The Marlow community remembered the men of Marlow who lost their lives in the Far East during World War II at the 70th anniversary celebrations of VJ day on Saturday.

Veterans and members of the public gathered by the war memorial on the Causeway for a short service of remembrance, during which the names of eight Marlow men who were killed in the Far East from 1941-1945 were read out.

VJ day - Victory over Japan - marks the day the Japanese surrendered in WWII, therefore marking the end of the war.

Chairman of the Marlow Society, Martin Blunkell, opened the service and reflected on the vital contribution of the armed forces throughout the war, and the military and civilian lives that were lost during the conflict.

Mr Blunkell also remembered the thousands of Japanese who died as a result of the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

He said: “Let us give thanks that your generation and mine have never had to face anything as horrific as the war fought in the Far East and the Pacific.”

Marlow's mayor, Cllr Bob Johnson, and chairman of the Marlow branch of the Royal British Legion, Lt Col Murphy, both laid wreaths.

Cllr Johnson said: “It’s important to remember the end of the war, and those who fought for us, as well as the particular significance this has for Marlow as we remember the local men who lost their lives.”

Vice president of the Royal British Legion, John Chapman said: “Although there have been wars since, I think it is very important that we do remember sacrifices that were made by others for us during WWII, and it’s a great a shame to me that it isn’t more meaningful to young people today.”

People then congregated at the Royal British Legion to view a display of photographs from the war and old video and television footage from key events of the conflict.

The eight Marlow men killed in action in the Far East were Stephen Balfour, Gordon Carter, Francis Hooke, Arthur Ranscombe, Ronald Roe, Douglas Swadling, Eric Toovey and Guy Wethered.