Revd Michael Newey, a recently ordained Deacon, will today share his family’s close connection to VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) in sermons at churches in Dereham and Swanton Morley.
Marking 80 years since the cessation of war in the Far East, Michael will take to the pulpit and explore the experiences of his paternal grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Newey, who was a Prisoner of War for three-and-a-half years following his capture in February 1942.
Having been holidaying on the Norfolk Broads with his family when the conflict began, Thomas promptly departed to join the war effort – with no knowledge that it would be 1946 before he would be reunited with his son.
“Because of the years they had been forced to spend apart there had never been that conventional father-son relationship, and this was something I’d always wanted to understand more,” Michael explains.
Lieutenant Colonel Newey endured spells in seven camps and was forced to work on the ‘Death Railway’ in Thailand as the fighting continued. His grandson has now meticulously researched this period of his life to better understand the lessons to be learned.
“Growing up there was always something that remained unsaid, that was never discussed about these experiences,” he notes. “And how do future generations learn if they don’t understand past experiences?”
Michael’s research has also introduced him to the story of Leonard Wilson, the Bishop of Singapore during the country’s invasion. Bishop Wilson spent time in the Changi camp, one of those which Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Newey had also been sent to.
This remarkable card was painted by renowned artist Ronald Searle for Revd Michael’s father John’s 21st birthday, while both Searle and Lt Col Thomas Newey were in Changi
As part of his reflections to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, Michael will draw upon the words of Leonard Wilson – who demonstrated incredible levels of forgiveness both during and after his imprisonment.
In an excerpt of a sermon addressing the torture he had experienced at the hands of his Japanese captors, Bishop Wilson said:
“But by the grace of God, I saw those men not as they were but as they had been.
“As little children playing with their brothers and happy in their parents love and it is hard to hate little children.
“I saw them not as they were, not as they had been, but as they were capable of becoming, redeemed by the power of Christ and I knew it was only common sense to say forgive.”
Michael has also visited several key sites pertaining to the conflict as part of his ongoing research. One such trip, during a recent visit to see his daughter who lives in Thailand, enabled him to visit Kanchanaburi, a large-scale commonwealth war graves cemetery.
Putting into context the loss experienced by so many families in our region during that time, Kanchanaburi is home to the resting places of 3,442 British nationals – 257 of whom were from Norfolk.
Reflecting on the personal yet universal message contained in his VJ Day sermon, Michael concludes:
“Finding the capacity to forgive is so fundamental. Whether or not you have faith, finding that capacity to forgive is good for you as well.
“If we do not hear about the horrors of war then we will not learn from them. Looking around the world now, with so many conflicts under way, it seems often like one side doesn’t even acknowledge the humanity of those on the opposing side.
“The research and sharing of this period in my grandfather’s life has gone well beyond family history – it’s also now about signposting this for others, so that we can all learn from the experiences of those who have gone before.”
Revd Michael Newey will be delivering his sermon today at 2.30pm at St Nicholas’ Church, Dereham and at 7pm at All Saints’ Church, Swanton Morley.