A poignant ceremony was held on Tuesday, August 15 to pay tribute to those who perished as prisoners of war in the Far East during the Second World War.
The event was attended by veterans’ groups, local politicians, and members of the public who gathered to honour the brave individuals who endured unimaginable hardships.
Hosted outside the Civic Centre in Motherwell, the ceremony was led by the Provost of North Lanarkshire, Kenneth Duffy, and South Lanarkshire Provost, Margaret Cooper. Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial and a minute’s silence held to remember those who lost their lives in the conflict.
The Far East campaign, which began in December 1941, was fought by British, Allied, and Commonwealth forces. The Japanese forces' surrender on August 15, 1945, marked the end of the conflict and World War II as a whole.
Despite the role it played in shaping history, the Far East campaign became known as "the Forgotten War." Countless individuals endured captivity in prisoner of war camps, enduring unimaginable hardships.
Speaking at the ceremony, Provost Kenneth Duffy said: “We gathered to pay tribute to those brave individuals who fell during World War Two in the Far East, and to remember the pain endured by the many brave souls who survived, but came back with the horrors of what they had to witness. It is 78 years since the conflict ended, a battle fought on a truly enormous scale, and it is vitally important that we mark this event.
"The unconditional surrender of the Japanese forces on the 15th of August 1945 brought an end to the devastation of the Second World War in that part of the world. The passing of time since that awful conflict doesn't diminish our admiration for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country."