Canadian Role in the Defence of Hong Kong National Historic Event of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Posted by: 
colincan
N 45° 26.321 W 075° 41.751
18T E 445576 N 5031919
The gutsy Defence of Hong Kong in December 1941 represents a high point of honour in Canadian military history. It is also a tragic story of defeat and mistreatment of prisoners by the Japanese. 2011 is the 70th anniversary of the episode.
Waymark Code: WMDC5K
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 12/23/2011
Views: 38
Xmas Day, 2011, marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Hong Kong to the Japanese. On December 8th, 1941, Japan invaded the far flung corner of the British Empire, crossing over from the Chinese mainland. Almost simultaneously it attacked the United States in that infamous raid on Pearl Harbour. In the lead up, Britain had put out a call to countries around the Empire to supply reinforcements for its beleagured Hong Kong garrison. Canada and India responded, the former with just short of 2000 personnel. 550 of Canada’s forces were to lose their lives there, 290 or so in the 17 days of resistance and the balance in inhumane conditions in notorious Japanese POW camps. Many of the Canadian survivors were not repatriated until the end of 1945, well after soldiers in the European theatre had returned home. Hong Kong represents Canada’s first military engagement of World War II. It was here that a Canadian earned the country’s first Victoria Cross of the war. The nation held its breath and went through much anguish as the fate of the garrison unfolded. The event was designated of national significance in 2000 and plaqued in 2010. A second plaque is to be erected in Hong Kong itself.
Source: News Release, Canada News Centre, Ottawa, December 4th, 2011.
Classification: National Historic Event
Province or Territory: Ontario
Location - City name/Town name: Ottawa
Link to Parks Canada entry (must be on www.pc.gc.ca): [Web Link]
Link to HistoricPlaces.ca: Not listed
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