The sacrifice of those who died as prisoners of war in the Far East during the Second World War was remembered at a special ceremony on Monday 15 August 2022
War veterans and members of the public gathered at the Civic Centre to commemorate the end of the conflict, when Japanese forces surrendered on August 15, 1945.
The moment effectively ended World War II, after the Far East campaign fought by British, Allied and Commonwealth forces since December 1941.
It became known as “the Forgotten War” and saw many thousands of men being captured and enduring years of captivity in prisoner of war camps.
Councillor Anne Thomas, Depute Provost of North Lanarkshire, said: “We gathered to pay tribute to those brave individuals who fell during World War Two in the Far East.
“It is 77 years since Japan surrendered to the allied forces and it is vitally important that we mark this event. Conflict and war are a tragedy for all, as we are witnessing daily with the awful conflict in Ukraine.
“The unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan 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 time since that awful conflict doesn’t diminish our admiration for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“The war in the Far East was fought on a truly enormous scale, and although far from the conflict here in Europe, the brutal realities, massive loss of life and wholesale devastation were the same.
“We are all eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made to help ensure freedom.”