And the 75th anniversary of that historic event, VJ Day, will take place this weekend, albeit restricted due to Covid-19.
War had ended in Europe in May that year with a victory over Nazi Germany but thousands of Allied Forces were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Pacific theatre, which went on into the summer.
Many British and Commonwealth civilians and armed forces were taken prisoner and endured terrible traumas and the Far East saw some of the fiercest fighting of WWII, including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s armed forces champion Cllr Archie Dryburgh said: “The 75th anniversary of VJ Day is a time for us to collectively remember the contribution made by people from Scotland, the UK, the Commonwealth, and the Allied Nations. Their sacrifices enabled the freedoms and democracy that we enjoy to this day.
“Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it. As we see a rise in intolerance, hate crime and anti-Semitism, it’s vital that we take time to remember the atrocities of war and work to ensure that we don’t make the same mistakes again.”
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth added: “Those brave men and women who fought and gave their lives for our freedom must never be forgotten. As we face the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, it is more important than ever that we commemorate their sacrifice.”
Meanwhile, Legion Scotland is paying tribute to the efforts of Scottish veterans with the presentation of a special commemorative coin.
And they want to hear from anyone in Dumfries and Galloway who contributed to the Allied War effort during either VJ Day or VE Day.
National chairman of Legion Scotland Martyn Hawthorn, who lives in Moffat, said: “It is vital that as we approach the 75th anniversary of VJ Day that the bravery and sacrifice of the men who fought in the Far East campaign is forgotten no more.
“The commemorative coin is our way of providing a symbol of their immense efforts during what was an arduous campaign.”
The organisation will also broadcast a series of programmes via their social media channels this weekend, including a Service of Remembrance on Saturday morning followed by a virtual concert.
