Lest We Forget…
My own military service was all peace-time and quite un-remarkable, My years as a soldier were 1957-1962, some as a reservist and some called-out on active duty…
My Regiment: the “Royal Rifles of Canada” now inactive…despite the Regiment’s name, was based in Quebec City, with many French names on the Regimental Rolls…Training at Valcartier, located North of Quebec City…
Some of the men in my Regiment were indeed remarkable. Many in my Regiment, including my C.O., Major A.A. MacMillan later promoted to Lt. Col. , Fought in the Battle of Honk Kong, which began only a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and endured until Crhistmas Day 1941. The survivors were then led into captivity. A 44 month ordeal that a great many did not survive…
I had the great, good fortune to serve with some of those brave men…
They fought with no hope of re-supply or re-enforcements…
This year is the 60th Anniversary of their return from Japanese P.O.W. work camps…
The following links will provide some insights, the first of which gives a good account of the battle and aftermath, the other links are the experiences of individual soldiers…
http://www.geocities.com/rcwpca/
http://www.geocities.com/phil_doddridge/
http://www.geocities.com/alfbabin/
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/whitby/story/2332353p-2701461c.html
The first Victoria Cross won by a Candian in WWII was won there…
64 years ago tonight…Perhaps you can spare a kind thought for these brave young soldiers of such a long time ago…