Prince William pays tribute to Commonwealth war dead on Japan tour
THE DUKE of Cambridge today paid his respects to Commonwealth servicemen who died during the Second World War in Japan, on his tour of the country.
Prince William paid his respects to Commonwealth war dad in Japan
Prince William, 32, who is on a week-long trip to China and Japan, began the first full day of his tour with a visit to the Yokohama War Cemetery.
Wearing his Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, William listened to the Last Post and observed two minutes' silence.
The young Royal, who himself has served in the RAF as a search and rescue pilot, then laid a wreath of chrysanthemums along with a handwritten note at the graveyard.
His message read: "May we never forget all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."
More than 1,500 soldiers, sailors and airmen - many of them British Second World War prisoners - are buried at Yokohama.
After British-controlled Singapore fell to Japan in 1942, prisoners were transferred to a camp in Ofuna, near Yokohama, and sent to work in mines, factories and dockyards.
Many prisoners also died during naval bombardments and air raids conducted by Allied forces against Japan.
William observed two minutes' silence at the cemetery
The Duke's handwritten message
We are here to pay our respects to the fallen and the wounded in all the conflicts across the world
The servicemen's resting places are grouped by nations including Australian, Indian, New Zealand and Canadian forces, with each plot marked by a simple name plate.
Captain Charles Ashcroft, the UK's defence attache, gave a short speech to a small group of invited guests who included a number of his counterparts from Commonwealth nations and America.
He said: "First we must remember the terrible losses that all our countries have suffered and pay tribute to those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
"We are here to pay our respects to the fallen and the wounded in all the conflicts across the world.
"We are now living in very different times, the Commonwealth and Allies stand side by side with Japan in remembrance.
"Today together we can pay tribute to the Japanese troops currently serving in peace keeping operations with the United Nations and in counter piracy operations with the multi-national coalition."
Princess Diana visited the cemetery in 1995
Following the poignant ceremony, the Duke walked among the graves with Capt Ashcroft, as well as the US defence attache Captain James O'Leary and Major Isamu Suzuki, representing Japan.
He concluded the visit by signing a visitors' book, which had been placed next to a framed picture of his mother, Princess Diana.
The image showed the Princess of Wales laying a wreath at the same cemetery in 1995 and was accompanied by the words "May she rest in peace."