FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon led VJ Day commemorations in Scotland yesterday by paying tribute to all those who lost their lives in World War II.

On the 75th anniversary of the end of the war, Sturgeon thanked those who served, or are currently serving in the armed forces, while also remembering the civilian casualties and those who suffered in prisoner of war camps.

Many commemoration plans were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but a national two minute silence was still held at 11am along with an online service led by Sturgeon and Veterans Minister Graeme Day. The Red Arrows performed a flypast of Edinburgh in one of the few physical events marking the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces, which effectively ended the war.

Sturgeon said: “In marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember everyone – the soldiers and civilians on all sides – who paid the ultimate price during the conflict.

“We think of those who served in the armed forces – from across Scotland, the UK, the Commonwealth and the other allied nations.

“We remember the pain and suffering of those who spent years in prisoner of war camps.

“And we reflect on all those who contributed to the war effort on the homefront and the sacrifices they made.

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“Together they ensured the freedoms that we enjoy today and all of us should be inspired by their service, resilience and bravery – as well as by their idealism – their determination to create a better world in the aftermath of the war.”

She added: “On this 75th anniversary, let us pay tribute to our World War II generation.

“Let us thank all those who have served – or are serving – in our armed forces. And let’s commit ourselves – once again – to helping create a better, fairer and more peaceful world.”

Day said it was a time for the nation to come together to remember the sacrifices that “ensured the peace and freedoms we enjoy today”.

“All households were impacted in some way by the Second World War and it is important that we learn from those experiences so that the awful events that cost so many lives during the Second World War are never repeated,” he said.

“The whole country owes our current and ex-service personnel an immense debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”

Claire Armstrong, chief executive of Legion Scotland, pointed out that while VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East.

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“This campaign saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War and in some of the harshest conditions with many thousands of British and Commonwealth forces and civilians being taken as prisoners of war, enduring terrible mental and physical trauma,” she said. “Victory over Japan came at a heavy price.”

In Edinburgh, the Royal Scots held a wreath-laying ceremony at Laurieston Castle to remember their 496 serviceman who died in prisoner of war camps, while in Dumfries, a virtual service was held online to mark the day. In Motherwell, a planned commemoration was scaled back in accordance with Scottish Government guidance on public gatherings. Wreaths were laid by at the war memorial to pay tribute to those involved in the conflict.

Lone pipers played the Battle’s O’er at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, Belfast and London. A two-minute silence at 11am was led by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, followed by an RAF flyover.