Manitoba HKVA President’s Report *

Sept 17^th I was at the lake and missed the HKVCA meeting.

Sept 25^th "C" Force Memorial Committee meeting – we are now incorporated and will be requesting a tax licence in the very near future.

Sept 27^th saw the knee specialist today and have been put on the list to have my left knee joint replaced. I told the doctor the sooner the better but there is a long waiting period.

Oct 4^th attended Joint Veterans Council parade committee meeting for Remembrance Day service.

Oct 15^th attended a special meeting of the St. Vital Historical Society at which they honoured the Year of the Veteran and in particular the Hong Kong Veterans, hence I missed another meeting of our HKVCA.

Oct 16^th received an email from Phyllis Downie resigning her position on our "C" Force Memorial project.

I was offered a free trip back to Hong Kong in December by Veterans Affairs Canada but had to decline. I understand that Ed Shayler in Calgary will be making the trip.

Oct 22^nd our Reunion Dinner was another huge success thanks to Juliet and her ever-willing helpers. We had eight veterans in attendance – Bill Bell, Bob Lytle, Fred Poitras, Grant Shepard, John Maraschak, George Harbour, Phil Doddridge and myself. We were also pleased to see 15 of our widows. Phil Doddridge, National President of the HKVA was seated at our table and I have received a nice letter from him thanking us for our hospitality.

Oct 26^th Juliet and I attended another meeting of the Joint Veterans Council parade committee meeting.

Nov 1^st I was asked to go to Minto Armouries to be interviewed by Shaw Cable for the upcoming performances of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra commemorating the Year of the Veteran on Nov. 10^th, 12^th, and 13^th. I was not interviewed but pictures were taken.

Nov 4^th attended the annual War Amps Remembrance Day dinner with Juliet. This was another very enjoyable evening – introduced Juliet as my grandmother.

Nov 6^th attended the Tattoo at the new MTS building. Our Colour Party paraded our colours along with various other organizations and they were terrific. Whoever heard of a ballet and ballroom dancing at a Tattoo? I was very disappointed.

Nov 7^th attended the renaming of the Federal Building at the corner of Main St and Water Ave now to be known as the Victory Building in honour of the Year of the Veteran.

Nov 8^th with Juliet as my escort, I laid a wreath at the Aboriginal Veterans Remembrance Day ceremonies that took place in the old CPR station. Our Colour Party was also in attendance.

Nov 10^th Juliet drove me to the Lord Selkirk High School in Selkirk Manitoba, where I was the guest speaker for their Remembrance Day Services. We arrived at 9:45 a.m. and after my little talk to about 1300 students and staff, I received a cheque that I requested to be made out to the "C" Force Memorial Project. I was also asked to return in the new year to speak to another class, I said that I would.

Nov 11^th attendance at the Remembrance Day service at the Convention Centre was standing room only, but with the big screen everyone was able to see what was going on. Hopefully Veterans Affairs will provide the funds again next year.

Nov 12 attended the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to the Veteran, very nice.

Nov 21^st was asked to relate our story to a grade 12 class at Glenlawn Collegiate in St Vital, this was very well received.

Nov 29^th was a Joint Veterans Council parade committee meeting to wrap up the Remembrance Day service in Winnipeg. It was decided to ask Veterans Affairs for the funds to rent the big screen again next year.

Nov 30^th meeting of our Memorial committee was with Jane Saxby, Director of Brookside Cemetery. Jane reported that her immediate supervisor was very interested in our project and wants a report on how we intend to pay for it, etc to take the project to the next level.

Dec 4^th Winnipeg Grenadier Cadet Corps held the Battle of Hong Kong parade at Minto Armouries. The Colour Party participated with Carol Hadley and I laying wreaths for the HKVCA and HKVA respectively. We had 4 veterans attend - some with their families – Fred Poitras, Bob Lytle, Grant Shepard and myself. I was one of the inspecting officers. Our Association paid for the refreshments after the parade.

I wish you one and all a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year with good health and happiness. May you have a lever road to travel and the wind always at your back.

In all sincerity and comradeship - George

George Peterson, Committee Chairman

Over the past 18 months many of you have heard that a group of people in Manitoba are working to establish a memorial/interpretative centre to ‘C’ Force. The committee has been working very hard to develop this project so that it will honour all the soldiers who took part in this momentous event that took place in our lives and affect you throughout your life.

Initially the committee looked at the traditional monument consisting of column surrounded by bronze plates depicting various events in the story and some kind of statute on top. However, such a memorial would only recognize the group and not the individual. We believe that this group as well as the individuals have unique stories to tell about the struggles and victories each experienced. As a result, the committee choose an Interpretative Centre as the best possible means to give justice to the story.

As you will have seen in the report and brochure on the project (HKVCA website) the Interpretative Centre will have a number of features that will help to tell the story. The story is divided into five themes:

- The Battle for Hong Kong,

- Hardship on the Home Front,

- Life as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese, and

- Life After Returning From The War.

For details on the themes, please see the Report on the HKVCA website. The Interpretative Centre will also have a library containing books, pamphlets, diaries and any other material related to the story. As well there will be displays and other visual aids supporting the various themes. One feature that will be a first is an interactive database containing information on each individual soldier of ‘C’ Force describing various events that they took part in the story. Using these features, the centre will become a resource for anyone wanting information of this story. The committee is well aware that the HKVCA is making great efforts to have the ‘C’ Force Story become part of the curriculum in schools. This centre will help students and teachers considerably in their studies. Already the database has been used extensive by the students of Port Perry who were trying to find information on their particular soldier for their time capsule that was recently buried in Hong Kong.

Garry Hilderman, the project landscape architect, has done an excellent job providing designs for the concept of the grounds. As an assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba, Garry has given his students as part of their design course, the centre and grounds. It is interesting that the students were not aware of the Battle of Hong Kong and the part Canadians played. However once they were informed they got into the project with vigour. This again emphasizes the need to make the story more public and this centre will be an excellent way to do that.

So where in the process is the project at this moment?

1. Location: The committee has chosen the ideal location for the Centre, Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Originally it was suggested that the centre be located in the Military Graves Section in the northwest corner of the cemetery. Recently it was concluded the southeast corner of Brookside Cemetery, off Notre Dame Avenue was the ideal location. This location still gave people easy access to the Military Graves Section where many Hong Kong Veterans are buried, better security for the centre, and easier access to major roads and public transportation in the area.

2. Partnerships: In order for the project to be a success on a business-case, the committee has been developing a number of partnerships. One partnership is with the Last Post Fund. The Last Post Fund would rent office space in the centre. Brookside Cemetery is where the Last Post Fund does much of its work assisting veterans’ families with funeral arrangements and other related matters. Dealing with the Cemeteries Branch who is also located at Brookside will make communication much easier for this group.

The other partnership that will be key to the centre’s success will be the Cemeteries Branch, City of Winnipeg. The Branch wants to make the public more aware of the cemetery, to provide better and more amenities to families wanting to bury their loved-ones and to generally enhance the cemetery’s image. The branch supports the centre stating that it would provide a much need reception area following the burial service that is currently unavailable in the area. The proposed parking lot associated with the centre would greatly enhance parking facilities that are presently very poor. The planned gardens and ceremonial green area would also provide meeting areas for various groups such as veterans and family group gatherings and social events. These actives would help to bring much need public exposure to the ‘C’ Force story as well as the cemetery as whole.

The committee is currently looking for other partnership that would be mutual beneficial to both parties.

3. Funding: The challenge for the committee will be to raise the necessary funding for the two phases of the project. The Construction Phase will be the first phase where the committee will be seeking Capital funding from various sources for the building, displays, grounds, infrastructure and other related initial expenses. The Committee has been in discussions with various levels of government seeking assistance for this phase. At the moment the committee is finalizing a proposal to the City of Winnipeg seeking the use of the land at no cost as well as providing some infrastructure work to support the centre.

Other funding is being sought for the on-going Operational Phase. The committee will be seeking to establish an Operational Endowment Fund that would provide some funding for the day-to-day operation of the centre. As part of the proposal to the City of Winnipeg the committee will be seeking an arrangement for maintenance of the infrastructure such roads, lawns, and other related services. The committee would also be seeking funding from government agencies to help with the day-to-day operation of the facility.

As well as the various levels of government the committee will be approaching various organizations, foundations, and other funding sources both national and international for both the Construction and Operational Phases. The committee has already identified a number of organizations and foundations that they feel would be supportive of the project.

As you can see the committee has been working hard to make this project a success. There is still much to do and lots of other parts to the project that need to be done to make it a success. Some of the areas where assistance would be greatly appreciated are:

a. marketing – design, production and distribution of material for various target groups

b. historical research – gathering information on the ‘C’ Force story such as artefacts, diaries, stories, films, etc.

c. fund raising -

If you wish to help with this worthwhile project, please contact the committee. I look forward to your assistance in this worthwhile project.

George Peterson, Chairman

Hong Kong Veterans ‘C’ Force Memorial Project

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Well the season of Christmas is upon us and by the time you get this we will be in the New Year - so with much sincerity I wish you all the best of the New Year, health wealth and happiness.

I'm sitting at the computer thinking of all that has happened - all the sadness of losing some of our veterans, widows and Commemorative members - of the joy we shared at the Convention in Ottawa, VJ Day here, our reunion, the Tea and Tidbits, and the Annual parade of the cadets at Minto not to forget our monthly luncheons at St James Legion. All these events are important to us as it gives us time for comradeship and the time to remember what our purpose is. We work together in preserving the memory of the Veterans and helping the widows and last but not least educating the public through the media, schools and any other venue we find.

If you know of any of the widows or are a widow having a hard time with Veteran Affairs please don't hesitate to contact me, as I might be able to help you - as I have a good rapport with them.

On an other note I would like you to think of coming on the HKVCA Committee as we will be having elections soon and if you are interested in helping out or running for a position please let us know.

The reunion was a great success. As you know we had nine veterans and fifteen widows - what a night that was, good music, food and fun was had by all. I would like to thank all the volunteers that helped make that night run smooth - Bonnie and Judy Wiebe, Judy Preston, Helen Prieston, Constance Mitchell, Bridget MacDougall, Bev Rowden and Lucy Yestrau. To the people that donated gifts for the silent auction - Dick Wilson, Mr & Mrs G Shepard, Barry and Constance Mitchell, John Osborne ANAF, Dorothy Morris, Helen Prieston, Judy Preston, Gladys Brazil, Florence Wiebe, Soren & Marilyn Paulson, Alexandra Slovinsky. If I have forgotten to mention your name it is because I misplaced my list. Just contact me and refresh my memory. I wish to thank the Grenadier cadets for all their help, the Holiday Inn for the super service and Cheryl Paille for donating some of her CD'S for the Silent Auction. Thank you to Vince Lopata for the display and his presentation of the veterans. It took many of you down memory lane, to Barry Mitchell and Constance who sit most of the evening at Barry 's Emporium table and to Carol Hadley who left a wedding to come and read the Honour roll for us and to her husband Allan who is always taking pictures at many of the functions they attend. Thank you again.

Here are some dates and times I would like you to put on your calendar - HKVCA MEETINGS - Jan.21, 2006 1 pm, Mar.18 1 pm, May 20 1 pm, June17 1 pm, Sept 16 1 pm, Nov 18,1 pm. LUNCHEONS at 12 noon Jan, 12 2006; Feb 9th, Mar 9th, April 13th, May 11, June 8th, July 13th, Aug 10^th, Sept14, Oct 12, Nov 9th, Dec14th. Tea and Tidbits 1 PM Mar 4^th, June 3^rd, Sept 2nd, Dec 16^th.

Now you have the dates of meetings etc. Please try to attend some of them. May God Bless each and every one of you.  Juliet Lafortune -338-3353 or cell 294-9335

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Arnold Hunt, E-29864, RRC died November 05, 2005

George Merritt, H 17648, WG, died on October 21, 2005

HKVCA

Helen L. Martyn passed away on February 20, 2002

Louise Coleman, widow to Glen Coleman (RR) and mother of David Coleman passed away in Saskatoon, SK. On November 3, 2005

Alice Doiron, widow to John Doiron (RR), and mother to Norma Fuchs passed away in Medicine Hat Alberta on November 20, 2005

Janet Coulson, widow of E. W. Coulson, HKVDC has passed away

! ! !

Greetings to all our members, online viewers and friends. As the year winds down and we look at wrapping up calendar related business, I am examining my membership list for the Commemorative Association. It currently has 211 names on it but as is so often the case in December, too many of them do not have a mark, which indicates they have paid their dues for 2005.

In fact, only 164 members, or 78 % have found their chequebook in the past twelve months and this is certainly not a good record. Given the nature of our organization, I see no reason why we can’t expect everyone to pay their share and I maintain a goal of 100% paid up dues.

Looking at the list of the slowpokes, I see quite a few familiar names, so I know it’s not a lack of interest in our organization that causes hesitation. Perhaps printing this list in the newsletter would be extreme because you know who you are and why we need your active participation. Reminders have been sent and we are hopeful that most, if not all, of you will quickly put a cheque in the mail and "Make My Day". Your membership remains at $15.00 but we’re almost at 2006 so we would really like to see $30.00 to cover both years. Please send to HKVCA at P.O. Box 381, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2H6.

On the other hand, I am delighted to welcome nine new members who have come on board in the last year. They include Mike Axent of Thunder Bay, ON who is the son of William Axent, WG. Also Margaret Corson of Mafeking, MB, daughter-in-law of Garfield Lowe, WG.

Joining them are Todd Foster of London, ON and Samantha Godard of Winnipeg, grandchildren of Russell Foster, WG, Melissa Kozier of Winnipeg, granddaughter of Joe Michalkow, WG, and Lawrence Lowe, Mafeking MB, son of Garfield Lowe, WG.

Also on board are Troy Murray of Winnipeg who is the grandson of Thomas Ford, WG, Ken Tugby of Winnipeg, son of M.C. Tugby, WG and Lucy Yestrau of Winnipeg who is a very close friend of our Regional Director Juliet Lafortune. We look forward to your participation and to meeting each of you in due course.

The "Year of the Veteran" has been most successful and I have offered comments on that as well as on the subject of donations in the national newsletter. Overall, we have had a good year financially and with everyone doing their share, we should have a great 2006.

I know there are many of you who serve our cause well but I am taking the liberty of singling out Dennis Stewart of Selkirk, Manitoba as a member who makes the extra effort to see that the Hong Kong Veterans are honoured. Last summer Dennis placed a wreath in memory of the HK Vets at the Pilot Mound Decoration Day services, an act that was well received by the Legion members in the community. He followed this up by laying a wreath for the Hong Kong Vets at the November 11 services in Selkirk and again spreading the word. Thank you Dennis for the active role you take in honouring our veterans.

That’s it, folks. Please give your wallets a shake and I’m sure your HKVCA dues will fall out. Let’s get the New Year off to a great start and clear up that little obligation. I wish everyone the very best for the coming year.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

  Well November was a very cold start to winter but I have called some of our senior members - some people are not well. I am sorry that you are not feeling very well but I hope you will soon be better. Many people have started on their Christmas baking and shopping. I could smell the Christmas baking over the phone. Sure smelled good.

Well we had our Christmas Tea and Tidbits on December 11. We had a surprise also.... Santa Claus came by ... We had a lot of fun and we sang Christmas carols.

Well I won’t take much of your time for I know you are all getting ready for Christmas.    I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year - all the best in 2006!!

Talk to you all soon in January ... Take care

Upon our return from the National Convention in Ottawa, I received a box of gifts for the veterans that were unable to make the trip. I have had the pleasure of distributing the gifts to Art Ambrose, Tom Dewar, Harry Hawryshok, George Nobiss, Abram Peters, George Taylor, Johannes Van Baalen, Alf Wagner and Fred Wright. I mailed them to George Coutts, WC Krohn, and Andrew Poquet. At our HK lunch I was able to give Soren Paulson and Dick Wilson their gift – I have one exception (probably a snow bird) and will try again in the spring. In some cases it was the first time for me to meet these men and I was pleased to have a short visit and be able to give them an early present.

Harrison Webster who had relatives in the Royal Rifles contacted us. He had visited our website and found that we meet the second Thursday of the month for lunch at St James Legion. He was able to make our December lunch and we were very pleased to welcome him. Thank you again Harrison for your generosity and we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.

At this same lunch Gordon Sinclair came and interviewed the 4 vets that were present and took some pictures – so we will look for that information in the Winnipeg Free Press.

Speaking of the Winnipeg Free Press – that was terrific coverage that David O’Brien gave the latest pilgrimage to Hong Kong. For the week that they were in Hong Kong, he chronicled the events and interviewed the vets and family members that were on the trip. The highlight of the trip was the burial of the time capsule outside Sai Wan War Cemetery by over 200 students, teachers and parents from Ontario. The time capsule had many articles of information about the Battle of Hong Kong, interviews of the veterans, poems, stories, etc, which was the prerequisite to go on the trip. Our website will have some of our members stories and pictures of the trip – www.hkvca.ca.

The plaque on the time capsule reads:

Brave men honoured

I would like to thank the Free Press for the series of articles by David O'Brien on the pilgrimage to Hong Kong commemorating the contribution of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada in the Second World War.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers were made up of young men not only from Winnipeg, but also from many small towns throughout the province, like Kelwood. My father, Jack Hodgkinson, was one of these young soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941, and spent almost four years in prison camps in Hong Kong and then Japan. Dad received a shrapnel wound in the battle, and it wasn't until he returned to Canada that he had a metal plate inserted in his head.

Dad never spoke to my two sisters, brother or I about his "time in hell", but Decembers were always a very difficult time for him. Every Christmas, when we kids would come tearing downstairs to see what Santa had left us, Dad would always take time alone to remember December 1941, and their surrender on Christmas Day, before he came out and joined us.

The physical and mental effects of the suffering Dad and his fellow comrades endured in prison camp affected their whole lives. The bonds of brotherhood created there resulted in the formation of the Hong Kong Veterans Association, upon their return to Canada.

In honour of our fathers, the sons and daughters of these brave men have formed the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, to see that their story lives on. Thank you for honouring our fathers by helping tell their story. - PATRICIA BALE, WINNIPEG

(Editor: Patricia Bale [daughter of Ladena Mabley] is a member of the Manitoba Region HKVCA and is on the Education Committee – Thank you Patricia, well said)

The Manitoba HKVCA Education Committee had a display and did a workshop at the Annual SAG conference for Social Science teachers in October. We continue to promote the use of the curricula (now in French translation) that has been developed by members of our Association and to aid teachers with their classroom lessons.

We are looking for new or used portable display walls for this project – used preferably because to purchase new is a considerable expense. If anyone has a line on this type of equipment – please call me.

Another Year of the Veteran event was the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra celebrating Veterans’ contributions by presenting concerts dedicated to them on November 10, 12 and 13 at the Concert Hall. The concerts featured the music and songs of the era. Veteran’s organizations, Regular Force, Militia and Cadets participated – members of our Colour Party were part of the service during the concert. Our display boards were there and received a lot of attention. Some of our veterans’ families commented that they were unaware of our Association – so we will have to do some community awareness to change this.

- There was a Community Tattoo also in November at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. As George mentioned in his article that it was not what we expected – but then it wasn’t a Military Tattoo.

As Juliet was laid up with surgery on her leg, I participated by laying a wreath in the Battle of Hong Kong parade that was at Minto Armouries on December 4, 2005. These young Winnipeg Grenadier cadets and their leaders deserve a lot of credit for their dedication to this unit.

The HKVCA received a press release from the City Council of Campbellton, NB stating that they wish to petition the Canadian government for an apology from Japan on behalf of the Hong Kong veterans. A letter was sent back to Campbellton, explaining that Canada could not do this according to the San Francisco Peace Treaty that all Allied countries signed with Japan in September 1951. Any action from Canada would negate that Treaty – and that is just not done. However the other item that was in their press release was that they light a Christmas tree in front of their city hall every year since 2001 in honour of the Hong Kong Veterans. Our current Hong Kong Veterans’ President, Phil Doddridge, was present for the lighting of the first tree in December 2001. What a very special event to happen every year for remembering our veterans – maybe this will catch on in other communities across Canada – it doesn’t hurt to ask in your area.

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- Donna Remillard

The Winnipeg Grenadiers Hong Kong Trust Fund provides financial assistance to the direct descendants of the Winnipeg Grenadiers HK Veterans for their pursuit of higher learning. All donations are most gratefully appreciated. Cheques should be written to Winnipeg Grenadier's Hong Kong Trust Fund (not HKVA).

Application inquiries and donations to this fund may be directed to: Donna Remillard, 303 - 740 Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB R3N 1Y3 sellers@mts.com. Tel: (204) 489-0008.

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Wedding Anniversary
A husband was in big trouble when he forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife told him "Tomorrow there better be something in the driveway for me that goes zero to 200 in 2 seconds flat".
The next morning the wife found a small package in the driveway. She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.
Funeral arrangements for the husband have been set for Saturday.
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A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known heart surgeon in his shop. The surgeon was there, waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his bike.

The mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, can I ask you a question?"

The surgeon a bit surprised, walked over to the mechanic working on the motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, fix 'em, put 'em back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"  
 The surgeon paused, smiled and leaned over, and whispered to the mechanic... "Try doing it with the engine running.

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Reminders

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MEMBERSHIPS ARE DUE.