Willesden Jewish Cemetery and AJEX JMA mark 80th anniversary of the end of WW2
Cadets and D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh lay wreaths and Magen Dovid markers at annual service of remembrance
AJEX JMA (the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women) held its annual service of remembrance on Sunday at the War Memorial in Willesden Jewish Cemetery in north London.
Attended by more than 100 people, the ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and honoured the memory of more than 120,000 Jewish servicemen and women who served in the British Armed Forces in both World Wars, particularly those with no known graves.
The service was led by AJEX national chair, Dan Fox and AJEX Chaplain, Rabbi Major Reuben Livingstone, alongside community leaders, military representatives, cadets and descendants of those who served.
Wreaths were laid in memory of all those who fought to defeat Nazism, by D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh and Lisa Ronson. Further wreaths were laid in honour of all Jewish servicemen and women, especially those with no known grave, by AJEX archivist Martin Sugarman and John Arnott.
A wreath was also laid by Brig. Melissa Emmett and Maj. Mick McCarthy to remember all who have served in HM Armed Forces, and by the mayors of Barnet and Brent, Cllr Danny Rich and Cllr Ryan Hack, in honour of the liberators of Bergen Belsen and all victims of the Shoah.
Readings were given by GLA Member Krupesh Hirani, AJEX welfare officer Cheryl Pack, deputy lieutenant for Tower Hamlets Leslie Morgan, deputy mayor of Harrow Cllr Yogesh Teli and AJEX chief executive Fiona Palmer.
The ceremony then moved to the Commonwealth War Graves Plot, where Magen Dovid markers were laid by cadets and students. Attendees continued to the Jewish Liberal Cemetery for further prayers.
Fiona Palmer said: “On this significant 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, we gathered not just to remember, but to reaffirm our community’s enduring commitment to honour those who gave everything. We are grateful to all who stood with us today in Remembrance and it was, as always, special to see all the generations together to continue the legacy of our veterans”.
- The AJEX 2025 annual parade takes place on Sunday 16th November.
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