Fallen war heroes honoured
Families of Lanarkshire men who served in the Far East during World War Two remembered their sacrifice at a service in Newmains.
The Lanarkshire Yeomanry Group held a commemorative event in the St Brigid’s Centre to mark the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore when tens of thousands of British and Commonwealth service men and women, including the men of the 155th [Lanarkshire Yeomanry] Field Regiment fell into the hands of the Japanese.
In the three and the half years which followed, they were all to suffer and, in many cases, die in hell camps situated throughout the Far East.
The event was attended by North Lanarkshire Provost Jim Robertson, his South Lanarkshire counterpart Eileen Logan and the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire John Brown.
There was also a presentation by Jon Cooper, who is currently the director of The Adam Park Project in Singapore.
Adam Park is a residential area in Singapore which was the centre of ferocious fighting between allied and Japanese troops in February 1942 during the Battle of Singapore.
Over the past few years, Jon and his team have made some amazing finds in that area and have been responsible for adding significantly to our knowledge of a previously little researched aspect of World War Two.
Campbell Thomson, from the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Group, said: “This was a special day and during the actual service many tears were shed.
“But there was also much pleasure and happiness that loved ones were being remembered.
“The presentation by Jon Cooper was outstanding and so relevant to the day.”