Macduff war veteran helps mark VJ Day in Banffshire
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A Macduff World War II veteran who was on a navy ship and received the message that Japan had surrendered was among those paying their respects at Banffshire’s commemoration event for the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
Alastair Paterson (95) was on the light cruiser HMS Royalist heading towards Singapore to support the forces in the Pacific.
The wireless operator was on watch on the vessel’s bridge and he received its signal that the Japanese had surrendered and the global conflict was finally over.
Mr Paterson, of Fife Street, was among those who attended the Banffshire Victory over Japan Day commemoration event on Saturday, which was held at the Macduff war memorial.
He told the Banffshire Journal: “I was called up to go into the army but I volunteered to go into the navy, as I was always interested in the sea.
“I served between 1943 to 1946 in the North Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
“I was a telegraphist, or a wireless operator, aboard the light cruiser HMS Royalist.
“We were accompanying an escort carrier, which were merchant ships converted into aircraft carriers.
“On VJ Day we were heading for Singapore but the Armistice was declared and we were told to turn back.
“I was on watch on the bridge and I received the message that Japan had surrendered.”
Mr Paterson was presented with five medals during his service in World War II and was wearing the Pacific or Burma Medal on Saturday.
The event was led by Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson and was attended by Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid and Troup councillor Mark Findlater. The service was conducted by Macduff Parish Church minister Rev Hugh O’Brien.
It also featured piper Melissa Philip, a former Banff Academy pupil and member of Banff Castle Pipe Band. She was joined by grandfather Rab Philip and James MacGillivray, both members of the Royal British Legion and former Gordon Highlanders.
Mr Simpson, who laid a poppy wreath at the war memorial, said: “This is the time when we can stop and remember the contributions, sufferings and deaths of many servicemen – a significant number from our own historic county of Banffshire.
“The scope of the war was vast and encompassed a huge area – an area far larger and more diverse than those of the Europe, North Africa, and the Atlantic theatres of war combined.
“Fighting took place from Hawaii to the north-east borders of India and from Papua New Guinea in the south to northern China.
“By 1945 across Asia and the Pacific there were 365,000 British and 1.5 million Commonwealth troops deployed.
“More than 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan, including those who died and those held as prisoners of war. The losses for the Chinese and Japanese were immense.
“Sometimes known as the ‘forgotten army’ the Commonwealth forces suffered much that tyranny might be ended.
“The horrors of the battlefield conditions, the work camps and finally the nuclear bombs left lasting legacies.
“Seventy-five years later there are still many lessons for our generations to make sure that the price they paid leads to a better world.”
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