Captain Sir Tom Moore reveals he was 'not scared' of Japanese Army during Second World War ahead of VJ Day

The 100-year-old Second World War veteran, who raised millions of pounds for the NHS during lockdown by walking around his garden, remembered his comrades ahead of VJ Day on Saturday (August 15), which will mark 75 years since the surrender of Japan and the effective end of the century-defining conflict.

In an interview with the Radio Times, The Keighley-born hero recalled his time serving in Burma (now Myanmar) and contracting dengue fever in the sweltering conditions.

He told the magazine: “I wasn’t very scared. Not really. At one stage we were given a pill that, well, it did you in completely.

“That was to swallow in case we were captured and forced to give up information.”

The Royal British Legion has announced plans to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan), to highlight the “forgotten history” of those who helped bring an end to the Second World War on August 15 1945.

Sir Tom told the Radio Times he did not give in to despair during his time in the Far East, adding: “In Burma I never thought of disaster. I always thought we would win and looked forward to the time when we would keep the flag flying in peace.”

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