PAA World War Two veteran who witnessed the official ceremony marking Japan’s surrender has spoken of his memories, 80 years on from the end of the conflict.
Reg Draper, 100, was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered.
His remembers rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II’s future husband Prince Philip, then a serving naval officer.
Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, said the crew cheered when news of Japan’s surrender came from the captain.
He said: “All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty.
“Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days’ leave in Hobart.”
He added: “Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall.”
Mr Draper volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums.
Private Collection/PAHe completed his training at the requisitioned Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York.
One of his duties on ship was handing out the rum for everyone to have an morning tot.
“I’ve drunk Navy rum since I’ve joined up, whenever I could,” Mr Draper said.
Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the centenarian said: “Well, that’s the only thing I put it down to.”
Japan surrendered after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Mr Draper said: “We didn’t hear much about it until it (news) got to the captain.”
HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant.
Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked.
PAHe said: “We used to have deck hockey on the quarterdeck and it was murder playing deck hockey.
“He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there’s still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick.”
Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home.
PAThe father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust to peacetime civilian life.
He said: “When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship’s bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that.
“You get used to it. Especially if you’re in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep.”
Mr Draper added: “One of the most comfortable sleeps I’ve had is in a hammock!”
The 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day) is being marked today with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire.
