1st Bn The Winnipeg Grenadiers
General Information | ||
| Rank: | First Name: | Second Name: |
|---|---|---|
| Private | Bernard | A. |
| From: | Enlistment Region: | Date of Birth (y-m-d): |
| Wordsworth SK | Manitoba | 1917-10-28 |
| Appointment: | Company: | Platoon: |
| D | ||
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
No wounds recorded.Hospital Information
No record of hospital visits found.POW Camps
| Camp ID | Camp Name | Location | Company | Type of Work | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Jan 19 | ||
| JP-To-3D | Tsurumi | Yokohama-shi, Tsurumi-ku, Suyehiro-cho, 1-chome, Japan | Nippon Steel Tube - Tsurumi Shipyards | Variety of jobs related to ship building | 43 Jan 19 | 45 May 13 |
| JP-Se-1B | Yumoto | Fukushima-ken, Iwaki-gun, Yumoto-cho, Mizunoya, Japan | Joban Coal Mining Company | 45 May 13 | 45 Sep 15 |
Transport to Japan
| Draft Number | Name of Ship | Departure Date | Arrival Date | Arrival Port | Comments | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XD3A | Tatuta Maru | 43 Jan 19, left Shamsuipo Camp, 0500 hrs; left Hong Kong 1300hrs | 43 Jan 22, 0400 hrs | Nagasaki, Japan | Boarded train, arrived in Tokyo on 43 Jan 24 at 0700 hrs, boarded electric train for 10 mile ride to camp | Tony Banham |
Transportation SE Asia to Home
| Transport Mode | Arrival Destination | Arrival Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| USN 02746 | SF | 1945-09-20 |
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.
Other Military or Public 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-03-23 | Post War | ||
| Cemetery Location | Cemetery | Grave Number | Gravestone Marker |
| Estevan Saskatchewan Canada | Estevan City Cemetery | ||
Gravestone Image
Obituary / Life Story
JESSE, BERNARD Published: 03/26/2008 Estevan, SK BERNARD JESSE 1917_2008 We give thanks for the life of our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bernard Alfred Jesse, who passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, at Estevan, at the age of 90 years. He was predeceased by his wife Marcella (Jan. 26, 2001), and daughter Ferne Johnston (March 6, 2008). Bernard is survived by his daughter Marion (Dwaine) Pho, sons Warren (Cathy) Jesse, Colin Jesse, Howard (Mary) Jesse, and son-inlaw Garnet Johnston. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren: Craig (Mireille) Pho and their children William and Alexander, Blaine (Michelle) Pho and their children Carson and Emily, Stephanie (Kevin) Beechinor and their children Julia, Kate, and Thomas, Chad (Angela) Jesse and their son Kashton, Ryan Jesse, Nathan Jesse, Janelle Jesse, John Jesse, Christeen Jesse, Jessica Johnston, and Jaclyn Johnston. He is also survived by his sister Linda (Bob) Prokosh. Predeceased by his parents Otellia and Frederick Jesse, brothers Reynold Jesse, and infant Richard Jesse, and sisters Viola Kowalski, Elsie Mollison, Ruth Peterson, and Constance Kowalchuck. Born on October 28, 1917, Bernard was raised with six siblings on the family farm near Wordsworth, Sask. He enlisted with the Winnipeg Grenadiers during WWII, was captured on Christmas Day, 1941, and spent four years as a Japanese prisoner of war. After returning to Canada, he married Marcella Grimes in 1946, and settled in Estevan. Always resourceful and a hard worker, he operated Jesse's Meat Market with his brother from 1947 to 1949, followed by 30 years with the Department of Transport Meteorological Office. He also owned and operated Jesse's Insurance and Real Estate for many years. Volunteer contributions included several terms on the Estevan Separate School Board, one term as alderman, charter member of the Estevan Knights of Columbus, and active participation in St. John the Baptist Church parish. As a 60 year member of the Royal Canadian Legion, he spent countless hours sharing his war experiences with school children across the province. Bernie was a story teller, poet, avid reader, and author of his war memoirs, Seared in My Memory. He was enthusiastic about many things including politics, collecting coins, a night of cards with good friends, and acting as Santa's helper for the grandkids. His finest achievement is the large family that he and Marcella raised together. Their devotion to their children and grandchildren, their trust in God, and their honest, simple way of life are deeply treasured legacies. Prayers at Boire Funeral Home, Estevan, on Friday, March 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. with Mr. Doug Third officiating. A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Estevan, on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with celebrant Father Lorne D. Crozon. Interment will follow at Estevan City Cemetery. http://www.saskobits.com/obits.tpl?catid=archive (1 of 2)2008/03/29 16:21:38 saskobits.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 1910 McIntyre Street, Regina, SK S4P 2R3, or to St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, 1176 Nicholson Road, Estevan, SK S4A 2V6. Funeral arrangements are in care of Boire Funeral Home & Crematorium, Estevan (634-8233). Forward condolences to the family by visiting www.boirefuneralhome.com
Links and Other Resources
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Related documentation
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General Comments
Last Name AKA: JESSIE
End of Report.
Report generated: 27 Apr 2025.
Additional Notes
(These will not be visible on the printed copy)
- Service numbers for officers ("X") 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.
- In most cases the rank displayed was the rank held before hostilities. Some veterans were promoted at some point prior to eventual post-war release from the army back in Canada. When notified of these changes we'll update the individual's record.
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