I thank my hon. Friend for that. A theme picked up by a number of colleagues, including the Chair of the Defence Committee, my hon. Friend Mr Dhesi, was that old adversaries can become good friends. When there are rising tensions and conflicts in the world, it is worth remembering, 80 years on from VE and VJ Day, that those nations that were at war with us all those decades ago now stand alongside us, with shared values and a shared outlook on the world. That is an important message to send.

In the moments left to me, I will mention a few of the speeches that we have heard today. I am particularly grateful to my hon. Friend Amanda Martin. As the MP for the other shipyard, as she described Devonport in the debate, let me say how pleased I was that she mentioned the sacrifice of the Royal Navy and all those who served in our Pacific fleet. I think in particular of those brave sailors who served on HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Electra and HMS Exeter, which went down in the east Java sea. Those shipwrecks are war graves. Although we cannot see them in the same way we can see the rows of headstones in the cemeteries and the D-day beaches, it is none the less important that we preserve them, protect them and tell the story of those who served.

I am grateful to all those who spoke about the importance of the Commonwealth forces, including my hon. Friend Adam Jogee, who spoke about his grandfather who served. Indeed, a number of Members talked about their family members who served, including Saqib Bhatti, my hon. Friend Ms Minns, and Gideon Amos, whose remark about everyday folk who get caught up in war and do extraordinary things I found exactly right in the stories that we must tell.

My hon. Friend Adam Thompson spoke powerfully about Donald Rose, and Dr Spencer spoke about his family member who fought in Burma. My hon. Friend Laurence Turner put Ken Tinkler on the record, and he was right to do so. Cameron Thomas spoke about the stories of evil that were prosecuted in war, and he was right to put that on the record. Andrew Rosindell spoke about the important contribution of people from his Constituency. My hon. Friend Lorraine Beavers spoke about Harold Rhodes and the death railway, and that powerful story will be told often as we approach VJ Day itself.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend Cat Smith, who spoke about her grandfather, who was awarded the Burma Star. Jack Rankin, who mentioned Charles Snelling, powerfully invited not just Members of the House but all those watching to choose a name on a war memorial and find out the stories behind those names, why they matter, and why their stories continue to be told. My hon. Friend Alex Baker spoke passionately not only about the Gurkhas, who I know she is proud to represent, but about Frank Mole, a prisoner of war.

It is so important in this debate that we remember all those who served in our forces, as well as the civilians who died in the conflicts, many of whom will not have names on war memorials. Equally, we must remember all those who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the atomic bombs were dropped that brought the war to a close. In the moments left to me, I join the Shadow Defence Secretary, who spoke so well about the debate, and echo the words of John Maxwell Edmonds in the Kohima epitaph:

“When you go home, tell them of us and say,

For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House
has considered the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan.