Across the Nation
Reports from the Regions
BC Banter
Prairie Prose
Ontario Offerings
Quebec Quotes
Eastern Breezes
BC Banter ….
We express greetings to our Hong Kong Veterans, widows, HKVCA members and friends from the BC Region. A mild winter in southern BC is resulting in an early spring on the coast. This is in contrast to what has been a very cold winter in northern BC in areas like Fort Nelson where Sylvia Wiebe lives.
We are discussing plans for our annual spring meetings and luncheons which will occur in Victoria and Vancouver this June on different weekends. A letter will be mailed out to our regional members in April with the details. The information will also be posted on our website and we extend an invitation to any out of province members to attend.
We would like to recognize a few new members who have recently joined the HKVCA. Sonny Fung writes, “For years I just wanted to show my gratitude for what the HKV had done and for all of your sacrifices in HK, but I didn’t know how to contact your group specifically. So this year when I managed to find your website, I decided to send a token of appreciation to all the HKV. I am delighted to have a membership with the HKVCA.
I was born in Hong Kong in 1950 and grew up in Happy Valley (the race track area) so Wong Nei Chong and Tai Tam Gaps are familiar to me. I never take for granted the freedom I enjoy every day. My dad and I always took Remembrance Day seriously. Our old home was next to the Imperial Japanese Army depot and back then had the markings of P-38 strafing holes and 50mm shells”.
Welcome also to Robert and Ron St. Germaine whose father Thomas Edward St. Germaine (d) served with “D” Coy of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Robert and Ron join their brothers Barry and Raymond as members. The St. Germaine Family is certainly well represented. Denis Corbett, son of Claude Corbett (d) WG, has also recently joined. Claude was a good friend of mine and I miss sitting and chatting with him at the Legion in Maple Ridge.
Thank you to those members who have kept their memberships current. I encourage those of you who haven’t renewed yet to submit your $20.00 annual dues payable to the HKVCA c/o Murray Doull, 20368 Kent Street, Maple Ridge BC V2X 1A6. We need your support to keep our association strong and vibrant. If you have moved, please advise us with your new contact information. Thank you.
On
December 12, 2012, a Veterans Affairs Commendation Ceremony took place in
Vancouver in the Portofino Ballroom in the Executive Hotel on Howe Street. The
Honourable Minister of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Steven Blaney, presented Mr. Gerry
Gerrard (HK vet, RCCS) and Mr. Lee Naylor (BC Region Director HKVCA and
Education Chair) with the prestigious Veterans Affairs Commendation. They
received this award for their many years of service volunteering in honour of
our veterans through Legion activities, education and for helping veterans,
widows and seniors.
Gerry was accompanied by his daughter and son in law, Bev and Eric Campbell. Lee was accompanied by his wife Sherry and his mother, June Naylor. On behalf of all of us in the HKVCA I would like to offer congratulations and appreciation to Gerry, Lee and their families. Thank you for your dedication and service to our veterans.
Ron and Linda Quesnel, Lee Naylor and Murray and Lucy Doull attended a Celebration of Life on January 11, 2013 held in Surrey with the Lowe Family and friends in loving memory of John Lowe (RRC) who passed away on December 21, 2012. John was a very special man whose mischievous smile remains fresh in my memory. He was a wonderful husband to his wife Florence and is dearly missed by his children and grandchildren. Rest in peace John and know that you will always be remembered.
We wish special congratulations to Bill and Claire Doull who will be celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary on April 6.
In closing, we express our appreciation to the Prairie Region for the hard work they have been doing to ensure a memorable reunion this August in Winnipeg.
This report is submitted by Murray Doull on behalf of the BC Region.
Prairie Prose
At this time the Convention Committee is busy putting together the registration package which will be going out to all members very shortly. We have been fortunate to have talented and knowledgeable people to assist with this project and we hope each region will have many members coming to Winnipeg this summer and participating in the Convention.
We also hope that the Convention will draw educators and students to learn more about the Battle of Hong Kong story and the Canadians that were sent there with their unique circumstances which should not be forgotten.
Diamond Jubilee Candlelight Service at Brookside last June.
The Ladies Tea and Tidbits will be held Saturday, April 13th at St James Legion at 1 pm – we hope many of the ladies will come out and visit.
Our Region will be participating in the Red River Heritage Fair at the University of Winnipeg with a display and judging students dioramas relating to WWII and presenting awards for the winning students.
The next monthly Prairie Region meetings are April 10, May 09 and June 13, 2013 and the Colour Party will be attending the Decoration Day Parade in Winnipeg at the Cenotaph Sunday, May 5th, 2013.
Ralph MacLean sent a letter to the school in Hong Kong thanking the students for the cards the veterans received at Christmas time. Here is the letter that was his reply –
Dear Mr. Maclean,
Thank you so much for your letter. We received your letter on l9th January 2013. After I read your letter, I made several copies to our five classes of grade 2 homeroom teachers. So they can read it to their students and post it up to their display board for the students to re-read again and copy the address to reply you. I met Asha's parent that morning and made a separate copy of your letter to her. The family is so delighted to know you. Our vice principal Mrs. Nutting knows about grade 2 students receive your letter, she is so happy for us.
Thank you so much for your sacrifice during the wartime. We can never thank you enough. We just hope there is no war in the world and less suffering. I also want to thank you for your letter and to introduce yourself to our students. You make the whole school Remembrance service project real and alive.
May I also introduce myself to you. I am a Chinese. I have been teaching music in Canadian International School of Hong Kong for 17 years. I have been working in educational field over 27 years. I am living with my husband and two daughters.
Both girls are studying in my school. They are in grade 12 and 10, age 17+ and 15+. They both learn music instruments: piano, flute and clarinet. My husband is a Chinese and he is a secondary Chinese and history teacher. My mother is already 82 years old.
It is not cold in Hong Kong. Each day is around 17°C - 23°C. We are celebrating Chinese New Year this week in school. We had flower fair and will have New Year shows. Students bought flowers and played games in the fair. They will be led by Chinese teachers to perform on stage this coming Friday. Then we will be on holiday for 9 days.
Before I stepped down as a class assistant teacher, I was the music teacher in lower school and the choir director in Canadian International School of Hong Kong over 14 years. Every year I led one or two choirs to sing for the Remembrance Service arranged by Canadian Consulate in Sai Wan War Cemetery on the first Sunday of December. I met quite a few veterans and three different Canadian Prime Ministers. I remember one year, our choir was singing "In Flanders Fields", a grade 3 boy, only 8 eight years old, was tearing when we sang to the touching lyric.
But he continued to sing and finished the song with deep emotion and
expression. I was also
being touched by the solemn but tuneful music, and the imaginative scenes
created by the poem. Here is the poem by McCrae, a Canadian.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place;
and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and
now we lie In Flanders fields.
All the best! Keep warm!
Beatrice Cheung, Ex-Choir director
Class assistant. Canadian International School of Hong Kong.
Best wishes from the Prairie Region to all for a wonderful Easter and look for the registration package out soon.
Ontario Offerings….
Education Committee members continue to be active in terms of displays of
HKVCA materials around the province. As noted in our last Newsletter, Ian Doull
and
Ted Terry were involved in the Parliamentary Resource Fair in Ottawa on Nov.
6th, and the three daughters of Augustin Cyr, RRC, Linda Guglick, Sandra Strom,
and Jackie LeDrew managed the display table at the OHASSTA Conference in
Niagara-on-the- Lake on Nov. 23rd and 24th. The third event was postponed
because of labour strife in the Education area in the province. We are pleased
to report that the third event just mentioned, which was intended for the
Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Curriculum Leaders Professional Development
Day was finally rescheduled. With Linda Guglick, and Bud and Ruth Mann in
charge, it took place on February 15th. It was quite a success and involved a
display of our HKVCA materials, and our 3 Banners. The result was that a number
of those taking part, representing various Toronto High Schools, requested that
our Display Team go to several of their schools. We hope to follow up on those
What we are now noticing in our contacts with the many teachers we have met in the last few months is that many more are somewhat familiar with the Battle of Hong Kong, and want to be able to spend more time in class relative to the plight of the POWs and the ramifications for their families as well as the Battle itself. We plan to expand our display to make even more information accessible to the teachers we hope to reach, and to the general public.
The HKVCA Cross-Canada Writing Contest is in full swing at this time, and we expect to see our entries begin to come in from the end of March right up to the May 24th deadline. Some time in the near future we’d like to see this project considered by the HKVCA Board of Directors as a National Contest, which, because it already reaches all ten provinces and three territories, is the actual fact of the matter. Hopefully, that recognition would translate into some monetary assistance at the National level.
We are still looking for members to get involved with the Writing Project, in Ontario, and elsewhere, and we hope you’ll be among them. It’s a very special opportunity to connect with Canadian youth, and to help them understand and become aware of the legacy that has been left on their behalf by the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong. By all means, if you’d like to become involved get in touch with Mike Babin at msbabin@gmail.com or Pat Turcotte at petsask@sympatico.ca.
Pat Turcotte, Chair, Education Committee, Ontario Region
Spring greetings from West Central!
The only real news to report is that I've started scoping out spots for our area luncheon at the end of May/beginning of June. My target is one of the numerous wineries here in Niagara but so far I haven't found one reasonable enough! West Central members, watch for your invitations in the mail or on your email. If anyone out of our area wishes to attend, you are more than welcome. Feel free to contact me in early May for the details.
West Central Area Rep
Pam Newhouse, 905 945 4125 or
pamnewhouse@hotmail.com
Quebec Quotes ….
- Lucette Mailloux Muir, Regional Director
Greetings from Quebec Region on a mild day with a light snow falling.
Spring is on our doorstep with the smell of maple syrup and sugar in the air.
Quebec has been back to work planning for the coming year. We recently held our first formal Executive meeting for 2013. Events are on the board. Recently talked with some Veterans and Widows and the winter months are a bit more difficult as the years go by but they are positive. We have had short stays in hospital for different ailments and some have moved into residences where they can receive extra special care needed to make their lives more enjoyable without the worries of a house to take care of.
Since our last newsletter Quebec recently lost Eva LeBuffe Robertson widow of Francis Robertson RRC and Ruth Gagnon Campbelton wife of Edward Campbelton RRC. We will remember them!
We continue to keep our members informed on regular basis. Unfortunately we do lose a few members yearly. Contacts are made, when possible, and try to keep the interest and memory alive.
Many members are talking about the upcoming National Convention and at this time it is looking good for representation from Quebec.
Looking forward to meeting you all. That will be it for this time and take good care of each other.
Eastern Breezes…
- Emmie Flanagan, Regional Director
Greetings to all from the East Coast where there is still lots of snow, but the birds are singing as though it were spring. In this issue I would like to introduce to you one of our HKVCA members, whose father (Hong Kong Veteran), Joseph Frenette was originally from the Belledune area. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, Mona Thornton.
The following information is from Mona –
Over the past several years I have been sorting, cataloguing and copying all the memorabilia my parents, Joseph and Ruth Frenette, kept during my father's years as a POW of the Japanese from December, 1941 until August, 1945. This consists of written (almost daily) journals kept by my Dad while a prisoner, letters he received from home and the few he was able to send to us, any information sent to my mother from Canadian sources plus many messages received by Mum from shortwave/ham radio operators/ listeners from many US states.
The messages took the form of hand-written notes, post cards and full page letters. Also sent were phonograph records--a smaller version of the old 78 rpms and two smaller ones which were made of paper with a heavy coating of what appears to be shellac or a similar substance. There does not appear to be much known about these recordings and just recently there has been much interest generated here in Penticton--an hour-long broadcast produced by a local community radio station, interviews on the Kelowna Internet News program and the Penticton/Kelowna CBC internet news. Combined with these, a community radio station member and I have co-presented a noon time Brown Bag talk at the Penticton Museum as part of their regular weekly programs.
As a bit of background, my parents were both from northern New Brunswick. Dad, Joseph Charles Frenette, was born in Jacquette River and had been a school teacher for a few years before WWII. He joined the Royal Rifles of Canada in 1940 and in 1941 was sent to Hong Kong as part of "C" Force along with the Winnipeg Grenadiers.
My mother, Ruth (Keirstead) Frenette, was born in Glen Coe and with me, as a little girl, spent the war years in northern New Brunswick. For a lot of that time she did not have any information about my father's fate (it was almost 1 year after his capture that that was confirmed) and most any other information she received came from the messages relayed to her via dedicated short wave radio listeners.
Getting back to the phonograph records, Peach City Community Radio did a series of weekly broadcasts from our Museum in 2011 as part of a Communications exhibit and I wondered if anyone in their society knew whether something could be retrieved from the recordings. I knew that my father had recorded a couple of messages on them (the others were read by Radio Tokyo announcers) and after decades it would be great to hear my father's voice again!
Things got delayed for a while but last fall I contacted Peach City Radio again and they were most interested and agreed to take on the task of finding a possible way to recover the voices. Luckily, they were able to find someone locally who performed 'magic' and I now have a CD with my father's voice and the other messages!
Following is an example of one of the messages sent to Mum:
October 30th, 1943
To the kin of Joseph Charles Frenette, Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada
Dear Friend--This evening from Radio Tokyo, Japan the English announcer read a
message from Joseph Charles Frenette, age 31, Royal Rifles of Canada. It said he
is a POW at a camp near Yokohama.
It said "Dearest wife and baby. I hope these words reach you via radio. I am in good health and hope you are same. I was sure glad to receive a letter from you and it was my happiest day since being taken prisoner. All my sincerest love to you and Mona. Your loving husband, Joseph."
The above is not exact text, but it is the best I could gather. I trust this information will be of value to you and hope your brave loved one keeps well and is returned safely to you.
Respectfully yours, ---------
POW shortwave relay listener, Oberlin, Pennsylvania
There were many similar messages sent, especially in 1943/44 and the listeners did this voluntarily, spent hours of their own time tracing POW families, spending their own money for postage, paper, etc. They would ask for a small donation (if it was possible) toward postage to send other messages on to other families and that donation would be acknowledged to another family.
The HKVCA has posted the broadcast on their web site and have been most generous with their praise. I believe that as much information as possible must be preserved for the future and I am including a letter I received from the young lady who graciously read the above message on the radio broadcast.
She is the teenage daughter of Craig Henderson (Peach City Radio Society Vice President) who produced the broadcast and as I told her, it is responses like hers that make all the efforts worthwhile! She has given me permission to share her letter with whomever I choose:
"Firstly, I'd like to thank you sincerely for the letter you
wrote me thanking me for doing the voice of the shortwave radio listener on the
radio program. Because of my keen interest in history and human rights, it was
important to learn about your father's story a little more.
Yesterday (Feb 22, 2013) in Social Studies class, we learned a bit about the
battle of Hong Kong in 1941, which I realized your father was involved in. My
teacher said that of all the Canadians sent to Hong Kong, every one of them was
either killed or captured by the Japanese. I was astounded.
I just wanted to let you know that because of your telling of your father's incredible story, it opened my eyes to what was going on in the Pacific part of the world at that time, and that lots of people seem to forget that. It also gave me hope because so many people in the United States and Canada banded together to ease one another's worries about their loved ones on the other side of the ocean. All of that through the power of radio.
In Social Studies, we're also doing a project. One of the subjects to choose from is "Life inside a prison camp." Now, I feel my teacher meant German or Austrian camps at that time, but I'll surprise him by mentioning this lesser known, albeit interesting, part of the war.
Thank you again for telling your story. I know it has brought me insight to violations of human rights and the emotional connections involved in history. Your story made history real for me."
In September, 2012 my brother and I were privileged to attend the HKVCA Reunion in Belledune, New Brunswick (the area where my father was born) and we were so pleased to meet some Hong Kong veterans, some of their families and many other people from the area. We even discovered some long lost relatives!!
My original plan was to simply compile the memorabilia I have as a collection for our family but it has now 'taken on a life of its own' and gone off in various directions. Eventually my brother and I want the originals to be preserved in a secure but accessible area in the hope that future generations can learn about a rather little-known aspect of WWII and the men we consider heroes of that time in our history.
Respectfully submitted Mona Thornton--daughter of Joseph and Ruth Frenette.