70 years on from victory in the Far East and the end of the Second World War, the Royal British Legion is working to raise awareness of the sacrifices that soldiers and civilians in the east had to make, for a long while after Europe had seen the end of the fighting. In the months following the celebrations around Victory in Europe (VE) Day, fighting continued in Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines & Singapore – in the longest campaign of the Second World War. 300,000 prisoners of war in the East lived through these celebrations in captivity, and 100,000 died before victory was announced.
The efforts and sacrifice of almost 2.5 million Commonwealth army personnel who fought in the Allied campaign in the Far East are often almost overlooked, and general awareness of the struggle in the East sadly remains low.
On the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, The Royal British Legion has released a video to highlight the plight of Allied Troops and civilians in the Far East, and to ensure the memory of their legacy lives on. The video’s participants, reading facts from an autocue for the first time, are shocked to learn the fate of all the brave men and women who were at the centre of the long campaign in the asian theatre. The video captures their reactions.
Its publication is intended to highlight the plight of Allied Troops and civilians in the Far East, and to ensure the memory of their legacy lives on.
View the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Royal British Legion’s work is encapsulated in its motto: Live On – to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living. The Legion is the nation's biggest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is the national custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal, and its emblem the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk