VJ Day in Largs

Crowds enjoying a blazing sun strolled along the seafront, ice cream sales were rocketing, and the Waverley added an extra splash of colour as she arrived at the pier.

But at the town’s war memorial, memories from darker days were being recalled.

The occasion was Largs Veterans’ commemoration of the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, when hostilities with Japan came to an end.

For two men in particular, Sunday’s ceremony was especially poignant.

Jack Ransom and Jim Carnduff, both now well into their nineties, had experienced first hand the war effort in the jungles of south east Asia.

Largs man, Jack, 95, was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese and forced to work on the infamous “Death Railway” in Burma where he suffered cruel and inhumane treatment and saw many of his fellow soldiers die.

Jim, 93, from Skelmorlie, was with the RAF 177 Squadron that played a pivotal role in crushing the advancing Japanese army. He serviced wireless equipment in Beaufighter bombers in a base near Chittagong where he saw the bravery of aircrew flying dangerous missions on which many lost their lives.

Jack was accompanied on the day by his wife Maddie and Jim by his wife Nancy and their family.

The day began 11am when a parade led by the Boys’ Brigade pipes and drums marched down Main Street and then to St Columba’s Parish Church for a service led by the Rev Chris Vermeulen. After the service, the parade marched to the war memorial where Mr Vermeulen read lines from the famous poem by Lawrence Binyon, “They shall not grow old . . .” This was followed by a two minutes silence and then a prayer and Scripture reading.

Many of the locals and visitors, who had shown their respects by applauding the parade as it passed, stopped and stood silently along with the Veterans.

Wreaths were also laid by Alastair Kennedy, area vice chairman and president of the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch and Andy Anderson, Royal Air Force Association. Ex-Paratrooper John Hutchison accompanied Jack at the wreath-laying.

After the ceremony, the Veterans marched back up Main Street, again to the applause of passers-by, before a buffet at the Masonic Lodge.