Killyleagh to mark VJ Day 75th anniversary

Killyleagh to mark VJ Day 75th anniversary

5 August 2020

THE 75th anniversary of VJ Day is to be marked in Killyleagh.

A scaled down version of events is to be held on Saturday, August 15, to mark the end of war in Japan, which effectively signalled the end of the Second World War.

A short act of remembrance will be held at the War Memorial at 11am, conducted by the Killyleagh and Killinchy Royal British Legion. Social distancing measures will be in place.

At the same time, with the support of the Rev Colin Darling at St John’s Church of Ireland in Killyleagh, the church bells are to be tolled as part of the UK-wide commemorations of the anniversary.

The Killyleagh VE 75 celebrations had to be cancelled in May by the Killyleagh Remembers the War group in the wake of the Coronavirus alert and the danger of public gatherings.

The Killyleagh group has cancelled a free bus trip to Dublin later this month, which was to include a visit to the Glasnevin wall of remembrance. 

The production of a film featuring Killyleagh’s differing roles in the 1939-45 war is continuing. The plan remains to show this in Killyleagh on Remembrance Weekend.