather was fair and it was brilliant to see so many veterans from that time with their personal memories. It left the feeling that the efforts and sacrifice of those in the far eastern theatre were recognised.
I remember my father saying that they were instructed to just go home and get on with their lives. The war in Europe had been over for some time and it was best not to talk about it. That's exactly what they did. In my Dad's case after his release from captivity he weighed around 7 stone had to wait several months for transport back to the UK. After a hospital checkup in Liverpool and a few weeks rest he was passed fit for work. This was long before PTSD was recognised.'The Railway Man' by Eric Lomax (book and film) explores this.
Anyway I got to rub shoulders with royalty and the fly past brought a lump to throat.
Re: VJ DAY
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:36 pm
by evensteadiereddie
Superb, absolutely superb - thanks for responding. It must have been a wonderful day for you in some respects, not so good in others. I absolutely agree with you regarding the ceremony hitting the right note.
In what capacity were you there, a visitor, a guest ?
Either way, what a privilege.
Fabulous shots of the fly-past, too. Many thanks !