London, August 15(HS): On the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, the UK marked the solemn occasion with heartfelt tributes across the nation. Military bagpipers performed the poignant lament Battle’s O’er at dawn at key locations including the Cenotaph, the Far East section of the National Memorial Arboretum, and Edinburgh Castle. A special piper also played at a Japanese peace garden in west London, symbolizing decades of reconciliation between the two countries since the end of World War II.

Friday’s memorial service at the National Arboretum featured a spectacular military flypast, showcasing iconic aircraft such as the Red Arrows, Dakota, Hurricane, and Spitfire. The ceremony was further elevated by a tribute hosted by 400 Armed Forces members, alongside evocative music from military bands.

The solemn remembrance was broadcast live on BBC One, with the nation observing a two-minute silence at midday to honor those who served in the Far East theatre.

Later, the King and Queen hosted a reception meeting veterans of the Far East campaign and their families. At 9 p.m., hundreds of landmarks across the UK—including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the White Cliffs of Dover—were illuminated in a powerful display of remembrance.

VJ Day, which marks the end of conflict in the Pacific months after VE Day, will conclude its commemorations with a veterans’ reception at Windsor Castle later this autumn.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar