SERVICES were held in Dorchester and on Portland to commemorate VJ Day and mark 70 years since the end of the Second World War.

A service was held at the Kohima memorial at County Hall in Dorchester, led by Rev Dr John Travell, to give thanks all who fought in places such as Singapore, Burma and the Pacific during the war.

The memorial bearing the Kohima Epitaph was installed earlier this year in recognition of the efforts of the Dorset Regiment.

The battle ran from April 4 to July 21, 1944 and was crucial in preventing the Japanese from entering into India.

A procession of veterans, friends and family, councillors and residents gathered outside the council offices in Dorchester to remember those who fought and give thanks in their memory.

Captain Fred Nock, chairman of the Royal Army Medical Corps Wessex branch, said that he was remembering his father who was killed during the war, and honoured him by wearing his medals for the service.

He said: "I think today is quite important and we should remember the soldiers.

“We have to remember the people that fought against Japan and didn’t come back.

“We should also remember the people who did come back with scars from the war, both physical and mental.

"We had a day of remembrance for the war in Europe; this part of the war was the forgotten war."

As part of the service, five wreaths were laid at the memorial.

A series of prayers and readings were delivered as well a reading of The Exhortation.

The readings were followed by a minute's silence for the fallen servicemen of the forces and the Last Post was played by the Durnovaria Silver Band.

Rev Travell said: “It’s very important that we should have something here to remember the fallen and the Second Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, who were the first troops to go into battle during the war.”

Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Robin Potter said that he was pleased with the turn out for the ceremony.

He said: “It’s good to see so many people here representing the town and county.

“It’s an important event to commemorate and remember those who sacrificed for us.

“I’m thankful that we’ve had no major conflicts since then, although still there are many people affected by war.”

Meanwhile on Portland, a Peace Stone was dedicated as part of the VJ Day commemoration service.

The commemorative stone was donated to the island by Portland Stone Firms Ltd and inscribed by head mason Lee Lawrence.

Cllr Christine James, Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Rodney Wild, Mayor of Portland, and ex-serviceman Tony Cash unveiled the column in the All Saints Church garden.

A service of prayers and hymns was led by Rev James Menzies.

Cllr Sandy West said: "The service was simple, beautiful and it was a day of remembrance and a day of reconciliation.

"This commemoration will carry on now, we'll keep doing it even when the last person is gone we will always remember."

Cllr Wild said: "They were the forgotten army. We had VE Day and we were rejoicing but expecting the war to carry on for a few more years, but when the atomic bombs dropped a few months later it stopped.

"The servicemen were told not to talk about their experience and the families were told not to ask and it was kept quiet.

"This year being the 70th anniversary I thought it would be important to do something and invite the borough and make it a borough day on Portland."