- Author
- William F. Cook, MVO, Captain, RAN (Rtd)
- Subjects
- WWII operations
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 1995 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
ADDRESSED ALL BRITISH WARSHIPS
FROM CTG 38.5
ALL CONCERNED HOME AND ABROAD FROM ADMIRALTY. THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WHICH HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING TO HIS NAVIES COMMA ARMIES AND AIRFORCES THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE IS PROMULGATED TO ALL IN THE ROYAL NAVY. SEPARATE ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE TO THE NAVIES COMMA ARMIES AND AIRFORCES OF THE DOMINIONS AND INDIA. REQUEST MESSAGE MAY BE CONVEYED TO ALL COLONIAL R.N.V.R. AND LOCAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER FORCES. BEGINNING. AS THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN HAS BROUGHT TO A VICTORIOUS END THE WAR WHICH HAS ENGAGED OUR FULL FIGHTING STRENGTH ALL OVER THE WORLD COMMA I OFFER MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN OF MY NAVIES COMMA ARMIES AND AIRFORCES THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE. THROUGH THE LONG YEARS OF THE GRIM STRUGGLE WITH OUR ENEMIES IN THE WEST AND IN THE EAST COMMA YOUR UNFLINCHING RESOLUTION AND INDOMITABLE COURAGE IN THE FACE OF MANIFOLD ADVERSITY HAVE EARNED YOU THE ETERNAL GRATITUDE OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN. MANY OF YOUR COMRADES HAVE FALLEN IN THE FIGHT WITH YOU COMMA I GRIEVE FOR THEIR LOSS COMMA FOR THE SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED AND FOR THE SORROW OF THE BEREAVED WITH YOU COMMA I REJOICE THE HOMECOMING OF THOSE WHO HAD TO ENDURE CAPTURE. BY GOD’S MERCY THE FORCES OF EVIL HAVE BEEN OVERTHROWN COMMA BUT MANY THINGS REMAIN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IF THE FINAL BLESSINGS OF PEACE ARE TO BE RESTORED TO A SUFFERING WORLD. IT IS THE DUTY OF EACH ONE OF US TO ENSURE THAT YOUR COMRADES HAVE NOT DIED IN VAIN COMMA AND THAT YOUR OWN HARD WON ACHIEVEMENTS ARE NOT LOST TO THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM COMMA IN WHICH YOU UNDERTOOK THEM COMMA ON BEHALF OF ALL MY PEOPLES COMMA I THANK YOU COMMA GOD KEEP YOU ALL. GEORGE REX ENDS …. 180002A
TOR 0922Z/8.45…RG…2442 K/CS
TO:- ADMIRALTY
FROM:- CTF 111
DTG:- 020425
NO:- 2101
UNCLASSIFIED PRIORITY.
FROM ADMIRAL FRASER.
I HAVE TODAY SUNDAY SECOND SEPTEMBER ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM JOINED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ALLIED POWERS IN SIGNING THE ARTICLES OF THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN ON BOARD THE USS MISSOURI IN TOKYO BAY.
W/T P/L IN TRANSIT T.W.B. 2/9
DIS:- 51 TO 59, 65.