| VJ Day 08:00 - May 14 with 2253 views | GeoffSentence |
I see that VJ Day is not a bank holiday. Why's that then? Not so important as defeating the dastardly hun? |  |
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| VJ Day on 08:17 - May 14 with 2226 views | Guthrum |
Was talking about this with my mother (who is old enough to remember VE Day). It was the same at the time, as far as she recalls, in there being much less celebration.
We came to the conclusion it was a combination of factors. The Germans were the more direct, immediate threat to the UK and it was against them that the War had started. Japan was a long way away and seen as the "nastier" enemy, with its treatment of PoWs (despite the concentration camps, which were more specifically laid at the door of the Nazi leadership). The Americans had more "ownership" of the victory. Between May and August there had been a General Election and Churchill was out of power. Attlee was not the man for bombast. Some disillusionment had set in when rationing did not cease with the end of the German threat and we were entering deeper austerity. There were also the distractions of rebuilding the country and the setting up of the NHS and Welfare State.
So if, for Britons, VJ Day does not seem to resonate so much, that is something which goes right back to 1945. [Post edited 14 May 2020 8:19]
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| VJ Day on 08:23 - May 14 with 2208 views | mikeybloo88 |
| VJ Day on 08:17 - May 14 by Guthrum |
Was talking about this with my mother (who is old enough to remember VE Day). It was the same at the time, as far as she recalls, in there being much less celebration.
We came to the conclusion it was a combination of factors. The Germans were the more direct, immediate threat to the UK and it was against them that the War had started. Japan was a long way away and seen as the "nastier" enemy, with its treatment of PoWs (despite the concentration camps, which were more specifically laid at the door of the Nazi leadership). The Americans had more "ownership" of the victory. Between May and August there had been a General Election and Churchill was out of power. Attlee was not the man for bombast. Some disillusionment had set in when rationing did not cease with the end of the German threat and we were entering deeper austerity. There were also the distractions of rebuilding the country and the setting up of the NHS and Welfare State.
So if, for Britons, VJ Day does not seem to resonate so much, that is something which goes right back to 1945. [Post edited 14 May 2020 8:19]
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That's interesting thanks...perhaps this year this country might do a bit better in showing its thanks to the men who served and died in that campaign. Maybe Captain Tom could have a word.... |  | | |
| VJ Day on 08:30 - May 14 with 2194 views | Guthrum |
| VJ Day on 08:23 - May 14 by mikeybloo88 |
That's interesting thanks...perhaps this year this country might do a bit better in showing its thanks to the men who served and died in that campaign. Maybe Captain Tom could have a word.... |
They didn't call the troops on the Burma front "The Forgotten Army" for nothing. Also, the Fall of Singapore was considered a great embarassment.
So yes. | |
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| VJ Day on 09:19 - May 14 with 2157 views | factual_blue |
| VJ Day on 08:30 - May 14 by Guthrum |
They didn't call the troops on the Burma front "The Forgotten Army" for nothing. Also, the Fall of Singapore was considered a great embarassment.
So yes. |
I think I'm right in saying the former POWs were ordered not to talk about their experiences. |  |
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| VJ Day on 09:51 - May 14 with 2125 views | hoppy |
If it was traditionally celebrated with eating steak or something, it might get more exposure, perhaps? |  |
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| VJ Day on 09:55 - May 14 with 2121 views | WeWereZombies |
| VJ Day on 08:17 - May 14 by Guthrum |
Was talking about this with my mother (who is old enough to remember VE Day). It was the same at the time, as far as she recalls, in there being much less celebration.
We came to the conclusion it was a combination of factors. The Germans were the more direct, immediate threat to the UK and it was against them that the War had started. Japan was a long way away and seen as the "nastier" enemy, with its treatment of PoWs (despite the concentration camps, which were more specifically laid at the door of the Nazi leadership). The Americans had more "ownership" of the victory. Between May and August there had been a General Election and Churchill was out of power. Attlee was not the man for bombast. Some disillusionment had set in when rationing did not cease with the end of the German threat and we were entering deeper austerity. There were also the distractions of rebuilding the country and the setting up of the NHS and Welfare State.
So if, for Britons, VJ Day does not seem to resonate so much, that is something which goes right back to 1945. [Post edited 14 May 2020 8:19]
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I think there was also a great deal of consternation about the use of the atomic bomb at the time and not so may people felt like celebrating that. |  |
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| VJ Day on 10:20 - May 14 with 2103 views | GeoffSentence |
| VJ Day on 09:51 - May 14 by hoppy |
If it was traditionally celebrated with eating steak or something, it might get more exposure, perhaps? |
Are you thinking more of vCJD day ? | |
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| VJ Day on 10:29 - May 14 with 2094 views | Pendejo |
| VJ Day on 09:19 - May 14 by factual_blue |
I think I'm right in saying the former POWs were ordered not to talk about their experiences. |
Both my grandfathers fought on the Burma campaign, maternal grandfather alongside the Ghurkhas, all the way to Singapore and Changi. They wouldn't talk too much about this but no-one in the family bought Japanese cars until they'd passed away.
My paternal grandfather died when I was 6 so don't recall much about him, maternal grandfather used to speak occasionally about the Ghurkhas and how wonderful, if blood thirsty they were.
Because of this VJ Day means far more to us as a family than VE Day. [Post edited 14 May 2020 10:43]
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| VJ Day on 10:30 - May 14 with 2091 views | BloomBlue |
The war against Japan didn't involve Japan bombing the UK day after day which is why when the war ended people celebrated much more than they did on VJ day |  | | |
| VJ Day on 10:34 - May 14 with 2083 views | factual_blue |
| VJ Day on 09:51 - May 14 by hoppy |
If it was traditionally celebrated with eating steak or something, it might get more exposure, perhaps? |
You could try this
I think you're allowed to take Yasmin fishing, so sourcing the ingredients shouldn't be a problem. | |
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| VJ Day on 10:43 - May 14 with 2071 views | factual_blue |
| VJ Day on 10:29 - May 14 by Pendejo |
Both my grandfathers fought on the Burma campaign, maternal grandfather alongside the Ghurkhas, all the way to Singapore and Changi. They wouldn't talk too much about this but no-one in the family bought Japanese cars until they'd passed away.
My paternal grandfather died when I was 6 so don't recall much about him, maternal grandfather used to speak occasionally about the Ghurkhas and how wonderful, if blood thirsty they were.
Because of this VJ Day means far more to us as a family than VE Day. [Post edited 14 May 2020 10:43]
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The (undoubtedly apocryphal) story about the Gurkhas and parachutes is good.
Their CO is asking for volunteers to jump from a plane for a behind enemy lines mission. Only half the men step forward.
He then explains about parachutes. The other half step forward. | |
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| VJ Day on 10:53 - May 14 with 2047 views | Pendejo |
| VJ Day on 10:43 - May 14 by factual_blue |
The (undoubtedly apocryphal) story about the Gurkhas and parachutes is good.
Their CO is asking for volunteers to jump from a plane for a behind enemy lines mission. Only half the men step forward.
He then explains about parachutes. The other half step forward. |
Should also mention he had one of these
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| VJ Day on 10:59 - May 14 with 2029 views | benrhyddingblue |
| VJ Day on 10:29 - May 14 by Pendejo |
Both my grandfathers fought on the Burma campaign, maternal grandfather alongside the Ghurkhas, all the way to Singapore and Changi. They wouldn't talk too much about this but no-one in the family bought Japanese cars until they'd passed away.
My paternal grandfather died when I was 6 so don't recall much about him, maternal grandfather used to speak occasionally about the Ghurkhas and how wonderful, if blood thirsty they were.
Because of this VJ Day means far more to us as a family than VE Day. [Post edited 14 May 2020 10:43]
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My father was in Burma in WW2 and still on active service on VE Day. He never spoke about it much and I never pressed him much on it when he was still alive, although I've now found out a little more about where he was and what he did through my own research.
For us also VJ Day has been a more important date than VE Day. |  | | |
| VJ Day on 11:08 - May 14 with 2014 views | Guthrum |
| VJ Day on 09:55 - May 14 by WeWereZombies |
I think there was also a great deal of consternation about the use of the atomic bomb at the time and not so may people felt like celebrating that. |
Indeed. Plus it was not long before consternation about the Soviets and their aims began to build up (tho that took a few years rather than months, as short-lived postwar Eastern European governments fell to the communists). [Post edited 14 May 2020 11:13]
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| VJ Day on 12:19 - May 14 with 1974 views | ElephantintheRoom |
It was a long way away - and the Brits were even less important in the Far East than their largely stay at home efforts in Europe. This was effectively the USA's war - with major support from Aussies, Indians and Kiwis.
Nobody cared over much 'back home'. That's why you hear loads of propaganda about the importance of D-Day... and nothing whatsoever about Kohima Ridge which had far greater casualties than D-Day - and prevented the invasion of India.
You have to remember that this was the age of Empire and those 1 million Indian troops
and other colonial troops were effectively fighting for their freedom ... and we didn't want to celebrate that too much. | |
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| VJ Day on 13:48 - May 14 with 1932 views | Guthrum |
| VJ Day on 10:43 - May 14 by factual_blue |
The (undoubtedly apocryphal) story about the Gurkhas and parachutes is good.
Their CO is asking for volunteers to jump from a plane for a behind enemy lines mission. Only half the men step forward.
He then explains about parachutes. The other half step forward. |
Read an account of a Gurkha hurling a grenade at the enemy, then charging with his bayonet. Unfortunately, in his eagerness, he hadn't waited for the grenade to explode first ...
The other tale is of Gurkha sentries who, at night, would lie in wait and feel the approaching man's boots without him noticing. If they had laces, were British and therefore ok. But you didn't want to be wearing German jackboots. | |
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| VJ Day on 14:02 - May 14 with 1923 views | EdwardStone |
| VJ Day on 13:48 - May 14 by Guthrum |
Read an account of a Gurkha hurling a grenade at the enemy, then charging with his bayonet. Unfortunately, in his eagerness, he hadn't waited for the grenade to explode first ...
The other tale is of Gurkha sentries who, at night, would lie in wait and feel the approaching man's boots without him noticing. If they had laces, were British and therefore ok. But you didn't want to be wearing German jackboots. |
In my Army times we were always told to lace our boots in a very specific way. Put a knot in one end of the lace and then loop the running end so that it always went straight and parallel between pairs of eyelets....for the reason you mention
I also liked the tale of the Ghurkha mule-handler who was attaching the bags to his mule when it gave him the most tremendous double hoof kick to the head
He reported sick....no serious injury and was given 2 aspirins
The mule had to be put down with two broken ankles
Tough people, them Ghurkahs |  | | |
| VJ Day on 15:17 - May 14 with 1879 views | Clapham_Junction |
| VJ Day on 10:59 - May 14 by benrhyddingblue |
My father was in Burma in WW2 and still on active service on VE Day. He never spoke about it much and I never pressed him much on it when he was still alive, although I've now found out a little more about where he was and what he did through my own research.
For us also VJ Day has been a more important date than VE Day. |
My grandfather was also in Burma and similarly also never spoke about it. The only thing I was ever told (by someone else in the family) was that he had seen one of his best friends killed in a very unpleasant way.
Fighting out there was the only time he went abroad in his life. |  | | |
| VJ Day on 16:20 - May 14 with 1846 views | flimflam |
| VJ Day on 10:29 - May 14 by Pendejo |
Both my grandfathers fought on the Burma campaign, maternal grandfather alongside the Ghurkhas, all the way to Singapore and Changi. They wouldn't talk too much about this but no-one in the family bought Japanese cars until they'd passed away.
My paternal grandfather died when I was 6 so don't recall much about him, maternal grandfather used to speak occasionally about the Ghurkhas and how wonderful, if blood thirsty they were.
Because of this VJ Day means far more to us as a family than VE Day. [Post edited 14 May 2020 10:43]
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My Grandad was in Burma pretty much from the start to the finish of WW2.
An ex girlfriends Grandad was with the 5th Suffolks and captured at Singapore and spent the rest of the war as POW. Never spoke a word about it. |  |
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