Victory over Japan: 80th Anniversary

Adam Jogee Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab)]

It is a huge honour to represent the ancient and loyal borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in this House, and all those who served our country—the veterans and their families—to whom we owe so much. We are a patriotic community, which is why I was honoured to attend the recent reopening of the Tri Service and Veterans support centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme just two weeks ago. The centre does wonderful work supporting and standing up for our veterans and all those who call Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme home.

I am grateful to the Minister for setting out the support, funding and events that will allow our United Kingdom to remember, reflect and understand the sacrifice of those to whom we owe so much. My grandfather boarded a boat from Jamaica in 1941 to serve king and country, to help us to defeat the Nazis and to fight for the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today. They were and remain the greatest generation, and we owe them so much.

Every anniversary commemorating the allies’ victories on VJ Day is significant, but this year is even more significant, as we mark 80 years since the end of the second world war, and because this may be the last significant anniversary that we share with the surviving veterans of that greatest generation. We owe them all a huge debt of gratitude. Those brave soldiers came from every corner of what was then the British empire. They fought and sacrificed so that we may speak openly and freely today. The efforts of those soldiers from across what is now the Commonwealth should serve as a unifying influence on us all today.

It was in Newcastle-under-Lyme that Reginald Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, was born. When the war arrived on the doorstep of a different Newcastle from the one I call home—the one in New South Wales, Australia—which suffered a direct shelling attack from the Japanese in June 1942, it was three squadrons of Reginald Mitchell’s Spitfire planes that would be sent to help to defend the shores of Australia from October 1942. From one Newcastle to another.

As many Members gathered in the Chamber tonight will know, I am a proud son of the Commonwealth, so VJ Day is particularly important to me due to the extraordinary contribution of Commonwealth countries to the war effort in the eastern theatre. How lucky are we that they served and stood up to be counted? As I said in my speech to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, there is no greater tribute to the greatest generation than continuing to push for a more tolerant, more respectful and more peaceful world. How proud am I, as a Staffordshire MP, that the arboretum in Lichfield will be leading our national commemorations as we give thanks to those who gave their lives for us?

[Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington) (LD)]

I rise quite simply to honour all those who served in the Pacific campaign and in Asia during world war two. That included my own father—a very young Captain Amos at the time—who served at the end of the second world war after being redeployed from Europe. We also remember those who died on all sides, including thousands of civilians, and how strongly those events at the end of the second world war send the message that war is what happens when politics and diplomacy fail. Let us never forget that, along with the terrible consequences for those living with war right now.

Others who served in the Pacific campaign include many unsung heroes of the RAF’s photographic reconnaissance unit—I congratulate the hon. Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) on securing a recent Westminster Hall debate on that—whose courage and skill gathered intelligence, shortened conflicts and saved lives. That intelligence was as vital in the eastern theatre as it was in the western European theatre.

I will take a moment to acknowledge those from my constituency who served in the PRU, whose bravery was as extraordinary as their sacrifice. Flying Officer Eric Durston from Wellington flew solo reconnaissance missions, capturing images critical to allied planning. He was lost over the Netherlands in 1942. His gravestone at Bergen bears the inscription:

“He died and never knew;

England, he died for you.”

It is signed simply, “Mother”—a mother whose heartache at the loss of her son at only 22 I can only imagine.

On Christmas eve 1944, Flying Officer Priddle from Taunton died when his Spitfire was shot down over Utrecht. More happily, Eric Hill—also of Taunton—flew Mosquitos across the Arctic, on the eastern front and over Germany on dangerous missions. One such mission—to photograph Tirpitz—was over 3,000 miles long and lasted more than 10 hours. It is thought to be the longest reconnaissance operation of the entire war. He survived and went on to fulfil the dream of playing, and later commentating on, cricket for Somerset. He is commemorated in the press box at the county ground a few hundred yards from my own home.

Those stories remind us that everyday folk get caught up in war and do extraordinarily courageous things. We owe it to those who serve to stand with veterans, to remember them and their sacrifice. It was therefore a privilege last week to take part in the debate on our Northern Ireland veterans. No veteran should ever be subjected to double jeopardy and pursued for doing no more than their duty.

I wish to bring to the Minister’s attention a veteran who desperately needs help—[Interruption.] I will write to the Minister about that veteran, who has only weeks to live.

[Adam Jogee]

I would be really interested in the hon. Member explaining a bit more about the veteran to whom he just referred.

[Gideon Amos]

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Member. Dr X served 25 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps and transferred to the NHS less than two years ago. He has been given the prognosis that he has only weeks to live, and because he has been in his transferred position with the NHS for less than two years he will lose his death benefits. I have written to the Secretary of State for Defence today and sent the letter to his office. I hope that Ministers will be able to look urgently at his case.

Those who served in world war two, including the pilots of the PRU who flew in silence, were part of the greatest generation. Their voices may increasingly be silent, but their legacy speaks volumes.