RESIDENTS at Royal Star & Garter are preparing to mark Victory over Japan Day on Monday.
Among them are Harry Southern and Peter Whiteley, who were both involved in the Burma campaign during WWII.
Harry was serving in the Navy and preparing for a “suicide trip”, when atomic bombs dropped by American forces on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced the Japanese surrender.
The 97-year-old, who lives at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, was a Leading Seaman, serving on a small 18-man motor launch.
Peter, a 100-year-old resideny at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, was involved in direct conflict with Japanese troops while serving in Burma (now Myanmar).
He joined the Army as an 18-year-old in 1940, serving in the Royal Engineers. He was part of the Battle of the Box – which provided a welcome victory against the Japanese after successive failures and retreats – and later survived a deadly assault by enemy troops, which claimed the lives of several men he was with.
Both men would later receive Burma Star medals.
In Surbiton, VJ Day will be marked with events and activities which include live music from Swingtime Sweethearts. In Solihull, Harry will commemorate the day with the local British Legion branch.
