03 SEP 2023
A tribute & memorial website to honour​ - Lord Louis MOUNTBATTEN, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
15 AUG 2015
VJ DAY 70th ANNIVERSARY
Knatchbull Family participate in National Ceremony of Commemmoration
A short news film about the VJ70 Service
of Commemoration at
St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London
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Members of the Royal Family arriving for the VJ70 Service of Commemoration
at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London
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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip,
The Duke of Edinburgh
talking to veterans following
the VJ70 Service of Commemoration
at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London
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On 15th August 2015, ceremonies were held to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of 'Victory over Japan' (VJ Day) and remember the so-called 'Forgotten Army'. The day started with Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952- ) and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (b.1921) accompanied by Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex (b.1964), Sophie, The Countess of Wessex (b.1965), Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester (b.1944) and Birgitte, The Duchess of Gloucester (b.1946) who all attended a Service in St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, London, organised by the Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOW) Fellowship Welfare Remembrance Association. The Queen and members of the Royal Family had the opportunity to meet former POWs (prisoners of war) following the Service.
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Following the VJ70 Service of Commemoration, Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (b.1948) accompanied by his wife - Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (b.1947) attended a Drumhead Service and Wreath laying ceremony on Horse Guards Parade with a fly-past of four historic aircraft, a Spitfire, Dakota and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a Royal Navy Swordfish, together with a current RAF Typhoon. This was followed by a reception at College Gardens, within the grounds of Westminster Abbey, hosted by The Royal British Legion.
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LEFT: Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall was asked to dance by
Jim Booth, a 94yr
old Navy veteran
at the Royal British Legion
VJ70 reception at College Gardens
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BELOW: The VJ70
Drumhead Service
at Horseguards Parade, London
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Taking the salute at the VJ70 Drumhead Service -
Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales
(in the uniform of a Field Marshal)
with (left) The Rt Hon. David Cameron, The Prime Minister
& (right) Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall
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Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (b.1924) - Mountbatten’s eldest daughter, who has done much to raise awareness of the VJ70 commemorations sent a message which was read out at the Drumhead Service. She said - “This 70th anniversary of the real end of World War Two is a good time to show our renewed, sometimes belated, gratitude for what was achieved in South East Asia as well as in Europe. I would like to add my own, and my family’s, warmest wishes and admiration for all the veterans and their families gathered in commemoration”. To read more of her comments and to listen to her discussing about the day - click HERE
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Following the Drumhead Service, The Hon. Timothy Knatchbull (b.1964) - Mountbatten's grandson, accompanied by his wife and children, laid a wreath at his grandfather’s statue on Mountbatten Green, off Horse Guards Parade, London - in memory of the former Supreme Commander SE Asia.
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ABOVE: The Mountbatten Statue,
Mountbatten Green,
off Horse Guards Parade
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LEFT: The Hon. Timothy Knatchbull
with his wreath, which he laid at the base of
the statue of his grandfather (see above)
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The Hon. Timothy Knatchbull (holding the wreath) with his wife and children
on Mountbatten Green, London
prior to laying a wreath at the base of the statue of his grandfather
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