WHEN VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC ENDED THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Seventy-seven years ago today war ended in the Pacific, with Japan giving their unconditional surrender to the Allies, officially bringing an end to the Second World War.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said nearly one million Australians served during the war and around 40,000 did not return home to their families.
“On Victory in the Pacific Day, we pause to commemorate the more than 17,000 Australians who lost their lives in the war against Japan,” Minister Keogh said.
“We remember our valiant efforts on the Australian home front, in Malaya, Singapore, Papua and New Guinea, Borneo and elsewhere in the south west Pacific across those three years of war.”
The war in Europe had ended three months earlier, but Japan fought on until the USA dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.
“The threat of invasion seemed very real,” Minister Keogh said. “It was a time when Australians worked hard and pulled together to defend our country.”
“On this day, I encourage all Australians to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served during the Second World War.”
Yes I will be remembering like many of my late Father who was in the 2/19 Battalion (745 causalities) and their follow battalions that fought onto Singapore Island. Muar, Parit Sulong break out and the massacre that followed. POW and then on to Japan where they were all POW’s were to be executed. Thankfully the bomb over Nagasaki near where he was interned save them.
I remember Maj “Roaring” Reg Newton who was OIC of a camp in Japan who commandeered a train to get his POW’s to Tokyo to get medical aid only to receive an invoice from the Japanese’s Railways later in Australia. He sent that one to Canberra for their action with a note a very good suggestion on what they could do with the account.
Knowing Shorty Cooper from 18th Battalion who as a POW on the Thai Railway did some extrordary things for his mates.
He was wound and in Alexandra Hospital Singapore to survive the Japanese slaughter of people killed in their beds.