‘Determined’ Royal British Legion branch marks VJ Day in Spilsby

The tribute was held by the Spilsby and District branch of the Royal British Legion on Saturday with social distancing in mind.

It followed disruption earlier in the year when, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the branch had to cancel its plans to mark the same milestone for VE Day (Victory in Europe Day).

Branch chairman Denis Chandler said: “As we were unable to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day due to Covid-19 restrictions, the branch was determined not to let the VJ Day anniversary pass without marking it with a service and parade.”

On the day, the service was given by Canon Peter Coates, the Standard was paraded by standard bearer Michael Lenton, and the parade was marshalled by warrant officer first class Danny Atkinson, who travelled to Spilsby specially for the occasion.

The exhortation was recited by Brin Strong and a wreath laid by president Ron Worth, who also recited the Kohima Epitaph (‘When you go home, tell them of us and say: for your tomorrow we gave our today’).

Mr Chandler described this as a ‘fitting epitaph for those who lost their lives fighting a vastly superior Japanese force whilst defending Kohima on the border with India in 1944’.

He added: “We were lucky with the weather. Although grey and overcast it did not dampen the spirit of the occasion and the half-hour ceremony went off without a hitch.”

The Last Post, he continued, was played by Gary Cole, and was followed by a two-minute silence and Reveille.

He gave his ‘sincere thanks’ to Canon Peter and ‘all those who paid a part in the proceedings and all those who found the time to attend’.