VJ DAY 15 AUGUST 2020

Borderers, Saturday 15 August 2020 will see the 75th anniversary of the ending of the war in the East. Our 2nd Bn was heavily engaged in fighting across Burma from 1943-1945. The Bn deployed from India having been on Operations in Tazmak joining 89th Bde as part of 7th Indian Division at Nowshera for a period of intensive training under Command of Lt Col WG “Matt” Mattingley, landing in The Arakan in August 1943.

The Bn would see its first of many actions against the Japanese on 8th October 1943 near Mungdaw. Throughout the campaign the 2nd fought with great courage suffering many casualties from Japanese action and the merciless conditions in the jungle. These casualties included 2 Commanding Officers KIA, Lt Col Mattingley and Lt Col MacLaren.

The Bn would embark  HMS Egra on 2nd August 1945 sailing to Calcutta, arriving at Ranchi on 13th August, where of the original Bn only 8 Officers and 2 Warrant Officers were left.

The national commemorations for VJ 75 have been scaled back due to COVID 19 however some events will carry on. There will be a National 2 minutes silence at 1100, the RBL will hold a service at the NMA. Information is available on the RBL website www.britishlegion.org.uk

It is hoped that Borderers will gather and join the National 2 minutes silence on Sat 15 August at 1100 to remember our comrades of the 2nd Bn who contributed so bravely to victory in the East.