VJ Day 80

  1. VJ Day 2025 – 80th Anniversary Commemoration Service
  2. VJ 80 Merchandise
  3. Surviving the Railway: Memories of Far East Prisoners of War Exhibition
  4. Far East POW Pilgrimage, Singapore & Thailand 2025

VJ Day 2025 – 80th Anniversary Commemoration Service

Friday 15th August 2025 – Norwich Cathedral

A Service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day was held at Norwich Cathedral courtesy of the Dean, The Very Reverend Dr. Andrew Braddock.

Norwich Cathedral was full to capacity for our Service; over 1100 tickets were issued and the Service was a truly wonderful way to honour the memory of our Far East POWs.

VJ 80 Merchandise

A VJ80 pin badge @ £5, Necklace @ £7.50, Both items £10 together – all prices inclusive of postage.

A pen is also available with our VJ 80 logo at £2.

VJ80 merchandise is available in a presentation box.

Please contact Pauline for payment information enquiries@nationalfepowfellowship.org.uk

Surviving the Railway: Memories of Far East Prisoners of War Exhibition

22nd March – 21st September 2025 Stories of Lynn Museum, King’s Lynn Town Hall

The exhibition told the stories of the ill-fated 18th Infantry Division, a territorial formation of East Anglian battalions including the 4th, 5th and 6th Royal Norfolk’s. Whilst originally heading for the Middle East, Japan’s declaration of war and subsequent rapid march down the Malayan Peninsula saw them divert for the island ‘fortress’ of Singapore. Despite its reputation, the Battle for Singapore was a brief one, and the British Army surrendered on the 15th February 1942.

The men captured in Singapore would go on to suffer three and a half years of brutal treatment at the hands of the Japanese, with many being sent up country to build the Thai-Burma railway, otherwise known as the ‘Railway of Death’. Around a quarter of these men would die from starvation, brutality and disease, but their stories stand as testament to the enduring nature of the human spirit in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Surviving the Railway: Memories of Far East Prisoners of War told their stories through the objects and accounts held by the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum alongside an archival film exploring the realities of internment, rarely made available to the public.

Far East POW Pilgrimage, Singapore & Thailand 2025

2nd November – 17th November 2025
Singapore and Thailand

Once again, the 2025 tour will be managed by Battlefield Guide / NFFWRA Associate and Committee member Gerry Norden and the party will journey under the umbrella of NFFWRA (the National Far East POW Welfare & Remembrance Association).

Gerry worked for The British Legion travel arm (Remembrance Travel), for over 10 years guiding schools, Colleges and Adult tours throughout the globe and covering both WW1&2.

Joining us (once again), will be Archaeologist Jon Cooper who spent over 6 years on the ground in Singapore carrying out Battlefield archaeology (specifically in relation to Adam Park), which culminated in the publication of his book “Tigers in The Park”.

The first week will be based in Singapore before flying up to Bangkok for week two.

During the Pilgrimage the group will take part in remembrance services and wreath laying ceremonies both in Singapore (Kranji), and Thailand (Kanchanaburi & Chungkai).

On 11th November we will participate in the remembrance service at Kanchanaburi Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery (CWGC), Thailand.

Singapore

Includes locations such as Adam Park, The Battlebox/Fort Canning, Changi Museum, Changi Murals, Roberts Barracks, Ford Motor Factory Museum and The Causeway in addition to free time. We will tour the island looking at some other key locations.

Thailand

We will explore and talk about many POW camps travelling between Bangkok and Three Pagodas Pass on the Burma border.
Includes train ride on the existing part of the railway built by the POW’S including the Wampo viaduct & Chungkai Cutting and Guided walking tour of Hellfire Pass.

Please contact tour Manager Gerry Norden by e mail: yasume@hotmail.co.uk or
mobile 07736 085860 for all additional information and enquiries.