Former Japanese prisoner of war Arthur Titherington laid a wreath at a memorial in Witney on Saturday (August 14), before travelling to London on VJ Day for a commemoration service and to present a letter at Downing Street.

Mr Titherington, 82, of Church Green, Witney, is chairman of the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors Association, which campaigns for an apology and compensation from the Japanese government for the treatment of POWs.

He was joined by other Far East POW organisations at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday, the 59th anniversary of VJ Day, before delivering a letter asking for justice to the Prime Minister.

The low-key memorial was echoed across the country as few events were held to mark VJ Day -- the day the Second World War officially ended.

It was in stark contast to the events which marked the 60th anniversary of D-Day which was remembered earlier this year.

Two years ago, the Banbury and District Burma Star Association agreed that that would no longer gather on VJ day because their numbers were dwindling.

Japanese POWs were paid compensation of £76.10 by Japan in 1952, and were given £10,000 by the British Government in 2000.

Mr Titherington said: "The Japanese government has expressed regret for what happened but they have not made a meaningful apology. We want them to use the word shazai, which literally means 'I have committed a sin for which I humbly apologise', but they won't do it because it would oblige them to pay compensation. What we are doing is not out of hatred or bitterness. We are just trying to get justice."