Veterans remember WW2's fallen and 'the uselessness of war'

People pay their respects at Pukeahu in Wellington. Photo / John Weekes

Veterans who today marked 70 years since the end of World War Two in the Pacific say people haven't learned enough lessons from the war.

Guests gathered for a ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington on the anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day.

Herbert Athol Thorpe travelled from Hamilton for the ceremony.

Mr Thorpe, born in 1924, said he hoped young people took today as an opportunity to recognise "the uselessness of war."

"It has been glamourised. There's no glamour in it."

WWII veteran Herbert Athol Thorpe. Photo / John Weekes

The former leading aircraftsman, who served in the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, said it didn't feel like 70 years had passed.

Like other veterans today, he said the ceremony was still emotional, no matter many previous ones he'd been to.

Mr Thorpe said his favourite place during the war was Guadalcanal. He served in 1944-45.

He said there weren't many of his old comrades left.

"I've lived too long," he joked.

He said he was glad veterans were honoured today.

"Not that I did anything spectacular," he said.

Mr Thorpe said in the war's immediate aftermath, his fellow soldiers were often "forgotten forces."

Pip Piper of Wellington served with 21 Squadron as a flight sergeant and warrant officer.

Mr Piper served in Green Island, Bougainville, and the eastern side of New Britain.

WWII veteran Pip Piper. Photo / John Weekes

He also said people had not learned lessons from the war and there was too much trouble in the world today.

"War's not funny.

"I just think that we've got to talk to each other more often and remember that there so many people in the world that are very badly off. I mean, I'm very fortunate in some ways, to survive, and to have a job most of my life. "

Jim Murray of Auckland was 17 years old when he joined the navy in 1943.

He served as a gunner on the cruiser HMS Gambia.

Asked if he had a best friend on the ship, he said "all of them."

About 900 people were on the Gambia, Mr Murray said, and the sailors spent much of their time in the Indian Ocean.

They were good men, he said.

"You don't have any clowns in the navy."

He also said war was a terrible waste of life and when he returned to civilian life he had no desire to fight another war.

Pacific War veteran Jim France was also among those at the event. The World War Two veteran laid a wreath at the Hall of Memories.

"Sadly with every passing year, there are fewer veterans," said Internal Affairs minister Peter Dunne, speaking on behalf of the Government.

"It is our privilege and our responsibility to ensure that your stories live on to inspire generations to come."

Local mayors Celia Wade-Brown and Wayne Guppy were also at Pukeahu this morning, along with Labour's Rongotai MP Annette King and representatives of the armed forces.

- NZME