Emotional tributes at Peterborough war memorial to mark 75th anniversary of VJ Day

With Saturday marking the 75th Anniversary the ending of the Second World War, a group of Army Cadet Instructors from the Peterborough area felt compelled to ensure this important anniversary was properly marked, while sticking to social distancing rules.

Sgt Major Vince Moody, Sgt Rylan Ray, Sgt Adrian Johnson and Sgt Lloyd Lester of No.1 Company Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force were joined by Able Seaman Corby of The Royal Navy, on Saturday morning for a wreath laying ceremony at Peterborough Cenotaph to remember the men of the Cambridgeshire Regiment who served in the Far East.

he Cambridgeshire Regiment was captured at The Fall of Singapore in 1942 and endured three years of brutal mistreatment at the hands of The Imperial Japanese Army. Nearly 800 Cambridgeshire Regiment men died during Japanese captivity, along with tens of thousands of other British and allied servicemen. Although this regiment no longer exists, Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force maintains its traditional link with the Cambridgeshire Regiment by still wearing their blue and black badge on their uniforms today.

Holding this act of commemoration was all the more significant due to family connections with men who served in the Far East. Sgt Major Moody’s great uncle was a prisoner of the Japanese and was forced to work on the construction of the infamous Burma Railway. Sgt. Lester’s Grandfather, Private Charles John Traer, served with The Royal Army Medical Corps in Burma. SI Lester wore his grandfather’s medals today in honour and remembrance of him.

Army Cadet Spokesman Douglas Stuart said: “We thought it vitally important to ensure that an act of remembrance took place on this important anniversary. We know that many of those who served in the Far East felt forgotten after the war, and we owe it to them to ensure that this does not happen.

“It is particularly important that, as a youth organisation, we set an example for young people to follow and encourage them to remember the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of the wartime generation.’

The wreath was dedicated to The Cambridgeshire Regiment and included the famous lines of The Kohima Epitaph, ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.’