I WAS frankly appalled at the paucity of coverage of VJ Day in the edition of the Journal dated August 13. You found space to give a half page with many photos to the floating of candles in memory of those killed by the atom bomb in Japan. The article was most sympathetic to them.

But, for our heroes of 70 years ago, who were remembering their hell on earth at the hands of the Japanese from 1941 until 1945, there was a brief two inch entry concerning the parade on Saturday.

As a city with a great and lasting bond with the army and the military, surely Salisbury could do better at this poignant weekend? 100,000 men, women and children were made POWs by the Japanese, of which 30,000 died in captivity. How many more suffered for the rest of their lives, we do not know.

This was the time to remember our own heroes, who fought and died in the Far East to end the war, and ensure our lasting freedom... even to be able to demand a ‘Ban the Bomb’.

Please rectify this situation in the next edition , and remember that we are British and proud of it. The VJ Service and Parade in London surely moved us all to remember and never forget.

“When you go home, tell them of us and say: ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today’.”

JAMES THOMPSON Bishopstone

  •  Editor's note: Last week the Journal published a brief news story to let readers know when the VJ Day parade was taking place.

Full story and pictures of the event can be found here