The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) was marked with services of commemoration in the borough.
Services were held at Castleton Memorial, Heywood Memorial Gardens, Middleton Memorial Gardens, and Rochdale Cenotaph.
Members of the armed forces, the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Janet Emsley, councillors and residents came together to mark the moment Japan surrendered to Allied forces and World War II officially ended.
Each service included the laying of wreaths, the playing of the Last Post, poetry and the reading of the Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
At the Castleton service a beacon was lit to mark the moment, on 15 August 1945, when peace broke out and the war was officially declared over.
Councillor Emsley said:
“The community came together to reflect, remember, and to pay tribute to our forces who helped to secure the peace 80 years ago. We owe them a debt of gratitude and we never forget their service and sacrifice. It’s always important to remember that World War II carried on after VE Day.
Our VJ Day commemoration services were about honouring this important anniversary and remembering how the allied forces, including thousands of brave men and women from our borough, stood tall in the face of adversity. It was a poignant moment when the beacon was lit and everyone fell silent, pausing to reflect on how we had emerged triumphant from our darkest hour to protect our freedom, liberty and values. Lest we forget.”