Royal British Legion

In March 1941, Tom Boardman set off for the Far East, after volunteering for WW2 service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps back in September 1939. When British forces surrendered in Singapore on 15 February 1942, he was one of thousands of Allied troops taken as prisoners of war and forced to work building the Thailand-Burma railway. “The trip from Singapore up into Thailand was made in cattle trucks without any sanitation and one meal a day,” recalled Tom, who passed away aged 99 in 2018. “It lasted four days and four nights and it was a horrendous trip. “I spent 12 months building the railway in horrible conditions.” Prisoners faced brutal treatment whilst working, suffering from malnutrition, tropical diseases and beatings. During his time in captivity, Tom constructed a ukulele from an old Red Cross box and various other items lying around the camp to keep fellow prisoners entertained. The ukulele is now on display at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. It took until 18 August 1945 for Tom to finally hear the war was over. “Within days Dakota planes were flying into this airstrip we had built and flying us in groups to Rangoon where we were rehabilitated” he said. “I arrived back in England on 7 October 1945 a free man and very grateful for it.” As we prepare to mark the historic 80th anniversary of VJ Day on 15 August, please join us in paying tribute to all those who served in the Far East and helped secure peace. #VJDay #VJDay80 #RoyalBritishLegion #ArmedForces

Michael Kofi Adjivon served as a signaller in Burma during the Second World War. He was one of 600,000 from Africa who served in the Second World War, and without their efforts the end of the Second World War would not have been possible. Michael’s portrait is one of ten that features in ’Through Their Eyes’ - our exhibition to mark the historic 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. To discover more stories likes Michael’s, visit the exhibition at the National Memorial Arboretum until 16 November, or view the online exhibition here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gdGpC4hm #VJDay #VJDay80 #RoyalBritishLegion #ArmedForces

Sylvia Manasseh was awarded the Burma Star for her service in the Women's Auxiliary Corps in India, during the Second World War. Born in Calcutta in 1918, Sylvia was part of a large Jewish community and very young when she was sent to boarding school in England with her brother. Then in 1939, while visiting family in India, war was declared and travel restrictions meant she had to remain in the country. Established in 1942, Sylvia joined the Women's Auxiliary Corps which, along with the Medical Service Corps, was the first time women had entered the Indian Armed Forces. “When I started, my first job was in the anti-aircraft brigade working for a brigadier,” remembers Sylvia. By 1943, Japanese forces were bombing Calcutta, and Sylvia’s cool demeanour was recognised. She recalls: “We could hear the planes coming over, and there were sirens, and most of the girls hid under tables. But because I didn’t, I was promoted.” Later, Junior Commander Manasseh was posted to Fort William, in Central Calcutta, and worked as General Lane’s personal assistant, reviewing reports and compiling summaries to be sent to Delhi. Sylvia was demobbed in 1946 and went on to become a sculptor. This South Asian Heritage Month we are shining a light on the extraordinary service of men and women from South Asia and of South Asian descent, and ahead of VJ Day 80 we particularly remember those who served in the Far East during WW2. Find out more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eq7qiCjx #VJDay #VJDay80 #RoyalBritishLegion #ArmedForces

On 15th August 2025, the nation will fall silent as we reflect and remember the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Ahead of our National Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum, Antony Metcalfe, our Head of Community Engagment, reflects on his father’s service in the Far East, and the importance of recognising the thousands of British and Commonwealth military personnel who fought to secure peace in Asia and the Pacific ⬇️ #VJDay80 #Remembrance

“I always remember Far East POWs, as it is so personal to me and my family.” Khadak Bahadur Chhetri serves in the British Army. As we prepare to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, he shared his grandfather’s remarkable story of service and sacrifice in the Far East with us. Born in Nepal in 1897, Kalu Sing Chhetri enlisted in the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1917, and was awarded the Military Cross in 1942 for his actions at the Battle of Slim River. Shortly after this, Kalu Sing was captured and endured three and a half years as a prisoner of war. He worked tirelessly to protect the interests and morale of 1,500 men from his, and other, units, becoming a symbol of defiance in the face of extraordinary hardship. His exceptional bravery and dedication to his men earned him an MBE in 1947. Sadly he passed without knowing of this recognition, but his legacy was honoured in 2016, when Khadak accepted his grandfather’s MBE posthumously at Buckingham Palace. “Being able to reunite his missing MBE with his other medals, after 70 years, was the proudest moment,” says Khadak. “A closing chapter to my grandfather’s inspiring legacy.” This South Asian Heritage Month we are shining a light on the extraordinary service of men and women from South Asia and of South Asian descent, and ahead of VJ Day 80 we particularly remember those who served in the Far East during WW2. #SouthAsianHeritageMonth2025 #SAHM2025 #VJDay80

“For many of the group, it was the first time they saw their heritage reflected in this national story of remembrance.” Our Community Engagement Officer, Farrah Chandra-Wade, recently accompanied 20 young people from the African Voices Forum (AVF) on a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum. The AVF empowers individuals of African and African-Caribbean heritage, and during their visit the group took part in a workshop, explored memorials and listened to a powerful talk from RAF veteran Logan Pemberton about his experiences during the war. “Many participants left with a deeper understanding of the global nature of both World Wars, and the role African, Caribbean and Commonwealth soldiers played,” says Farrah. “It sparked important conversations - about identity, representation, and remembrance - that will continue long after the visit.” Following their day at the Arboretum, the AVF has now launched a new project exploring the wartime contributions of people from ethnically diverse backgrounds. #Remembrance #RoyalBritishLegion

On 15th August, please join us for a national two-minute silence to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Held at midday, the moment of Remembrance will mark the start of our National Commemorative Event, hosted in partnership with the UK Government at the National Memorial Arboretum, to honour the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Featuring 400 members of the Armed Forces, the commemoration will pay tribute to all those who fought and died during the Second World War in the Far East, and will include music from military bands, as well as a flypast from the Red Arrows and historic aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The event will be broadcast live on BBC One from midday. Whilst access to the event area at the Arboretum will be by ticket only, members of the public will be able to view the commemoration on a large screen located elsewhere within the Arboretum grounds. Booking parking in advance is also strongly recommended to guarantee entry to the Arboretum on this day. Visit our website to find out more ⬇️ http://spklr.io/VJDay80-Li #VJDay #VJDay80 #RoyalBritishLegion #ArmedForces

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Donald Rose, the UK’s oldest Second World War veteran, who died aged 110. Originally from Surrey, Donald joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment and trained as a sniper. He later served in North Africa and Europe, and put his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rat. While serving, Donald survived a bullet to the leg during the D-Day landings and was part of the division that liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. He was later presented with a number of medals and awarded the Legion D'Honneur - France's highest honour. Donald’s life and legacy will forever serve as a poignant reminder of the invaluable sacrifices made by those who served during the Second World War. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. #RoyalBritishLegion #ArmedForces

One of our care homes, Galanos House, has been named winner at the Palliative and End of Life Awards. This fantastic achievement reflects the care, compassion and dedication shown every day by the team at Galanos for their residents and families. Together they recognise that dying is a part of life that only happens once, so it’s vital to get it right. Their approach is grounded in the principles of the Gold Standards Framework, helping to ensure that residents live well before they die and die well in a place they know, surrounded by people who care. Staff take the time to understand each person’s wishes and work closely with families, GPs and others to plan ahead. As a result, no resident has been admitted to hospital for palliative or end of life care since 2007, a powerful reflection of the team’s commitment. Jo-Anne Wilson MBE, Registered Manager at Galanos House, said: “I am hugely proud to say we won. Thank you and congratulations to all the staff and volunteers who make our palliative and end of life care so special. The award is a testament to our commitment and contribution to this vital work, a truly well-deserved recognition.” Thank you to everyone at Galanos House for everything you do. ❤ #ArmedForcesCommunity #CareHome #RoyalBritishLegion

Last week, we led presentations and a workshop at the annual UK Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Covenant conference, in Glasgow. Here, our Public Policy Manager, Melissa Birdsall shares her reflections on the event ⬇️ #ArmedForcesCovenant #KeepingTheCovenantPromise