Canadian Hong Kong Veterans as Prisoners of War After: Wounds and Closure

1. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans as Prisoners of War & After: Wounds and Closure 1 With 79 HKVs left, the HKVCA was formed / taken over from the aging veterans to educate and commemorate those who have past away and those who remain; through high school programs, teacher seminars, commemorative events, etc ...With 79 HKVs left, the HKVCA was formed / taken over from the aging veterans to educate and commemorate those who have past away and those who remain; through high school programs, teacher seminars, commemorative events, etc ...

2. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans Presentation: Format and Objectives In 41 slides with 24+ minutes of embedded video this presentation is broken down as follows: The context of Canadian Hong Kong Veterans in World War II & Social Studies 11 (slides 3 � 8) Set the stage for what Hong Kong Veterans went through in the Asia-Pacific (slides 9 � 10) Identify Canadian Hong Kong Veterans � who are they? (slides 11 � 14) Examples of atrocities: 1. St. Stephens Massacre (slides 15 � 19) From Savage Christmas 2. The Kamloops Kid 3. Starvation and Death as POWs Canadians in Battle ... (slides 20 � 22) A flawed Peace Treaty and incomplete apology & compensation (slides 23 � 27) A closure for Canada? Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall (slides 28 - 32) 1. Some words of Remembrance from Bob Manchester and Bob Clayton Four + ways to honor and remember Hong Kong Veterans (slides 33 � 41) Following the PPT I have copies of the Human Rights in the Asia Pacific resource to look through and have examples and samples of different ways to assess what the kids have learned. Ultimately I want to assess the moral dimensions of this story versus historical mastery, hope you�ll find some of the assessment examples of use in your classroom to teach this story.Following the PPT I have copies of the Human Rights in the Asia Pacific resource to look through and have examples and samples of different ways to assess what the kids have learned. Ultimately I want to assess the moral dimensions of this story versus historical mastery, hope you�ll find some of the assessment examples of use in your classroom to teach this story.

3. World War II saw unforeseen and unprecedented Human Rights Violations. One of which being the Holocaust. An Einsatzgruppen soldier operating in the Ukraine, 1941. The beginning of the Final Solution? (Yad Vashem photo) Buchenwald, Germany 1945. German civilians looking at a truck full of corpses. (Yad Vashem photo) 3 This is 1 of 2 many well known examples of Human Rights violations that took place in WWII � the HolocaustThis is 1 of 2 many well known examples of Human Rights violations that took place in WWII � the Holocaust

4. World War II saw unforeseen and unprecedented Human Rights Violations. Another being the dropping of the Atomic bombs. A devastated Hiroshima August 6th, 1945 Predominate number of atomic bomb casualties were civilians 4 A 2nd example, again of many, is the well documented dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Fog of War � McNamara�s quote with regards to the firebombing raids that had the U.S. Committed War Crimes, if they had lost the war they would be tried as such. Holocaust and Atomic Bombs occurred within the same time frame and within the same context as the Battle for Hong Kong and its aftermath, yet?A 2nd example, again of many, is the well documented dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Fog of War � McNamara�s quote with regards to the firebombing raids that had the U.S. Committed War Crimes, if they had lost the war they would be tried as such. Holocaust and Atomic Bombs occurred within the same time frame and within the same context as the Battle for Hong Kong and its aftermath, yet?

5. �There are many parts of World War II that are well known to many people, and are an integral part of the high school Social Studies curriculum. However there are many lesser known battles that were fought during this war, battles that all Canadians should be taught about, such as the 1941 battle of Hong Kong and the aftermath. This battle tells of Canadian loyalty, the betrayal of the British Government ... their actions should be acknowledged, commended, and appreciate by all.� (J. Dawson, Oct. 2002) 5 Few Canadians aware of the sacrifices & heroics made by Canadians at Hong Kong, it is underrepresented in schools curriculums. This story an excellent opportunity to examine government decision making, enables links to causative events, and an opportunity to widen WWII perspective beyond Western Europe.Few Canadians aware of the sacrifices & heroics made by Canadians at Hong Kong, it is underrepresented in schools curriculums. This story an excellent opportunity to examine government decision making, enables links to causative events, and an opportunity to widen WWII perspective beyond Western Europe.

6. 6 Want to draw a contrast between this paragraph and the images and quotes that follow � what is more effective? The answer is obvious.Want to draw a contrast between this paragraph and the images and quotes that follow � what is more effective? The answer is obvious.

7. 7 These were the first Canadian soldiers to see combat in WWII and the last to come home. The two pictures attest to what being a prisoner of the Japanese was like after battle, far more effectively than question 27.These were the first Canadian soldiers to see combat in WWII and the last to come home. The two pictures attest to what being a prisoner of the Japanese was like after battle, far more effectively than question 27.

8. Hell On Earth Aging Faster, Dying Sooner (Canadian Prisoners of the Japanese During World War II). McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Toronto, 1997. Unnamed Veteran (Starvation): �We all had diarrhea or dysentery or both a good deal of the time and knew that rice and barley could go through you practically untouched. One day I was in such bad shape - I�m going to tell this as quickly as I can to get it over with - I cupped my hands under a man squatting with diarrhea, caught the barley coming through, washed it off as best I could and ate it. Later I saw some of the other men doing this now and then, but it didn�t make me feel less ashamed. I didn�t feel ashamed while I was doing it though. I was too hungry to feel anything but hunger.� p. 18 WORMS John Raymond Stroud: �I have witnessed people with worms coming out of their mouths like spaghetti� Some actually choked to death on the worms that were coming out of their mouths.� p. 25 8 These are a couple of examples to show the degradation Canadians felt at the hands of the Japanese, I am going to draw on some other books, there are many, many books that depict this story. From here I want to set the stage for what brought Canadians to be POWs.These are a couple of examples to show the degradation Canadians felt at the hands of the Japanese, I am going to draw on some other books, there are many, many books that depict this story. From here I want to set the stage for what brought Canadians to be POWs.

9. A Brief Look at the War in Asia as it relates to Canadians The Geneva Convention of 1929 was signed by Japan but not ratified because of Japanese military objections July 27, 1929 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War: Article 2: Prisoners of war are in the power of the hostile Government, but not of the individuals or formation which captured them. They shall at all times be humanely treated and protected, particularly against acts of violence, from insults and from public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against them are forbidden. 1929 ? The Geneva Convention relating to Prisoners of War is made 1931 ? The Japanese army launches a full scale attack on Manchuria 1937 ? �Marco Polo Bridge Incident� = Japan�s full scale invasion of China begins (1939 ? World War II starts in Europe) 1941 ? Japan raids Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th Hong Kong is simultaneously attacked Hong Kong (British colony) falls on December 25th. Of the 1,975 Canadian soldiers sent to defend Hong Kong 290 are killed in action and 1,672 are captured and interned by the Japanese military. 267 die as POWs. 9 What we read in print from article 2 is not how prisoners of the Japanese were treated, this the subsequent slides and examples will clearly demonstrate.What we read in print from article 2 is not how prisoners of the Japanese were treated, this the subsequent slides and examples will clearly demonstrate.

10. ` 10 Hong Kong has two parts: the New Territories on the mainland and the island of Hong Kong This was an 18 day, 17.5 days exactly, battle for Hong Kong where Canadians stand out for the tenacity & commitment fighting against the odds. Retrospectively if you do not know this story the writing is on the wall ?The Grenadiers and Royal Rifles were called �C� force because they had basic training only, no ammunition training, mostly garrison duty � some had only been in the army for 16 weeks. These were not at the level of the troops heading off to Germany! Hong Kong has two parts: the New Territories on the mainland and the island of Hong Kong This was an 18 day, 17.5 days exactly, battle for Hong Kong where Canadians stand out for the tenacity & commitment fighting against the odds. Retrospectively if you do not know this story the writing is on the wall ?The Grenadiers and Royal Rifles were called �C� force because they had basic training only, no ammunition training, mostly garrison duty � some had only been in the army for 16 weeks. These were not at the level of the troops heading off to Germany!

11. Who are Canadian Hong Kong Veterans? In 1941 Canadian soldiers were called upon to defend the British colony of Hong Kong at the request of British P.M. Winston Churchill, Mackenzie King obliged for Canada. Churchill knew the task was doomed: �If Japan goes to war with us, there is not the slightest chance of holding Hong Kong or relieving it.� The Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles made up the 1,975 Canadians who willingly went to defend Hong Kong (along with British & Indian troops and the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps), unaware of the size and magnitude of the looming Japanese invasion. When the Commonwealth surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941 the 1,672 Canadian survivors became P.O.W.�s of the Japanese. 11 290 Canadians killed in battle, 267 more die in POW camps When �C� force mobilized, they assumed their destination was England, after three days at sea they figured they weren�t going to England (Hawaii, Manila, then Hong Kong)290 Canadians killed in battle, 267 more die in POW camps When �C� force mobilized, they assumed their destination was England, after three days at sea they figured they weren�t going to England (Hawaii, Manila, then Hong Kong)

12. Who are Canadian Hong Kong Veterans? (continued �) As P.O.W.s members of the Grenadiers and Royal Rifles were victims of three and a half years of inhumane treatment � prolonged malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, beatings, and slave labor � contrary to 1929 Geneva Convention The Japanese code of Busido said, "Do not survive to suffer the dishonour of capture� Surrender made captives subhuman.� Being a prisoner of the Japanese was 17.5 times more lethal than fighting them.� Of all white prisoners, 1in 3 died in captivity.� For the Asians it was far worse (Naylor) 12 All of the Canadian soldiers were either killed or captured, those captured were marched to either North Point Camp or Sham Shui Po Camp Within a year of capture Canadian POWs were transported to Japan to continue their role as slaves � taken in unmarked ships, called �Hell Ships� making them vulnerable to attack by American submarinesAll of the Canadian soldiers were either killed or captured, those captured were marched to either North Point Camp or Sham Shui Po Camp Within a year of capture Canadian POWs were transported to Japan to continue their role as slaves � taken in unmarked ships, called �Hell Ships� making them vulnerable to attack by American submarines

13. Who are Canadian Hong Kong Veterans? (continued �) Following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th 1945, Japan surrendered bringing an end to captivity for Hong Kong Veterans Upon return to Canada the surviving veterans were largely ignored by the Canadian government and had to struggle for compensation and recognition, until � They received compensation in December 1998 from the Canadian government but Veterans feel that the Japanese government owes them this and an apology With a mere 79 left alive (September 2009) it is paramount that their story be told: (1) to remember what they have endured and (2) recognize what they went through for Canada 13 Japanese Camp Commanders had written orders to kill all POWs if there was any possibility that they could be rescued by Allied forces. Allied powers did not know where POW camps were located, so allied prisoners were not finally released for up to 60 days after the surrender of JapanJapanese Camp Commanders had written orders to kill all POWs if there was any possibility that they could be rescued by Allied forces. Allied powers did not know where POW camps were located, so allied prisoners were not finally released for up to 60 days after the surrender of Japan

14. (Hong Kong Veterans of today) Surviving Hong Kong Veterans, at the 15th unveiling of Hong Kong Memorial Wall August 2009 14

15. Four excerpts from, The Valour And The HorrorSavage Christmas: Hong Kong 1941 1. 36:55 � 51:09 ? St. Stephens Massacre recalled and �emotional scars for life� 2. 57:31 � 59:54 ? Kanao Inouye, the �Kamloops Kid� treatment of Canadian POWs 3. 1:02 � 1:06 ? Slow starvation via limited food rations, diet and diseases 4. 1:42:09 � 1:44:21 ? Stanley Commonwealth Cemetery by �cite of� St. Stephens 15

16. Bob Clayton recalls the St. Stephens Massacre and his �emotional scars for life� (14:28) 16

17. St. Stephens Massacre A depiction some 20 years after. Surrender occurred Dec. 25th, 1941 and � ... many of the living would come to envy the dead�. 17 Two doctors who tried to stop the Japanese were shot, then bayoneted repeatedly. Before the massacre ended 56 patients were stabbed to death, three British nurses were murdered and mutilated & four Chinese nurses were raped repeatedly and murdered.Two doctors who tried to stop the Japanese were shot, then bayoneted repeatedly. Before the massacre ended 56 patients were stabbed to death, three British nurses were murdered and mutilated & four Chinese nurses were raped repeatedly and murdered.

18. Kanao Inouye, the �Kamloops Kid� & his treatment of Canadian POWs (2:15) 18

19. Slow starvation via limited food rations, diet and diseases, recounted by Bob Clayton (3:59) 19

20. What about Canadians in battle? Canada answered the British call of Sept. 19th, 1941: �We ... [would] be most grateful if the Canadian Government would consider ... one or two Canadian battalions.� Despite putting �them into a situation where there was virtually no hope of survival and certainly no chance of evacuation� (Bishop) Canadians did not once run or flee from battle (Naylor) Many years later, (former) Prime Minister Jean Chretien said: �No troops ever fought more bravely or with greater skill against more hopeless odds� (Bishop) 20 Take a moment to look back on Canadians in the battle Those who died on the battlefield in Hong Kong are buried at Sai Wan (above) and Stanley Cemeteries in Hong Kong , those who died in Japan are buried in the Allied Cemetary in Yokohama, near Tokyo Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, recipient of the only Victoria Cross awarded for the defense, has no grave at this cemetery, but his name is engraved on the memorial hall. Take a moment to look back on Canadians in the battle Those who died on the battlefield in Hong Kong are buried at Sai Wan (above) and Stanley Cemeteries in Hong Kong , those who died in Japan are buried in the Allied Cemetary in Yokohama, near Tokyo Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, recipient of the only Victoria Cross awarded for the defense, has no grave at this cemetery, but his name is engraved on the memorial hall.

21. During the 18 day struggle for the island, the Canadians ... Improperly trained, unfamiliar with the terrain, lacking transport and fighting vehicles, and hampered by the early loss of their two most senior commanders ... still carried out most of the fighting. The Royal Rifles alone made more counterattacks at the company level or above, than all four of the British and Indian battalions combined. Furthermore, their record in battle was heroic and exemplary despite the vacillating, incompetent leadership of the British command. (Bishop) 21 On a side note ? The Canadian ship carrying military transport did not arrive. Combined with the fact that (1) The Japanese Army had been planning and training for the attack on Hong Kong for more than a year, (2) there were 60,000 advancing Japanese troops versus the 8,000 allied combat troops who were set to defend Hong Kong. (3) The Japanese were aware that the British had prepared for an invasion by sea, so instead invaded by land. Totally cut off by J air and navyOn a side note ? The Canadian ship carrying military transport did not arrive. Combined with the fact that (1) The Japanese Army had been planning and training for the attack on Hong Kong for more than a year, (2) there were 60,000 advancing Japanese troops versus the 8,000 allied combat troops who were set to defend Hong Kong. (3) The Japanese were aware that the British had prepared for an invasion by sea, so instead invaded by land. Totally cut off by J air and navy

22. 22 The last action of the Battle of Hong Kong involved Canadians at the Battle to attack and re � take Stanley Village on December 25th, 1941, which had been lost the day beforeThe last action of the Battle of Hong Kong involved Canadians at the Battle to attack and re � take Stanley Village on December 25th, 1941, which had been lost the day before

23. News Release � December 11th, 1998Canada to Pay Hong Kong Veterans nearly $24,000 Ottawa � The Government of Canada will make an ex gratia payment of nearly $24,000 to each living Hong Kong veteran or their surviving spouse for the forced labour under inhumane conditions that the veterans were made to endure while prisoners of the Japanese during the Second World War ... Of the 1,975 Canadian who sailed from Vancouver, 550 did not return home. (Government of Canada) 23 This is a Veterans Affairs Press Release of December 11th, 1998 1998 = 53 years after the end of the war This is a Veterans Affairs Press Release of December 11th, 1998 1998 = 53 years after the end of the war

24. �Canadian taxpayers do not owe us this money. Japan owes it to us�(Dec. 13th 1998, Lionel Speller) 24 Wet Beri Beri: fluid collects in the body causing swelling and puffiness, when it reaches the lungs it can cause a person to drown to death Dry Beri Beri: sensation of really hot feet know as �electric feet�, the pain never stopped, even when the person immersed their feet in buckets of cold water. Blindness, Pneumonia, Dysentery, Malaria, Pellagra Wet Beri Beri: fluid collects in the body causing swelling and puffiness, when it reaches the lungs it can cause a person to drown to death Dry Beri Beri: sensation of really hot feet know as �electric feet�, the pain never stopped, even when the person immersed their feet in buckets of cold water. Blindness, Pneumonia, Dysentery, Malaria, Pellagra

25. �The Canadian government will not be seeking reimbursement for a compensation payment from the Japanese government as government to government claims were settled by the 1952 peace treaty.�� In 1986 the War Amps turned to the United Nations Sub-Committee on Human Rights to seek redress from Japan ? the Federal government did not support this request because they felt the matter had been settled in the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952 (Japan had paid each Canadian captive $1,344) 25 Despite what the Veterans feel with regards to the San Francisco Peace Treaty, again in 1986 Veterans looked to the Federal Government for support with the UN Sub Committee on Human Rights, but not only does Japan hide behind it, apparently so does our governmentDespite what the Veterans feel with regards to the San Francisco Peace Treaty, again in 1986 Veterans looked to the Federal Government for support with the UN Sub Committee on Human Rights, but not only does Japan hide behind it, apparently so does our government

26. 26 This is not an official apologyThis is not an official apology

27. 27 This does not address specific atrocities, violations, slave labour, or personalize for specific victims of the Japanese Imperial Army It is a personal generalization to Asian Nations and all victimsThis does not address specific atrocities, violations, slave labour, or personalize for specific victims of the Japanese Imperial Army It is a personal generalization to Asian Nations and all victims

28. 28 This is the work of the HKVCA, with �support� from the Federal Government ? there is still much owing towards this projectThis is the work of the HKVCA, with �support� from the Federal Government ? there is still much owing towards this project

29. On August 15th, 2009 a Memorial Wall was unveiled for the 911 Winnipeg Grenadiers, 961 Royal Rifles, 106 members of brigade headquarters, including doctors, dentists, and chaplains who served in Hong Kong Its design is topped with mountain peaks, reminiscent of the topography of Hong Kong and it is unique for a Canadian war memorial, which tend to include only the names of war dead 29 The Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall is in a prominent location, although initially hoped to be near the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, it is on a piece of land along Sussex Drive, just a few blocks from the Prime Minister's residence and Rideau HallThe Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall is in a prominent location, although initially hoped to be near the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, it is on a piece of land along Sussex Drive, just a few blocks from the Prime Minister's residence and Rideau Hall

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32. Some words of Remembrance at the Stanley Military Museum from Bob Manchester and Bob Clayton (3:19) 32

33. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Heroes in Battle, in P.O.W. Camps, and Today. Wounds & Closure Today. Teachers across the country are encouraged to interest their students in tackling the problems and the events surrounding the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941. There are money prizes for the winners at both the Junior and Senior levels. Participants have until the May 21, 2010 deadline to prepare their material. 33

34.  The emphasis of this years writing contest (essay, letter, diary entry, etc �) is on the Individual soldiers who participated in the Battle for Hong Kong. Students are to choose one of the five soldiers listed below as their topic. All are deserving of attention, and the student is free to make that choice, and provide his own perspective in telling us about the soldier involved. ?�George MacDonell, Royal Rifles of Canada ?�Bob �Flash� Clayton, Royal Rifles of Canada ?�John Osborn, Winnipeg Grenadiers ?�Harry Atkinson, Winnipeg Grenadiers ?�Gander, the Newfoundland dog � a very special case 34

35. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Heroes in Battle, in P.O.W. Camps, and Today. Wounds & Closure Today. 35

36. (2) Write about them to our government officials, Veterans Affairs Canada, to the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, letters to the editor, Japanese Government Officials etc ... (letter to the editor) 36

37. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Heroes in Battle, in P.O.W. Camps, and Today. Wounds & Closure Today. (3) Educate yourself Guest of Hirohito, Kenneth Cambon, M.D.? retrospective look at the experiences of one of the youngest members of the Canadian contingent sent to Hong Kong (many Canadians are unaware of some of the horrors of the war other than the atomic bomb) 37 p. 3 (lack of intelligence and unpreparedness) p. 35 (accommodation!) p. 77 (atrocities) p. 3 (lack of intelligence and unpreparedness) p. 35 (accommodation!) p. 77 (atrocities)

38. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Heroes in Battle, in P.O.W. Camps, and Today. Wounds & Closure Today. (3) Educate yourself �C� Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe 1941 � 1945, Brereton Greenhous ? the story of a �no military risk� campaign that slowly turned into a nightmare 38 p. 11 (Churchill�s January 7th, 1941 memorandum)p. 11 (Churchill�s January 7th, 1941 memorandum)

39. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Heroes in Battle, in P.O.W. Camps, and Today. Wounds & Closure Today. (3) Educate yourself Hell On Earth: Aging Faster, Dying Sooner. Canadian Prisoners of the Japanese During World War II ? �this book is not for the squeamish. It is about depravity, disease, torture, malnutrition, medicine available but denied, slave labour, surgery by rusty blade, hate, despair, and death� 39 p. 156, 159, 199, 232 p. 156, 159, 199, 232

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