THE 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War has been marked, with people urged to remember so that the mistakes of the past aren’t repeated.
A service of remembrance and celebration took place at St James Church in Mangotsfield on VJ Day.
Residents joined with community pastor Clive Heath, St James vicar Rev James Cannan and Royal British Legion Staple Hill & District chair Ian Campbell for the short candlelit service, which included two minutes’ silence.
It marked 80 years to the day since the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, marked the formal end of the conflict.
All who died were remembered, including those who died in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
Ian said: “People often forget the fact that, while Europe had peace after VE Day, the war still raged on in the Far East, with thousands of servicemen dying and civilians being killed across Burma, Japan and other countries.
“Thousands of men were not just fighting but in prisoner of war camps, undergoing unspeakable atrocities. Those that did come back were mentally and physically scarred for years.
“It’s important that the country comes together to remember, and this is probably the last significant milestone commemoration when we will have some of the servicemen still with us.
“It’s a crying shame, because we often repeat history when we forget history.”
James told the assembled congregation it was important to remember the lives lost and celebrate what was not only the end of the Second World War but “hopefully all world wars”.
Clive said it was a time to reflect on the “sacrifices and valour” of those who died and the few veterans who are still with us today.
He said: “It’s for us to remind the younger generation how different things could have been.”
A service to jointly remember VJ Day 80 and the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain is being held in Page Park on Sunday August 31, from noon to 1pm, with music from Staple Hill Salvation Army band.
VJ Day was also marked with a display in the centre of Downend created by a local craft group.
The postbox topper was created by the Downend Yarn Busters knitting group: Tanya Phillips, Tina Jefferies, Ann Wilde, Mary Townsend and Suzzie Belcher.
An information board attached to the topper explains that it is commemorating the end of the Second World War on VJ Day and the more than 35,000 allied prisoners of war who died in Japanese captivity.
Group members said they used white ‘peace poppies’ in the design, “hoping that atomic bombs will never be used again”.