On Friday, August 15th, it will be the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Bellringers have been requested to remember this significant 20th century event by ringing from 6.30pm. Some ringers however have expressed concern at ringing to ‘celebrate’ the 80th anniversary.
I think we should ring if possible to remember the anniversary. The celebrations were 80 years ago and we do not need to be celebratory but reflective. VJ Day was moment of international rejoicing after almost six years of war, of which the war with Japan was particularly savage and costly for both sides.
To many, VJ Day is clouded with the remembrance of the deployment of the only (to date) nuclear weapons used in anger. The loss of life was horrendous, but without these weapons, the war would have continued until the Japanese Islands had been conquered. Contemporary estimates claim the loss of at least one million military and civilian lives if the planned invasion had been launched in January 1946.
In other words, there was no low casualty solution. Japan was ruled by a military government which did not believe in surrender. The two ‘A’ bombs overshadow the most destructive bombing raid in history in terms of civilian casualties, which is even today, often overlooked. On 9-10 March 1945, 16 square miles of Tokyo was burnt out by incendiaries released by Boeing B-29’s. Over 100,000 civilians died, more than either of the two ‘A’ bombs.
I hope members of the Essex Association of Change Ringers will support the request to ring on August 15th; if nothing else, but to remember the appalling loss of life on both sides.