Sky HISTORY is to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (August 15th) with a line-up of programming which will honour the last chapter of World War II and the Allied troops who served in the Far East.
As part of this, Sky HISTORY has commissioned The Last Burma Star, airing this November. The documentary pays tribute to the last surviving veterans of the Burma Campaign, and particularly those from Burma (now Myanmar) who fought alongside British and Commonwealth forces in the region, a brutal conflict that was crucial to Allied victory in the Pacific.
Using personal testimonies, archival footage, and expert analysis, The Last Burma Star follows Major Levison Wood (whose grandfather fought in the Fast East campaign) and historian Alex Bescoby as they go in search of the last surviving veterans of the war in the East. It examines the experiences of those soldiers from the region who served alongside British and Commonwealth forces against the Japanese, who hoped to occupy the region as a prelude to its planned invasion of India.
In the one-off documentary special, Levison and Alex travel to India and the border with Myanmar, on a very specific mission – they are searching for one of the last surviving veterans of the campaign from Burma (now 100-years-old), who has never received proper recognition of his service, and to whom they now – 80 years after the event – want to deliver his campaign medal, the Burma Star.
Dan Korn, VP of Programming at Hearst Networks, says: “The Last Burma Star is a powerful tribute to a forgotten chapter of history. Through compelling storytelling and filmmaking, this documentary seeks to honour the courage and sacrifice of those veterans who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with British and Commonwealth troops in the Far East, in the name of freedom.”
Co-produced by Maya Vision International, Grammar Productions, and Blackmane Media, and supported by official legacy partner the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
The documentary blends historical footage, contemporary interviews, and expedition-style filmmaking to create a visually and emotionally engaging narrative. For CWGC, the partnership is part of its plans to advance the organisation’s global commemorative storytelling – as well as spotlighting Kohima War Cemetery, the documentary illuminates contributions often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives. The documentary production has been delivered with additional support from Help for Forgotten Allies, The Burma Star Memorial Fund, The Gurkha Welfare Trust, and Royal British Legion Industries.
Rebecca Dobbs, Executive Producer, Maya Vision International, adds: ‘’Timely, important and moving, this very human story describes both the brutality of the war and the comradeship of those who fought together in one of the most multi-racial armies in British history. This film also shows us the importance of history: to those who lived it, to the generations that followed and to those still struggling with the aftermath.”
As part of the broader VJ Day programming (15th of August), Sky HISTORY will also feature a curated selection of documentaries reflecting on the Pacific War, the Japanese surrender, and the lasting impact of this historic moment:
Cracking The Code explores wartime cryptography during WWII, highlighting the Allied efforts to break Japan’s codes and how this shaped key moments of conflict in the Pacific Theatre.
Battle 360 chronicles the heroic story of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and its crew, using veteran testimonies and CGI to bring pivotal naval battles to life.
The Sound and The Fury offers a sweeping overview of WWII from 1939 to 1945, examining major campaigns across Europe, Asia, and Africa and the complex global dynamics of the war.
In addition to the UK, the documentary will become available across all Hearst Networks’ EMEA territories.
Jon Creamer
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