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VJ veterans pay tribute to fallen
Independent, The (London), Aug 22, 2005
by Terri Judd
Donated By
Independent.
They promised they would never forget
and yesterday, more than six decades later, they kept their word. Hundreds
of veterans of the Burma campaign gathered at the Cenotaph for the last commemoration
service in a summer of events marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the
Second World War.
Yesterday it was the turn of the 'Forgotten Army', those who continued to endure
the cruelties of the Far East front long after Europe was celebrating peace.
Despite valiant attempts to maintain a chirpy tone, 81-year-old Reg Tully's
eyes welled up as he talked of fellow servicemen who lost their lives, their
health and their sanity in the jungles of Burma. Alongside his 83- year-old
brother Bernard, he served in the 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment,
which helped to capture Mandalay. 'There are not many of us left now but we
still talk about the boys that didn't come back,' Reg said. 'Some were only
19.'
The veterans stood for more than an hour on the sunny day, as they listened
to the Last Post. Several collapsed rather than request a chair. As Big Ben
chimed midday, a solemn procession including the Prince of Wales, Deputy Prime
Minister John Prescott and the chiefs of staff laid wreaths.
John Baxter, 86, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,
laid a wreath of white Singapore lilies on behalf of the Far East Prisoners
of War Association.
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