WATCH: Suffolk commemorates VJ Day and pays tribute to veterans

Lt Col Lachlan Sinclair, left, assistant army advisor, Australian High Commission, and Major General (retired) John Sutherell, lay wreaths at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Suffolk fell silent at 11am this morning as part of a remembrance service to pay tribute to those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War.

At St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds, a gathering of 65 people assembled to pay their respects in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Lt Col Lachlan Sinclair, left, assistant army advisor, Australian High Commission, representing the Commonwealth and Allied Forces, at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

In attendance was the organiser of the service, Lady Clare, Countess of Euston, and Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk.

They were joined by the Vice-Lord, Robers and Teresa Rous, representatives from the county’s armed services, veterans from the Royal Air Force Association, The British Legion, the Australian High Commission, Suffolk civic dignitaries, Far East Associations and Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner, Tim Passmore.

The Rev Simon Harvey leads the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Elsewhere in Suffolk, soldiers were remembered in Needham Market, Capel St Mary, Hadleigh, Felixstowe and at Christchurch Park in Ipswich.

The Ipswich Branch of the Royal British Legion held a small spoken service in memory of the 500 men and women lost.

The congregation all wearing face masks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

99 Ipswich men perished in Japanese POW camps with a further 22 who died fighting in the Far East.

In Felixstowe, a remembrance event was held at 2pm ,which was the same time as the War Memorial was unveiled 100 years ago.

Lt Col Lachlan Sinclair, left, assistant army advisor, Australian High Commission, and Major General (retired) John Sutherell, lay wreaths at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, a Regular Army formation, served with the 5th Indian Infantry Division in 1944, being flown to Imphal to clear Japanese positions.

The 4th/5th Battalions, Suffolk Regiment were Territorial Army units. They were assigned to the 18th Infantry Division and in 1941 were switched from a destination in Egypt to Singapore, arriving just in time to fight briefly in the defence of Singapore before the surrender. Men from the two battalions were among those who were forced to participate in the infamous construction of the Burma Railway. Others perished as forced labour in the Japanese coal mines of Formosa.

The standards are lowered as the Last Post is played at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

None of these men regretted the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which forced the

Japanese Emperor to concede defeat.

The Rev Simon Harvey leads the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, the Countess of Euston, out after the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Although VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still fighting in the Far East.

VJ Day marked both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War.

A short service was held at Christchurch Park in Ipswich for the VJ Day commemorations. Picture: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT (Image: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT)

In Suffolk, the bravery of its soldiers will be remembered today, as will the terrible price they paid.

Did you commemorate VJ Day this morning? Share your pictures with us here to feature in our gallery.

A short service was held at Christchurch Park in Ipswich for the VJ Day commemorations. Picture: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT (Image: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT)

VJ Day commemorations in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Picture: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT (Image: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT)

VJ Day commemorations in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Picture: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT (Image: IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT)

The Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, the Countess of Euston, with Major General (retired) John Sutherell, left, and Lt Col Lachlan Sinclair, assistant army advisor, Australian High Commission, after the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Very Rev Joseph Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury speaks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Rev Simon Harvey leads the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, the Countess of Euston, bows her head after laying a wreath at the cenotaph at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Social distancing, a one way system in the aisle, and everyone wearing masks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Rev Simon Harvey leads the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, the Countess of Euston, to her seat at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The congregation all wearing face masks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, the Countess of Euston, at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Suffolk Regiment insignia above the Royal Anglian Regiment chapel at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The regimental chapel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, laid up with the colours of the Suffolk Regiment at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The congregation all wearing face masks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

(L to R) Councillor Steve Philips, Mayor of Needham Market, Jim Darrah Chairman of NM Branch of the Royal British Legion and Standard Bearer and Past Chairman Peter Down. All three have served in the Armed Forces: Steve in the Royal Engineers, Jim in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, then Royal Army Physical Training Corps and Peter in the Royal Navy. Picture: PETER DOWNES (Image: PETER DOWNES)

The Rev Simon Harvey leads the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Ann Howard at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, remembering her father, Rev Alfred Cooke, who served in the Northants Regiment in Burma. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The congregation all wearing face masks at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Ann Howard at the County of Suffolk VJ Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, remembering her father, Rev Alfred Cooke, who served in the Northants Regiment in Burma. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Felixstowe commemorates VJ Day by holding a service to pay tribute to those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War Picture: ANDREW DOTCHIN (Image: ANDREW DOTCHIN)

Felixstowe commemorates VJ Day by holding a service to pay tribute to those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War Picture: ANDREW DOTCHIN (Image: ANDREW DOTCHIN)

Felixstowe commemorates VJ Day by holding a service to pay tribute to those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War Picture: ANDREW DOTCHIN (Image: ANDREW DOTCHIN)

Felixstowe commemorates VJ Day by holding a service to pay tribute to those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War Picture: ANDREW DOTCHIN (Image: ANDREW DOTCHIN)