80 years on: VJ Day commemorations planned across Moray and Banffshire
Moray and Banffshire will come together next month to mark 80 years since Victory over Japan (VJ) Day – the historic moment that signalled the end of the Second World War.
A programme of commemorative events is scheduled for Friday 15 August, offering attendees the opportunity to honour the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who served and were affected by the conflict.
The day will begin at 10am with the raising of the VJ Day flag outside Moray Council Headquarters in Elgin. Members of the public are welcome to observe the ceremony.
At 10:30am, a wreath-laying will take place at the Gordon Highlanders memorial in Keith and in the afternoon a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Laurence Church in Forres, beginning at 2pm. Led by Reverend Stuart Finlayson, with contributions from Reverend Dr Hamilton Inbadas and Reverend Dewald Louw, the service – which is open to all - will feature readings, pipers and a performance by the Kinloss Military Wives Choir.
Following the service – outside the church - the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Air Commodore Alistair Monkman CBE, will read the address given by King George VI on 15 August 1945 - a poignant reminder of the day the war finally came to an end.
He said: “The King’s words still resonate deeply. He spoke not just of victory, but of sacrifice, endurance, and the heavy toll the war had taken on families across the nation.
“Eighty years on, we gather not to celebrate war, but to honour peace - and those who made it possible. We remember those who served, often in brutal and unforgiving conditions. Many never returned; while others came home carrying visible and invisible scars.
“It is our duty and privilege to carry their memory forward. VJ Day reminds us that freedom came at a cost, and that gratitude must never fade with time.”
Also at 2pm, the Banffshire Lieutenancy will be holding a ceremony at the war memorial in Macduff. This will include readings of the memories of servicemen who were involved in the war in the Far East.
Meanwhile in Dufftown, the Pipe Band will depart from the town square at 6pm, performing a commemorative march through the streets, before a wreath laying ceremony organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland Dufftown branch.
At 6:30pm, an evening service will take place at Elgin Parish Church, open to all members of the public. The service will serve as a final moment of collective remembrance and unity.
A memorial event and wreath laying is expected to take place in Buckie, with times to be announced on the Royal British Legion Buckie branch Facebook page.
At a national level, a two-minute silence will be observed at midday, allowing individuals across the UK to pause and reflect.
Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Mr Andrew Simpson, added: “These commemorations give our communities a meaningful opportunity to come together in remembrance - to stand in silence, to sing, to lay wreaths and reflect. These acts, though simple, carry profound significance.
“VJ Day marked the end of a war that touched every home, every street and every parish. It brought with it a mixture of relief, grief and uncertainty. Eighty years on, we remember not only the moment of victory, but the immense human cost that preceded it.
“These ceremonies are a way for us to honour the legacy of those who served and those who suffered - and to acknowledge the lasting impact of their sacrifices on the generations that followed.”