I MAY be able to settle the many opinions over the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan in 1945.

My regiment, the 15/19th Hussars, were part of the famous 11th Armoured Division with the 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment. Our war officially ended on May 23, 1945, when we captured the then German Chancellor, Grand Admiral Donitz, at 1.30am in Flensberg.

After the ceasefire, Joe Stalin did not consider the war over for the USSR. The "Russian Hordes" were redirected to the East over the next few weeks, his navy patrolling the seas around Japan.

We were given orders that we were to be shipped to the USA to invade Japan. At this time our leaders were totally against communism, and the Russians were closing in on Japan by land and sea, and this must not happen - a communist Japan.

As for the saving of lives, this statement was used after the bombs were dropped. It was a political move as we knew there was no way we could have been ready to invade that far away country.

So, in its wisdom, our government decided to get us young men involved in another form of war, and sent us all to get rid of the then Jewish terrorists in Palestine nearly 60 years ago.

Ernie Hamilton

Egerton Grove

Walkden