As We Mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, Help Us Help Today's Heroes

15th August 2025 marks eight decades since Victory over Japan Day ended the Second World War. For PTSD Resolution, this anniversary carries profound personal significance - and reinforces our continuing mission to support Veterans and families dealing with trauma.

When VE Day marked victory in Europe three months prior to VJ Day, thousands of British and Commonwealth forces remained locked in brutal combat across the Asia-Pacific theatre, from Hawaii to North East India. The fighting was relentless – taking place in malaria-ridden jungles during monsoon rains and on remote islands in searing tropical heat, always against a tenacious enemy.

The cost was devastating. Around 9,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers were killed or wounded in Malaya and Singapore alone, with 130,000 captured. Among those who never returned was Major Rowland de Putron Gauvain.

Major Rowland de Putron Gauvain

A Personal Connection to History

Major Gauvain's story lies at the heart of PTSD Resolution. The father of our Chairman and co-founder Colonel Tony Gauvain, (retired), Major Gauvain was commissioned at Sandhurst in 1928 before serving with distinction in India. Posted as Brigade Major of the 8th Indian Infantry Brigade at Kota Bahru, he was injured during confused fighting in Singapore's Turong Road area in 1942. Reported killed in action by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore, his final resting place remains unknown.

Major Gauvain had become a father just a year before - his son, Anthony, was born in 1941. That son would grow up to serve 32 years in the British Army, retire as a Colonel, and establish PTSD Resolution in 2009, understanding that war's aftermath extends far beyond the battlefield - and across generations.

Today's Hidden Battle

This VJ Day, we remember not only those who did not return, but those who came home carrying invisible wounds. For today's Veterans, the battles may be different, but the trauma remains the same.

Adam, a Veteran who served in Bosnia, knows this reality intimately. Diagnosed with Complex PTSD alongside depression and anxiety, he found himself "in the depths of the spiral" when his mental health deteriorated. "I was struggling to navigate my recovery," Adam recalls. "My already precarious state of mind took a further hammer blow."

Through PTSD Resolution's network of therapists, Adam found the support that transformed his life: "Thanks to the efforts of PTSD Resolution - coupled with the inspiring, compassionate and kind efforts of my therapist - I once again have the capacity to maintain a balance in my health and wellbeing," he says.

The transformation has been profound. "Your support through this horrific journey has facilitated a massive stepping stone towards a return to full-time employment and once again becoming a functioning and contributing member of society," Adam explains. "Without your support I know, without doubt, I would not be in as good a place."

Continuing the Mission

Since our founding, PTSD Resolution has supported over 5,000 Veterans, Reservists and their families through our network of 200 therapists across the UK. We deliver treatment free of charge, typically in just seven sessions, to those suffering trauma-related mental health issues.
Our approach is unique – we're one of the only organisations providing therapy to Veterans with addiction issues or those in prison, as well as supporting family members who may experience trauma symptoms from living with a traumatised Veteran.

Following our VE Day appeal earlier this year, we continue asking supporters to honour the heroes of the past by helping today's. The average cost of treatment is £940 per client, a modest investment that can transform a life, restore a family - and return a Veteran to full participation in society.

As we mark this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember Major Gauvain and the thousands who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Far East. Their legacy lives on not just in our freedom, but in our continued commitment to those who serve.

If you would like to add a memorial to a family member then go to our Memorial Wall

To donate, please visit: www.ptsdresolution.org/donate
 
PTSD Resolution (Charity No. 1202649) provides free, prompt, and effective therapy for UK Forces' Veterans, Reservists and their families. The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations and grants.