Remembering our war dead on VJ Day 80

Aug 15, 2025

The Member of Parliament for Caerphilly and Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner, Chris Evans, has spoken of the importance of remembering our war dead on the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day.

Victory over Japan happened 80 years ago on 15th August 1945. On this day, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered to the allies, effectively bringing the Second World War to an end.

Speaking during a recent Commonwealth War Graves Commission visit to the Arras Memorial in France, Mr. Evans said: “It is very important that our children and young people are reminded and educated about the work their forebears did to bring about the free society we enjoy today.

“I also want to pay tribute to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the work they do all over the world in the upkeep of cemeteries and ensuring that remembrance is at the forefront of everything we do.

The Arras Memorial, in the Pas de Calais region of France, includes the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery which is the final resting place of over 2,650 commonwealth burials from the First World War.

The Memorial commemorates the 34,810 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died at Arras. The Arras Flying Services Memorial commemorates almost 1,000 airmen who died on the Western Front.

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