A SPECIAL heritage event will be taking place on Sunday (August 15) to mark Poole's role in World War II and the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

Victory over Japan Day, the day on which Japan surrendered in World War II, is marked every August 15.

This year is the 76th anniversary, but the milestone 75th event had to be postponed last year due to the Covid crisis.

Organised by The Society for Poole in association with the Royal British Legion, the commemoration will also mark the wider role Poole played in the war and commemorate the 75th VE Day anniversary, which was also postponed last year.

An event spokesman said: "Poole and its people played a vital role during World War II.

"The town became the largest international airport, sent craft to assist with Dunkirk, was the third largest embarkation port for troops on D-Day and hosted the US base for their search and rescue teams who worked closely with the RNLI. Indeed many of the landing craft for D-Day were actually made in Poole."

The public event, scheduled for Poole Quay from 1-5pm, will also include one of the largest gatherings of Dunkirk Boats in Poole Harbour since the war.

Historic military vehicles, vintage cars, stands of the Royal Signals, the RNLI Museum, Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association, RAF Association, swing and jazz bands as well as a fun fair will also feature.

D-Day veteran Eddie Gaines will read the Kohima Prayer before a minutes silence led by Reverend Bryony Morrison at 3pm. The Last Post will also be sounded.

Meanwhile, the story of Poole's war history is being told on storyboards installed along Poole High Street and Poole Quay.

The fifteen information boards were erected by The Society for Poole in May.

"The boards tell the story of the role the town and its people had during the war including the flying boats, Poole’s Dunkirk flotilla, boat building in Poole, war factories and rationing in Poole as well as the town’s key involvement in the D-Day landings," said the spokesman.

More information can be found from the QR code on each board which will link through to the www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/2021remembering website.