A POIGNANT parade remembering the heroes who fought in the ‘forgotten war’ has been held in Knightswood.

Veterans and their families joined the Lord Provost and other city officials for a moving service to mark Victory in Japan (VJ) Day, before a march past led by charity The Haven at Vanguard and the Coalburn Silver Band.

Clydebank Post: Veterans Una Smith, who served in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps and Jimmy Docherty, 98, who served with the Royal Navy in WW2Veterans Una Smith, who served in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps and Jimmy Docherty, 98, who served with the Royal Navy in WW2 (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

Among the crowds who attended were Una Smith, who served in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps, and Jimmy Docherty, 98, a Royal Navy veteran who served on the Arctic Convoys during World War Two.

Terry McCourt, secretary of the Glasgow and West of Scotland branch of the Parachute Regimental Association, who organised the event, said: “We have been holding this parade since the veterans’ monument was unveiled in 2010.

Clydebank Post: Terry McCourt, who organised the event.Terry McCourt, who organised the event. (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

“This was the forgotten war. Victory in Europe (VE) Day was celebrated in May 1945, and many people thought the war was over.”

He added: “But battles were still being fought in the Far East.”

Clydebank Post: Veterans from across the city attended the eventVeterans from across the city attended the event (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

For months after VE Day on May 8, 1945, war continued in the Asia-Pacific region, only coming to an end after two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. VJ Day commemorations are held on August 15.

The parade began at the granite memorial which was built and paid for by veterans from across the city.

Clydebank Post: Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren laid a wreath at the memorialGlasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren laid a wreath at the memorial (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

It is one of Scotland’s few monuments to living veterans, as well as fallen heroes.

The small garden includes plaques to heroes such as Sergeant John Hannah, who won the Victoria Cross.

Clydebank Post: The parade began at the Veterans' Monument in KnightswoodThe parade began at the Veterans' Monument in Knightswood (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

John, who was 18 at the time, suffered terrible injuries battling a fire on his aircraft during a raid over Nazi-occupied Belgium in 1940. He died seven years later as a result of his injuries.

Two plaques in the small garden are dedicated to Glasgow men who fought the Japanese in Burma. Sergeant Frank Telford Cameron and Lance Corporal James McCormick served with the Cameronians, first battalion.

Clydebank Post: Veterans attended the event, held to mark the anniversary of VJ DayVeterans attended the event, held to mark the anniversary of VJ Day (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

Lance Corporal McCormick’s son Denis attended the parade.

“Denis’s father was badly wounded in Burma, and was saved by a colleague who carried him out of the jungle on his back,” says Terry.

Clydebank Post: Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren attended the serviceLord Provost Jacqueline McLaren attended the service (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

Terry served for 12 years, like his father before him.

“My dad, Peter, was a Cameronian rifleman, second battalion, injured in Anzio in May 1944, but continued to serve until the 1950s,” he explains.

Clydebank Post: A photograph of Terry McCourt in uniform in 1981, with his father PeterA photograph of Terry McCourt in uniform in 1981, with his father Peter (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

“He was on the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940. We visited recently and that was quite something, it was very emotional.

“My son Terry has been in the Paras for 14 years - the military is in our blood, and we are very proud of it.”