Individual Report: H20809 Edward MORRISSEAU

Anishinaabe Sagkeeng First Nation, MB

Rank:	First Name:	Second Name:
General Information
Private	Edward	Joseph
From:	Enlistment Region:	Date of Birth (y-m-d):
Pine Falls MB	Manitoba	1918-04-02
Appointment:	Company:	Platoon:
	C

Transportation - Home Base to Hong Kong

Members of 'C' Force from the East travelled across Canada by CNR troop train, picking up reinforcements enroute. Stops included Valcartier, Montreal, Ottawa, Armstrong ON, Capreol ON, Winnipeg, Melville SK, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Vancouver, arriving in Vancouver on Oct 27 at 0800 hrs.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers and the local soldiers that were with Brigade Headquarters from Winnipeg to BC travelled on a CPR train to Vancouver.

All members embarked from Vancouver on the ships AWATEA and PRINCE ROBERT. AWATEA was a New Zealand Liner and the PRINCE ROBERT was a converted cruiser. "C" Company of the Rifles was assigned to the PRINCE ROBERT, everyone else boarded the AWATEA. The ships sailed from Vancouver on Oct 27th and arrived in Hong Kong on November 16th, having made brief stops enroute at Honolulu and Manila.

Equipment earmarked for 'C' Force use was loaded on the ship DON JOSE, but would never reach Hong Kong as it was rerouted to Manila when hostilities commenced.

On arrival, all troops were quartered at Nanking Barracks, Sham Shui Po Camp, in Kowloon.

Battle Information

We do not have specific battle information for this soldier in our online database. For a detailed description of the battle from a Canadian perspective, visit Canadian Participation in the Defense of Hong Kong (published by the Historical Section, Canadian Military Headquarters).

Wounded Information

Date Wounded	Wound Description	References
Unknown	N/A

Hospital Information

Name of hospital	Date of admission	Date of discharge	Comments	Reference
HK-RNH	N/A	N/A	Transferred to BMH
HK-BMH	01/14/1942	01/20/1942		118

POW Camps

Camp ID	Camp Name	Location	Reference	Arrival Date	Departure Date
HK-SA-01	Shamshuipo	Kowloon, Hong Kong		Capture	42 Jan 22
HK-NP-02	North Point	North Point, Hong Kong Island	33	42 Jan 22	42 Sep 26
HK-SA-02	Shamshuipo	Kowloon, Hong Kong		42 Sep 26	45 Sep 10

Transportation: SE Asia to Home

Happy to be alive, Winnipeg Grenadier smile on board a hospital ship in 1945 after being liberated from nearly four years in Japanese prison camps.

Post-war Photo

No related information found. Please submit documents to us using the contact link at the top of this page.

Commemorative Feature

A map detailing the location of this feature can be found in this soldier's vault. (See Vault explanation below in the Links and Other Resources block) .

Site Description	Location	Province	Map Reference	Lat/Long	Date
Morrisseau Lake	northeast of Lac Brochet, Manitoba	Manitoba	64 K/15	59 00' 00"; 100 54' 34"	1979

Other Military Service

No related information found. Please submit documents to us using the contact link at the top of this page.

Death and Cemetery Information

Date of Death (y-m-d)	Cause of Death	Death Class	Death Ref
1945-12-23	Tuberculosis	Post War
Cemetery Location	Cemetery	Grave Number	Gravestone Marker
Pine Falls Manitoba Canada	Fort Alexander Indian Reserve - RC Cemetery

Gravestone Image

Obituary / Life Story

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Son of Albert Morrisseau and Marie Courchene, of Pine Falls. Brother of Ambrose and Lawrence.

A Métis from the Sagkeeng Nation, he enlisted in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada before being transferred to the Winnipeg Grenadiers on October 21st, 1941. Member of C Force Hong Kong. Prisoner of war in Hong Kong from October 28th, 1941 to August 16th, 1945.

Served in Manitoba and Hong Kong with C Force. He had 1,694 days of service, including 1,460 overseas.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Morrisseau Lake located northeast of Pike Lake in his honor in 1979.

Citation(s): 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Links and Other Resources

Edward MORRISSEAU noted on Selkirk Manitoba Ancestry

Facebook has proven to be a valuable resource in the documentation of 'C' Force members. The following link will take you to any available search results for this soldier based on his regimental number. Note: results may be contained within another related record. Facebook Search Results

→ Related documentation for information published in this report, such as birth information, discharge papers, press clippings and census documents may be available via shared resources in our HKVCA Vault. It is organized with folders named using regimental numbers. Use the first letter of the individual's service number to choose the correct folder, then scroll to the specific sub-folder displaying the service number of your interest.

General Comments

Private Edward Joseph Morrisseau was born April 2, 1918 on the Fort Alexander Reservation in Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada to parents Albert Charles Morrisseau and Marie Courchene. His paternal grandparents were (my Métis 2nd great-grandfather Joseph Morrisseau's brother) my 3rd great-uncle Jean Baptiste Morrisseau and Julie Guimond. He had 1 brother, Ambrose and 1 sister, Philomene. His father Albert was employed as a lumberman in Pine Falls. The whereabouts of Ambrose was unknown during the war, having left home 3 years prior to Albert's death.

Albert was employed as a bush worker for the pulpwood camp. Having lived his whole life in the County of Springside, living at home with his father, his mother deceased. He intended to buy a home in Winnipeg and have his father live with him! At age 23 on May 5, 1941 Edward enlisted at Fort William, Ontario, Canada. 5'7-1/2", 133 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, 35.5" full expansion chest (range of expansion 2 inches), 20/20 vision, his health was relatively healthy but the recurrence of gonorrhoea first diagnosed autumn of 1940.

He was sent to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba May 21, 1941.

Curiously in his Record of Service May 22 several lines are crossed out - 168 hrs detention off 1400 hrs and forfeit pay in accordance with article 150 - he had been absent between June 25 to July 2 about 1200 hrs, when he was then placed under arrest! Now (amended) written underneath - 168 hrs detention effective 1400 hrs July 2 and forfeit 8 days pay in accordance with article 150 for absent without leave from 1200 hrs June 25 until 1400 hrs July 2 date of award. DO #154 (daily order of unit) is cancelled by DO #161 July 11, 1941.

On July 9 though he was discharged from detention for admittance to Fort Osborne Military Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba and again forfeiting pay under article 222. Discharged from Fort Osborne Military Hospital, stoppage of pay inclusive to July 28, 1941.

Granted embark leave October 14 to October 18, 1941. Then between October 18 to October 19, 1941 AWOL again and forfeit 2 days pay. Originally with the Camerons of Canada, he ceases to be attached to A15 J.C., now and is transferred TOS (taken on strength of unit) to Winnipeg Grenadiers.

October 25, 1941 enroute Winnipeg Grenadiers and the local soldiers that were with Brigade Headquarters from Winnipeg to British Columbia travelled on a CPR train to Vancouver. Others travelled to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada joined from the east members of other Canadian reinforcements travelling across Canada by CNR troop train stopping in Valcartier, Montreal, Ottawa, Armstrong Ontario, Capreol, Ontario, Winnipeg, Melville, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Jasper, before arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The TSS Awatea is seen passing under the relatively new Vancouver Gate Bridge.

Arriving that same evening at 1600 hrs October 27, 1941 Edward Morrisseau and all members embarked from Vancouver on the ship S.S. Awatea, a New Zealand Liner as per Sailing List # 968 to Hong Kong island, China. Another ship H.M.C.S. Prince Robert carried the others.

"The ship was crowded in the troop decks, carrying, in the estimation of the writer, about 150 more than she could conveniently accommodate. This crowding resulted in some dissatisfaction on the part of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, about fifty of whom forced their way off the gangway into the shed. They were, however, persuaded by their officers and N.C.O's to return in a matter of about of twenty minutes." (E.S.O. to Movement Control, 28 Oct 41, op cit)

Aboard the ship the food distribution was a "hopeless muddle" after waiting hours for tripe and onions. Cargo included 248 tons of baggage, 104 tons of food stuffs, and 120 tons of ammunition, though not all transport had arrived and 2 holds were practically empty. There had been another ship, Don Jose, that had equipment but it was commandeered by the Americans and sent went to Manila, Phillipines. Aboard the ship lectures were given, ""Health in the Tropics", "Hong Kong, People and Customs", and "The Japanese Army". Demonstration on how to use 2" mortar and machine guns was provided with fascination to the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Never had even seen these.

Now the Canadian military were sending "unfit for modern warfare" Winnipeg Grenadiers as guards to an Asian outpost garrison, British owned Hong Kong Island of some 1.5 million inhabitants because of refugees. The British had requested, and Canada sent almost 2,000 troops. It was an easy situation for the defences of the colony to be collected by the enemy. The belief of this impregnable island was it's defense and security of the sea, not air invasion.

About 3 weeks at seas, after making brief stops at Honolulu and Manila, the S.S. Awatea arrived in Hong Kong on November 16, 1941. On arrival, all troops were quartered at Nanking Barracks, Sham Shui Po Camp, in Kowloon. The balance of the troops continued daily training, barely mastering infantry weapons when the war broke out 6 weeks later. The western portion of the island at Wan Chia Gap were manned by the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Stunning the world just before 08:00, on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Attack on Pearl Harbour began. Six hours later began Battle of Hong Kong. The Pacific theatre was the forefront! This was the very 1st combat that the Canadian Army fought in WW2. From the air the Japanese bombed the only airfield and the military installations. For the next 2 weeks the Canadians fought bravely for theirs and their comrades lives. The Japanese were far superior in numbers during their amphibious landing, and so forth.

An account of the last preposterous order that was issued on Christmas Day was the "D" Company of the Royal Rifles being ordered for a suicidal attack on the lost ground at the south end of the island. With only bayonets, a cost of 26 men killed and 75 wounded they succeeded!

On December 25, 1941 the colony surrendered, beginning the horror of war crimes the prisoners of war had to endure. Japanese considered them cowards for surrendering, less human, and began their cruelty of torture of beatings, hard labour and starvation.

Edward's circumstance of capture was that on December 19, 1941 when the Japanese 1st landed, he was wounded and disabled by mortar bomb on the thigh, wrist and throat. Then taken to the naval hospital where he remained until capitulation. December 28 to January 21, 1942 he was a POW at the British Central School - Bowen Road Hospital then taken to Shamshuipo POW Camp for 2 days, and sent onto North Point Camp for about 9 months and sent back September 26, 1942 to Shamshuipo Camp until he was finally released August 16, 1945. Built upon a hill, opened originally in 1907, maximum capacity of 200 beds with 12 nurses from Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service sisters, the Canadian Army Nursing Sisters and the Royal Army Medical Corps. As the result of the bombing, within hours at the Bowen Road Hospital casualties began arriving. All but one Royal Air Force plane had been destroyed at the airfield, and The Royal Navy ships have been sunk. Gathering nearby extra emergency medical supplies from the sellers of Saint Albert's Convent on Rosary Hill, the nursing staff worked in darkness using only a pocket flashlights as windows had to be shuttered shut from the shelling.

Later Edward would also be treated for dysentry and abscesses by the Allied, but not ever treated for his cough or tuberculosis.

The medical supplies at the Bowen Road Hospital were initially good until the Japanese stripped the hospital.

General remarks with particular reference to treatment by the enemy and brief outline of any known enemy atrocity: Beaten twice for not saluting an officer and once for going to toilet at night. - Private Edward Morrisseau

Edward's POW Information: Sham Shui Po Barracks (Shamshuipo) in Kowloon, Hong Kong capture January 22, 1942. This was the main POW Camp in Hong Kong, operating from before the British surrendered the Colony, to the Japanese surrender. Many POWs died here, especially in the diphtheria epidemic of 1942, and all shipments of POWs to Japan left from Sham Shui Po's Bamboo Pier.

North Point in North Point, Hong Kong Island arrived January 22, 1942, departed September 26, 1942.

Shamshuipo in Kowloon, Hong Kong arrived September 26, 1942, departed September 10, 1945.

In January, the camps were rationalised. North Point became the Canadian and Royal Navy Camp, Shamshuipo became the British Army and HKVDC camp, Ma Tau Chong was opened as the British Indian Army Camp, and 'enemy' civilians were sent to Stanley Internment Camp.

Edward's POW Hospital Information: HK-RNH Transferred to BMH HK-BMH January 14, 1942 - January 20, 1942.

War Crimes

On September 8, 1945 a completed document classified as SECRET containing questions that were typed out replies from Edward Morrisseau.

Answering NO:

Killings or executions, Massacres, wholesale looting or burning of towns Transportation of POWs under improper conditions. Public exhibition or expose to ridicule of POWS. Any other atrocities not specifically mentioned should be punished.

Answering YES:

Torture, beatings or other cruelties. Imprisoned under improper conditions. Use of POW on enemy military works or operations. Exposure of POWs to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war. Failure to provide POWs with proper medical care, food or quarters. Collective punishment of a group for offence of others.

KIND OF CRIME, WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHO WAS THE VICTIM, STATE IF YOU SAW IT YOURSELF:

Beating and Torture - Bowen Road Hospital - MURRAY, Fred, Seen personally Pte. ARCHIBALD Rfn, Beaten and tortured for about one week in an effort to discover missing clothing. Both innocent and Japanese later apologized. No beds provided - marched 6 miles to work and 6 miles back. Employed on construction of airport at Hong Kong with 300 other Canadians. Heard of Canadians being forced to work on Canton defenses. Prisoners employed on airport not allowed to take cover during raids. Japanese refused to provide serum during diphtheria epidemic. Prisoners put on half rations after others had attempted to escape. Prisoners also beaten after air raids.

After War Military Summary:

December 24, 1941 Edward Morrisseau, POW.

September 6, 1945 Safe in Allied hands, admitted to U.S.G.H. in Manilla, Philippines October 9, 1945 Sick Bay aboard H.M.S. Glory.

October 25, 1945 Hospital

October 26, 1945 From Sick Bay H.M.S. Glory to Victoria Military Hospital

November 3, 1945 S.O.S. to 10 D.D. (unit) by Hospital transport

November 4, 1945 T.O.S. from 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers November 5, 1945 Admitted to central T.B. clinic

November 15, 1945 Removed to St Boniface Sanitarium

Handwritten on the Diet Sheet form "Summary. This was had been quite fit until he was captured at the Hong Kong in December 1941. In Feb 1942 was admitted Tokyo hospital with chronic dysentery and later developed an ?sch rectal abscess which was cleared on several occasions. He remained in hospital and in February 1943 he was found to have pulmonary tuberculosis and was there after confined to bed. ? S... by c/o anorexia fever & cough later in 1944 he had a ?...sis. Examination of Manila revealed tubercular in the ?sh... an x-ray found?... of both ?.... On arrival in ? he was found to have a ?f... which was still discharging but ?f of discomfort. He had a cough which was unf? & cleared... appetite good - gaining weight. He has.. both legs... his general condition has noticeably improved during his... ship."

On December 23, 1945 at 2330 hrs, or 11:30 pm, at 25 years, 8 months, 21 days, H-20809 Private Edward Morrisseau died. Cause of death bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis. Mentioned is periconditis-etiology-syphilis.

Private Edward Joseph Morrisseau was buried at Fort Alexander (St Alexander) Catholic Cemetery.

On June 1, 1945 Edward was granted Japanese Campaign Pay of Rank "C" Force Awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star War Medal, 1939-45 CVSM & Clasp. Memorial Bar was sent to Mr. Albert Morrisseau (his father) c/o Superintendent, Clandeboye Indian Agency, Seikirk, Manitoba. The Superintendent of Reserves and Trusts of the Indian Affairs Branch, Department of Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Ontario were the "Medals Person Entitled to". Some reason, somehow the Department of Indian Affairs involved themselves in the death and remuneration of Edward Morrisseau.

Victory Loan Bonds for 2 @ $500 each = $1,000 were registered for Edward J. Morrisseau

"in connection with question No. 21 The bonds referred to were in possession of Albert Morrisseau, father of deceased. There are two $500 Canada 9th Victory Bonds Serial No.'s B0065527 and B0065528. Registered in none of Edward Joseph Morrisseau at the Bank of Toronto Academy Road Branch Winnipeg. These two bonds were handed over to Sgt. O.L. Olson H7156 who delivered Private Morrisseau's body to father at Pine Falls. Sent out by District Depot MD10 December 27th 1945. Receipt of this delivery held by father of deceased Albert Morrisseau, Fort Alexander Manitoba, Pine Falls Post Office." - February 2, 1946 Post Master Donald McCulloch.

[Donald McCulloch after serving in WWI and then marrying, moved to Pine Falls, Manitoba, became was the manager of the Mercantile Store and later postmaster and was active in the local branch of the Canadian Legion. Born 1894 Kenora, Ontario, died December 12, 1947 in Pine Falls, Manitoba.]

Dated March 3, 1946 in the form Distribution of Service Estates, a stamped Receiver General of Canada for Superintendent of Reserve & Trusts, Indian Affairs Branch, Dept of Mines & Resources, Booth Bldg, Ottawa, Ontario for the share of 'All' $621.58, $1.48, $931.08, and $62.70.

The Department of Defence calculated a supplemental war service gratuity 1,460 days to $931.08.

After the AWOL subtraction, 1,694 days in service.

Interestingly, an unknown woman who Edward had an intended life commitment to was evident in some of his personal effects. A ring box containing a diamond engagement ring and a diamond wedding ring, and a lock of hair in a cigar box.

As per a January 5, 1946 document, the whole list of his effects were recovered from the St Boniface Sanitarium and were forwarded to Administer of Estates and the bonds were recovered from N.O.K., next-of-kin, his father Edward Morrisseau.

"Pine Falls, Man

Sept 4th 1946

Department of Defence Ottawa Army

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter regarding my deceased boy Private Ed Morrisseau who died at Saint Boniface Sant. last December 23rd, 1945. It's almost a year now since he died and I haven't received any of his money which he has left.

I received a letter from you around May 25th of this year, in which you stated that you have sent the money to the department of Indian affairs Ottawa and in the same letter you told me that if I did not receive anything around June 5th and I haven't heard any thing from them. So this thing is getting me kind of worried why they didn't even let me know what they are going to do.

So I thought that you were the ones who was responsible for the money that I would let you know about it. Why I am not get anything yet. I don't see why that money even went to the dept when my deceased boy didn't have any thing to do with the dept of Indian affairs when he joined the Active Force of Canada. And so I hope that you do something for me on this case. I would be very glad for I needed a new home and would use that money right now. Well this is all I am asking of you. Hope to hear from you real soon. For I am getting worried.

I remain Yours Truly Albert Morrisseau"

"Fort Alex Man.

May 1st 1950

Dept of National Defence

Ottawa Canada

Dear Sir

I am writing you this letter regarding the latest news I have a heard about boys who had been in service Prison Camps and who are entitled to payment of $1 per day for all the time spent in Prison Camp.

As I have not that particular of this affair I would like any information concerning my boy who Dead through bad conditions of his Prison Camp Intern. The said boy I am writing about is Pte. Edward Morrisseau.

The days this boy spent in Japan prison camp I don't know and would like to find out if the next of kin are allowed to draw the sad money which the boys who are dead should have got if they were alive. Also don't know anything regarding this matter. I would like any information as soon as possible.

Please answer this letter as soon as possible.