Last week I asked Oakham Town Council and Rutland County Council
for information relating to any known VJ Day Commemorations to be held in Oakham
Rutland,
Rutland County Council kindly responded yesterday.
Oakham Town Council have not responded, no surprise there an organisation made
up by a majority who glorify war are highly unlikely to commemorate the end of war.
I’m afraid I haven't heard of anything being done for VJ Day in Oakham, but I know that Rocks by Rail, the Living Ironstone Museum in Cottesmore is running a “Singapore Story” Exhibition on Sunday 16th – volunteers will be on site to talk about the contribution of quarries to the wartime victory. 68 Sqn of 7 Regiment RLC (from Kendrew Barracks) have been assisting with preparations. RBR have an engine that was used in the Far East at the time, I believe.
Thanks,
Robert Clayton
Head of Culture & Registration
Rutland County Council
I have found further details about the event Rob mentions.
Rocks By Rail - Wartime Victory Recalled
Sunday August 16th
To mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 2 Rocks by Rail will be holding an Open Day on Sunday 16th August remembering the vital role that local quarrying played in providing the essential raw materials, such as iron ore, in producing the armaments that made victory possible.
Whilst local quarries increased production to meet wartime requirements demand was such that new quarries had to be opened up to supplement the supply network to the countries iron and steel works. One local ironstone quarry to start up due to wartime demand was at Harlaxton near Grantham. The increase in quarries also brought about a need for more quarry locomotives and wagons to move the excavated rock ready for dispatch to the distant steelworks.
On the Open Day it is hoped to steam a wartime locomotive built in 1940 and provide visitor trips along the demonstration line.
Whilst the cessation of hostilities came as a welcome relief for many, for Far Eastern Prisoners of War of the Japanese their legend of endurance was not yet at an end. Many incarcerated in the infamous Changi Goal PoW camp, Singapore did not learn of the Japanese surrender until the end of August. Singapore was finally liberated in mid-September. On the Open day there will be a photographic exhibition entitled “The Singapore Story” which recounts the history of wartime Singapore, the plight of allied prisoners of war whilst the museum’s own FEPOW war memorial locomotive “SINGAPORE” will be on view.
The Singapore Story exhibition will be available to view at the museum until late September on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Price: Adult £6, OAP £5, Children (5-11) £3, Under 5 free
Rocks By Rail
Ashwell Road (Cottesmore iron ore mine siding)
Cottesmore
LE15 78X
The event runs from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
for information relating to any known VJ Day Commemorations to be held in Oakham
Rutland,
Rutland County Council kindly responded yesterday.
Oakham Town Council have not responded, no surprise there an organisation made
up by a majority who glorify war are highly unlikely to commemorate the end of war.
I’m afraid I haven't heard of anything being done for VJ Day in Oakham, but I know that Rocks by Rail, the Living Ironstone Museum in Cottesmore is running a “Singapore Story” Exhibition on Sunday 16th – volunteers will be on site to talk about the contribution of quarries to the wartime victory. 68 Sqn of 7 Regiment RLC (from Kendrew Barracks) have been assisting with preparations. RBR have an engine that was used in the Far East at the time, I believe.
Thanks,
Robert Clayton
Head of Culture & Registration
Rutland County Council
I have found further details about the event Rob mentions.
Rocks By Rail - Wartime Victory Recalled
Sunday August 16th
To mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 2 Rocks by Rail will be holding an Open Day on Sunday 16th August remembering the vital role that local quarrying played in providing the essential raw materials, such as iron ore, in producing the armaments that made victory possible.
Whilst local quarries increased production to meet wartime requirements demand was such that new quarries had to be opened up to supplement the supply network to the countries iron and steel works. One local ironstone quarry to start up due to wartime demand was at Harlaxton near Grantham. The increase in quarries also brought about a need for more quarry locomotives and wagons to move the excavated rock ready for dispatch to the distant steelworks.
On the Open Day it is hoped to steam a wartime locomotive built in 1940 and provide visitor trips along the demonstration line.
Whilst the cessation of hostilities came as a welcome relief for many, for Far Eastern Prisoners of War of the Japanese their legend of endurance was not yet at an end. Many incarcerated in the infamous Changi Goal PoW camp, Singapore did not learn of the Japanese surrender until the end of August. Singapore was finally liberated in mid-September. On the Open day there will be a photographic exhibition entitled “The Singapore Story” which recounts the history of wartime Singapore, the plight of allied prisoners of war whilst the museum’s own FEPOW war memorial locomotive “SINGAPORE” will be on view.
The Singapore Story exhibition will be available to view at the museum until late September on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Price: Adult £6, OAP £5, Children (5-11) £3, Under 5 free
Rocks By Rail
Ashwell Road (Cottesmore iron ore mine siding)
Cottesmore
LE15 78X
The event runs from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
