1st Bn The Winnipeg Grenadiers
General Information | ||
| Rank: | First Name: | Second Name: |
|---|---|---|
| Sergeant | Robert | |
| From: | Enlistment Region: | Date of Birth (y-m-d): |
| Winnipeg MB | Manitoba | 1915-12-27 |
| Appointment: | Company: | Platoon: |
| Platoon Sergeant | D | 15 Plt |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 41/12/22 | arm wound |
Hospital Information
No record of hospital visits found.POW Camps
| Camp ID | Camp Name | Location | Company | Type of Work | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK-NP-01 | North Point | North Point, Hong Kong Island | 41 Dec 20 | 41 Dec 22 | ||
| HK-AS-01 | Argyle Street | Kowloon, Hong Kong | N/A | N/A | ||
| HK-SA-01 | Shamshuipo | Kowloon, Hong Kong | Capture | 42 Jan 22 | ||
| HK-NP-02 | North Point | North Point, Hong Kong Island | 42 Jan 22 | 42 Sep 26 | ||
| HK-SA-02 | Shamshuipo | Kowloon, Hong Kong | 42 Sep 26 | 43 Aug 15 | ||
| JP-To-5B | Niigata-Rinko | Niigata-ken, Nakakambara-gun, Ogata-mura, Japan | Marutsu, Rinko Coal, Shintetsu | Stevedore labor at port of Niigata (Marutsu), primarily foodstuffs; mining coal (Rinko Coal ) and labor at a foundry (Shintetsu) | 43 Sep 02 | 45 Sep 05 |
Transport to Japan
| Draft Number | Name of Ship | Departure Date | Arrival Date | Arrival Port | Comments | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XD4B | Manryu Maru | 43 Aug 15 | 43 Sep 01 | Osaka, Japan | Brief stopover in Taihoku (Taipei), Formosa (Taiwan); then 2 day stopover at northern point for stool tests | Tony Banham |
Transportation SE Asia to Home
| Transport Mode | Arrival Destination | Arrival Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| USS Ozark Passenger List A | SF | 1945-10-02 | evacuated from Japan via USS Ozark |
No other or additional related information found. Please submit documents to us using the contact link at the top of this page.
Post-war Photo
No other or additional related information found. Please submit documents to us using the contact link at the top of this page.
Decorations Received
| Image | Name of Award | Abbreviation | References | Precedence | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mentioned-in-Despatches | MiD | 39, 40, 124 | 13 | Citation not found |
Other Military Service
No other or additional 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-10-20 | Post War | ||
| Cemetery Location | Cemetery | Grave Number | Gravestone Marker |
| Esquimalt British Columbia Canada | Veterans Cemetery | Section BB - Row 02 - 0017 | |
Gravestone Image
Obituary / Life Story
H6027 Robert MANCHESTER 1945 Next of Kin: Mrs. Edna Manchester (wife), Suite 34 Morecambe Lodge, 391 Balmoral St., Winnipeg MB.
Links and Other Resources
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General Comments
Canadian's Story Given At Hearing Tells Atrocities Of Cruel Jap Commander Of Camp for P.O.W's
YOKOHAMA - In the dimly-lighted interior of the Yokohama District Court House, Honshu, Japan, the trial of United States vs. Lt. Masato Yoshida continued into its third week. In an effort to prove Lt. Yoshida as one of the most brutally vicious prisoner of war camp commanders that the Canadians were affronted with in Japan, the prosecution recalled Warrant Officer Robert Manchester to the witness stand.
Story of Brutality
During the course of the morning session, a photograph was exhibited to the witness, who identified it as that of James Mortimer. Manchester added that, because Mortimer, had been accused of stealing Red Cross supplies, he was sentenced by Yoshida to ten days in the guard house. His punishment consisted of being roped to a stake and left exposed to the mercies of the cold biting winter's wind and snow, clad only in light trousers, shirt and socks. After several days of this inhuman treatment, the victim's face and limbs took on a reddish color, then a bluish tinge. Following this, his toes began to crack from the intense cold, and infected sores resulted. After release from the guard house, Mortimer was admitted to the hospital, where he was treated for gangrene by the American medical orderly, Chief Pharmacist's Mate Dickson. In a miserable and suffering condition, he remained in the hospital only approximately three weeks before his death.
Following a ten-minute recess, the prosecution continued with its witness regarding atrocious mistreatment given Canadian prisoner, James Martin. This prisoner was suffering from beri-beri. He was in considerable misery with swollen legs and feet, since he had no footwear. Manchester stated that one day, when morning parade had assembled, he took Martin to the head guard, Sato, and asked that the man be excused from work because of his condition. After learning the nature of his trouble, Sato laughed and proceeded to stamp on both his feet, then ordered him to work. The next day, following the same appeal, the incident reoccurred, and Sato began punching and slapping, and then allowed Martin to return to his hut. He died within several weeks, after having been transferred to the dysentery ward.
Tells of Other Deaths
The prosecution's witness continued with his testimony on the deaths of POW's Leo J. Bottie and G. R. McLaughlin. According to Manchester, Bottie, who was a frail individual, was taken from camp one morning by Sato, while he was excused from work and was resting, and that, upon return that evening with the work party, he was supported by his fellow comrades. Taken to the hospital, he died the following day.
Contrary to the size and condition of Bottie, prisoner McLaughlin was a large, awkward person, who was often the butt of jokes and slappings by the Japanese workers. One particular incident occurred one day on the trestle when McLaughlin paused in his work to repair his shoes, and was accosted by a foreman who was using a club. Sato appeared and inquired as to why the man was not working, whereupon the foreman evidently replied that he was slacking from his work. Hearing this, Sato slapped and kicked the man to the ground. Later, McLaughlin was permitted to remain in camp because he was suffering from dysentery and a severe cold. The witness added that McLaughlin died some months afterwards in the camp.
Another death reportedly contributed to by orders from Sato forcing sick men to work was that of Gerald Snedden. After suffering for a time, he was finally allowed to remain in camp, but never recovered from his illness.
A prisoner who was suffering from the common complaint of diarrhea was Albert Boulding. The Japanese refused to allow him to rest or remain in camp, and as a result, his condition became so serious as to warrant hospital treatment. However, he did not respond to what little treatment the American medical orderly was able to give with the limited supplies. The witness for prosecution continued by saying that the name of the Japanese medical orderly who refused treatment of Boulding was Takahashi.
No Medical Supplies
Throughout Manchester's testimony, the fact was brought out that medical supplies were virtually non-existent for the use of prisoners.
Another case of mistreatment on the trestle occurred when Arthur H. Hunter fell while working, and a guard, who was nearby, revived him with water, and then proceeded to slap and beat him with a club. Later, he was refused medical treatment, and as a result, collapsed into a semi-conscious state. However, he failed to regain his strength, and soon after the mistreatment he died. (NB: editor's note: While this report names the soldier as Arthur Hunter, it was his brother Stanley Hunter who died.)
The prosecution concluded its interrogation for the day when Manchester testified regarding the death, of prisoner Ernest Heuft, who could not control his personal hygiene, He was ordered by Sgt. Ito to move his bedding to the latrine, where he remained for three days, whereupon he was transferred to the hospital, shortly prior to his death.
2 Jap War Criminals Charged With Maltreating Canadians Are Sentenced To Long Terms
Ottawa, Feb. 14. Two more Japanese war criminals charged with maltreatment of Canadian and other Allied prisoners-of-war have received heavy sentences from an Allied War Crimes Commission at Tokyo, army headquarters announced yesterday.
The sentences, handed down in Tokyo Tuesday, were 40 years' imprisonment for Katsuyaru Sato, former civilian guard, and 15 years for Takeo Takahashi, former medical orderly. Both men were employed at a camp near Niigata's coal docks in the Tokyo area.
Sato was charged with compelling physically unfit Allied troops to perform hard labor, and "in some cases contributing to the death of prisoners." Thirty Canadians, including a number from the Eastern Townships, and five United States Army personnel suffered at his hands. Nine died.
Takahashi, it was alleged, not only refused medical attention to Allied prisoners of war, but forced the sick, weak and undernourished to do hard labor, as a result of which numerous prisoners died of disease or were permanently disabled. It was also charged that Takahashi, for his own use, stole Red Cross supplies, medicines and other supplies intended for the benefit of Allied prisoners. The falsification of numerous death certificates also was attributed to Takahashi.
Sato was described in the charges as a ruthless taskmaster who visited his cruelty upon any prisoner who afforded him the slightest provocation. It was charged that while working the sick and weary prisoners-of-war at the Rinko coal docks in Niigata he often satisfied a sadistic urge to torture his helpless victims. Sato also is accused of stealing Red Cross supplies.
The SCAP Legal Section lists the following Canadians as included among victims of the two Japanese:
Takahashi: E. C. Harrison (deceased), Bury, Que.; Renwell Marren (deceased), Gaspe, Que; Joseph E. Maloney (deceased), Barachois, Que.; and Ernest Heuft (deceased), 473 Warsaw Ave, Winnipeg.
Sato: Sgt. Colin Pope (deceased), Cookshire, Que.; Rfn. Gabriel Guitard (deceased), Nash Creek, N.B.; Pte. Albert Boulding (deceased), Pilot Butte, Sask.; Cpl. John Moffat Gee (deceased), Birch Ridge, N.B.; Sgt. Edward Philips (deceased), Sawyerville, Que; Pte. Mike Katchen, Angus, Man.; Cpl. Thomas P. McCarron, Benjamin River, N.B.; Rfn. George Chenell, Entry Island, Que.; R.R. Wheeler, Runnymede, Que; G. H. Doucette, Botwood, Nfld;
Ernest Arthur Dayton, Chilliwack, B.C.;
William Harvey Gagne, Brighton, Ont.; J. A. Hunt, Chandler, Que.; Arthur Hilton Hunter, Winnipeg;
Herbert Wallace, Kingsbury, Que: Frederick Joseph Lavallee, St. Laurent, Man.; Pte. McLaughlin, Campbellton, N.B.; F. T. Caruso (deceased) Winnipeg; C. S. Woodward, Winnipeg; S. C. Street, Toronto; Alfred William Spier, West Kildonan, Man.; Joseph John Wolczuk, Winnipeg; Joseph Axel Winberg, Chatham Ont.; Thomas Lawrence Ward, Portage la Prairie, Man.; Robert Manchester, Winnipeg; Lloyd C. Doull, Drummondville, Que.
End of Report.
Report generated: 14 Dec 2024.
Additional Notes
(These will not be visible on the printed copy)
- Service numbers for officers are locally generated for reporting only. During World War II officers were not allocated service numbers until 1945.
- 'C' Force soldiers who died overseas are memorialized in the Books of Remembrance and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, both sponsored by Veterans Affairs Canada. Please use the search utility at VAC to assist you.
- Some birthdates and deathdates display as follows: 1918-00-00. In general, this indicates that we know the year but not the month or day.
- Our POW camp links along with our References link (near the bottom of the 'C' Force home page) are designed to give you a starting point for your research. There were many camps with many name changes. The best resource for all POW camps in Japan is the Roger Mansell Center for Research site.
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