On a beautiful sunny day on August 10th, 2024, a small group gathered at the “C” Force Memorial Wall (a.k.a. The Defence of Hong Kong Memorial Wall) at King Edward Drive and Sussex Drive to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Far East during World War II and also to remember the brave Canadians, who, undertrained, understrength, and sent to a spot in the world that Winston Churchill had deemed undefendable, fought for 17 days against overwhelming odds before surrendering to the Japanese Imperial Army on December 25th, 1941. Of 1975 Canadians (known as “C” Force), 290 had been killed, some murdered by Japanese soldiers during or after the surrender. If you include the wounded (around 500), those who died of wounds, and those missing in action, “C” Force sustained a casualty rate of over 50%. These numbers do not include those of the Chinese and Indian armed forces also involved in the battle.
To see all the pictures, please go to this link: https://www.richardlawrencephotography.ca/rlpgalleries/2024/hkvca2024/
The rest would spend the remainder of the war, three years and 10 months, in captivity where another 260 would die from the cruelty and deprivation of the Japanese. They would toil as slave labourers and suffer cruel and tortuous punishments. This is the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong and is the legacy of Canada’s first combat in World War II.
No mention of “C” Force is complete without remembering Gander, the Newfoundland dog that was the mascot of Royal Rifles of Canada who died in combat and was awarded the Dickin Medal (Victoria Cross for animals). Gander fought the Japanese three times and on his last foray took a live grenade from the ground and charged the Japanese lines. Unfortunately he died in the ensuing explosion but his actions and sacrifice saved the lives of several wounded Canadians. It is this level of affection that drove the Hong Kong veterans to insist that Gander’s name be placed on the “C” Force Memorial Wall with all the others.
This is the first ceremony to take place where there are no longer any surviving Hong Kong veterans as the last surviving member of “C” Force, Mr. Hormidas Fredette, died last November 29th (2023) at 106 years old. Mr. Fredette was a member of the Royal Rifles of Canada and survived 44 months of hellish confinement by the Japanese after the surrender of “C” Force. With the passing of Mr. Fredette, the Hong Kong Veterans Association also passed into history with remembrances now the province of the Hong Kong Veterans COMMEMORATIVE Association.
The ceremony was mc’d by Mr. Ian Englehart who’s first introduction was of the MP for Ottawa West – Nepean and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, The Honourable Anita Vandenbeld, who was speaking today and representing the Government of Canada. Ms. Vandenbeld covered the better known WWII contributions of the Canadians in the European Theatre before mentioning the lesser known contribution of over 10,000 Canadians to the Pacific/Asian Theatres. She covered the Battle of Hong Kong and the statistics but said that the numbers didn’t represent the horrors afterwards. She quoted Frank E. Christensen, a member of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who said about his captivity after the battle, “I thought I’d gone through hell but during the following months and years I found that I’d only entered the gates …”. After her remarks the Last Post was played by Marion Lajoie followed by the silence, the Lament and the Rouse. Bagpipers were supplied by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band.
The wreath laying was next on the programme with MP Anita Vandenbeld leading the procession on behalf of the Government of Canada followed by Mr. Dawolu Saul representing Veteran Affairs Canada. The Royal Canadian Legion’s Larry Murray laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, Mr. Jeff Noakes for the Canadian War Museum, and the Canadian Armed Forces was represented by W.O. Kenneth Doyle. As usual, Ms. Mitzi Ross laid the wreath for the HKVCA and this year there was a new wreath as Ms. Julie Carver placed one on behalf of Indigenous Veterans for the first time. Concluding the official wreaths was Mr. Stéphane Ouellette of the Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project and the young and diminutive Megan Mantha handling the wreath for The War Amps.
Following the official wreaths there were a number of wreaths laid representing families such as Robert Blanchard (Julie Carver), Edwin Rodrigues (Maureen Rodrigues), Lancelot Ross (Mitzi Ross), Stewart Henderson (Jo-Anne Scaffidi), Harold and Rupert Englehard (Gwen Englehart), and Albert and Robert Russell with William Allen (Lillian Gauvin and Maj. (ret’d) John Russell) and, of course, Gander (Gail Angel). There were more families represented and then the guests were asked if anyone else wished to lay a wreath.
With all the wreaths laid, the Benediction was given by Derrill Henderson and the ceremony concluded. Guests were advised that there would be a luncheon at the Lord Elgin Hotel but many seemed to stay awhile and enjoy talking to each other and enjoying the fine day.
