Those men of C Force who had survived not only the battle but also the four year ordeal of life as prisoners of the Japanese found that their troubles continued long after their release. Their sufferings had affected all of them physically and many emotionally, and re-adjustment to civilian life was not easy. Some never succeeded, despite valiant efforts. The most widespread of the problems facing the Canadian survivors of Hong Kong was poor health. The years of malnutrition as prisoners of war and the exposure to tropical diseases combined to retard the healing process. It was some time before the survivors were able to return to the normality of the life they had left behind. Even then they still had to suffer the humiliating ingratitude of their country, which, for an agonizing length of time, failed to admit that their experiences were unique and that the permanent effects were such as to warrant adequate compensation and assistance. It was almost thirty years before full justice was rather belatedly done.
The C Force survivors returned to Canada in various stages, and by various means. Those few who appeared reasonably healthy were airlifted home as soon as possible. Many of the remainder were transferred to hospitals in Manila where they were given vitamin-supplemented diets to prepare them for the long trip home. 237-1 All who were not fortunate enough to fly back returned by sea, often on hospital ships. Ironically, one of the repatriation ships was HMCS Prince Robert, which had helped to transport C Force to Hong Kong in 1941.
The men were eventually disembarked at Victoria and went on to treatment centres for three or four weeks depending on their physical condition. One man wrote: "Apparently this was so that we could present ourselves to our families in a reasonable manner when we got back home." 238-2 The veterans were understandably anxious to get through the treatment centres as quickly as possible in order to return to civilian life. Unfortunately, despite the good intentions of the doctors in charge, many of them had no idea how these men should be cared for, and so provided little treatment beyond ensuring a maximum intake of food and vitamins. The medical authorities' lack of experience in treating tropical parasitic diseases drastically reduced the quality of treatment available. For example, many of the veterans had returned with undetected dysentery, and as there was only one doctor in Canada with experience in diagnosing the disease, these cases were neither identified nor treated. One of the more unfortunate results of this was the contraction of dysentery by wives and medical personnel who had come in contact with the infected men, some of whom suffer to this day from the effects of the disease because of the earlier neglect. 238-3 One veteran remarked that upon leaving Japan he weighed a scant 79 pounds. 238-4 His first meal consisted of six fried eggs, three pork steaks, a stack of toast, and a bowl of porridge. On the ship to Canada he kept to no proper diet, and by the time he stepped off the train in Winnipeg he weighed 179 pounds. His condition pleased the doctors of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but it turned out that he had a severe case of beriberi. Diseases such as this were not readily apparent once the veterans regained their lost weight, and therefore their discharge papers were often stamped "Discharged on Demobilization" (the war is over--you are no longer needed) with no mention of their medical problems. This later created difficulties for Hong Kong veterans who sought disability pensions for their wartime service.
After a few weeks in the treatment centres, the soldiers were given ten days with their families before being sent back to hospitals for rehabilitation that could last months, years, and, in some instances, a lifetime. Some men were simply put on exercise programs, others were admitted to a nerve hospital for psychiatric care. Some of the veterans at the nerve hospital received insulin injections to help them regain their lost weight. 238-5 Checkups were not carried out annually, although the progressive nature of many of the diseases they suffered from should have made it compulsory. Veterans developed an understandably negative attitude toward doctors as a result, and many flatly refused to seek medical attention in the future: "We are not proud people, and in my own experience I took great exception to young inexperienced, in my opinion, interns who had never been outside a textbook trying to convince me that there was nothing wrong with me and that I did not have the condition which I claimed I had." 239-6
In April of 1947, Dr. T.H. Williams, a pathologist at the Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg, published an article entitled "Intestinal Parasites--A Survey of Repatriated Hong Kong Prisoners of War" in the Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Services Bulletin. In his examination of 553 Winnipeg Grenadiers, the rate of infestation with intestinal parasites was 72%. All of the men who flew directly home or who had hitch-hiked without being held for examination and treatment at centres en route were found to harbour some form of parasite. Of the men surveyed only 28.5% showed no signs of infestation. In comparison, 56% of personnel who had returned from RCAF service in India, Ceylon, and Burma were free of parasites, while 74% of the patients back from service in North West Europe showed no infestation. The most common parasitic ailments were whipworm, hookworm, and threadworm, and multiple infestation was the rule rather than the exception. It was ten months to a year after the return to Canada before infestation was eliminated in all cases.
Nutritional deficiencies were directly responsible for avitaminosis, which afflicted every soldier returning from Hong Kong. Avitaminosis was a blanket term covering all symptoms of vitamin-related illnesses. Paraesthesia (numbness) of the extremities, especially of the feet and the legs, was one of the results of the nutritional deprivation suffered in the Japanese camps. 239-7 Varying degrees of permanent and non-progressive optic atrophy were detected in 15% of the men, and other disabilities such as undue fatigue and various gastro-intestinal, cardio-vascular, neurological, and psychiatric problems abounded. There was a high incidence of sudden, unexpected death among Hong Kong veterans, and their life expectancy was calculated to be ten to fifteen years below the national average.
In 1948 the Hong Kong Veterans Association was formed. Its members had initially envisioned a social club that would enable survivors to maintain their ties with one another. They soon discovered, however, that they were expressing common complaints and experiencing identical problems. It was not long before the Association evolved into an organization primarily concerned with obtaining from the government the benefits and compensation to which its members felt entitled. The constant flow of information which they directed toward the Department of Veterans Affairs 240-8 and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs won them sympathizers who were to aid them in their fight for fair treatment.
Even before the Standing Committee or the Association were established, a fight had begun to get the Hong Kong veterans the bonuses which had already been given other soldiers. In September of 1945 M.J. Coldwell, the leader of the CCF, requested in the House of Commons that the government reconsider its plan to award an additional allowance to the Canadian soldiers who had volunteered for service in the Pacific but never fought there due to the end of the war. Under the terms of the plan as it stood, the Hong Kong veterans were ineligible for this "Pacific Pay". Coldwell stated:
... the least we can do is to make them eligible for all special payments provided for the service in the Pacific from the day they embarked on their ill-fated expedition. The dependents of any who perished should be entitled to the payments the soldier would have received had he survived. This seems to me to be simple justice.. 240-9
For the next three years opposition members tried without success to persuade Mackenzie King's Liberal government to award Pacific Pay to the survivors of C Force. The Hon. John Bracken, Leader of the Opposition, also tried to obtain the award of a special decoration to these men, and the Minister of National Defence, the Hon. Douglas Abbot, promised that he would review the matter at some future time. For the moment, however, he was content to wait to see what other Commonwealth countries would do. 240-10 In February 1948 MP J.A. Ross revived the subject of Pacific Pay and the government at least showed some reaction, negative though it may have been. The new Minister of National Defence, the Hon. Brooke Claxton, told the House: "In view of the fact that the Pacific rate of pay was made applicable only to members of the Pacific force, it is felt that it would not be justifiable to extend it to those who served in that theatre of war under quite different conditions and at an earlier date." 240-11 The Minister apparently did not believe that the ordeal suffered by the men of C Force warranted any amendment or addition to the legislation. When Ross pursued the question once again six days later, Claxton side-stepped the issue by attacking the opposition:
It would be hard to find any better reflection of the war effort of Canada and on the war-time administration of this government than to appreciate the fact that now, after the war is over, and six years after Hong Kong, the members of the opposition revive this question as the only serious blot charged against the record of a fine country and a great people doing everything they could to play their part in defeating the enemy. 241-12
It did not seem to occur to Claxton that the victims of this "only serious blot" were all the more deserving of government assistance. In June 1948 the Vancouver Daily Province ran an editorial titled "Must they Fight Twice for Their Pay?". 241-13 "Canadians," it stated, "are ashamed of their country's failure to recognize fully the sacrifices made at Hong Kong-sacrifices that dollars can never compensate for." The editorial concluded that it was "blood money we owe these veterans and they should not have to fight twice for it." 241-14
The Veterans Association appreciated these efforts on their behalf, but were more concerned about long-term protection, and were pushing for medical studies to improve the current methods of treatment for their problems. In 1950 a research project was initiated to study the disabilities of these men. At that time there were 1,415 survivors. Over 1,000 of these were pension recipients and approximately 200 more were entitled to treatment for disability. 241-15 As their diseases progressed and formerly dormant afflictions re-awakened, the need for medical attention increased. In addition, many men suffered psychological disorders as a tragic result of their wartime experiences. Compensation and assistance were available only when these disorders were recognized as service-related. Yet many of the Hong Kong men had made a tremendous effort to re-adapt to civilian life and had grappled with their problems with the same grim determination they had shown at Wong Nei Chong Gap and Stanley Peninsula. When, years later, they were forced to admit defeat, their disorders were often not recognized as the result of their services. Therefore the Association contended that any question of the relation of psychological or emotional disturbances to wartime experience should be resolved in the veteran's favour. 241-16
In March of 1951, the Department of Veterans Affairs decided that all Hong Kong veterans with pension entitlement for avitaminosis would be admitted to the Department's hospitals for diagnosis and treatment of any illness until such time as the Chief of Services or a clinical official designated by him stated that it was not service related. Thereafter treatment could be carried out only under another section of the pension act. No other class of veterans had previously been given this privilege. It marked the first victory in the Hong Kong survivors' battle to be considered unique.
*Following the recommendation of Judge Ilsley of the War Claims Commission, the Hong Kong Veterans Association only asked for maltreatment compensation. When the monies became available, they were advised to pressure for forced labour claims.
Once this first step had been taken, other benefits followed. In October 1952 the first war claims payments were granted to Hong Kong soldiers. An Order-in-Council 242-17 awarded them one dollar per day of imprisonment as compensation for maltreatment.* (In 1958 they were awarded an additional .50 per day.) In July of 1954 all Veterans Affairs districts were instructed to establish an annual personal "after care" service which included welfare counselling, vocational guidance, training or retraining, job placement, and welfare planning. Rehabilitation programs were to be followed up to ensure each veteran's progressive adaptation to civilian life. The service was maintained for three years after which time another complete review of the situation was carried out, and the decision was made to offer this counselling only to those who had an acknowledged need for further assistance.
Through the 1950's and 1960's the Hong Kong Veterans Association continued to fight for what they considered their rights. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in May 1960, Lionel Hurd, President of the Quebec Branch of the Association, outlined the group's plan to initiate and review legislation:
One time I was having an interview with a very high official of the Pension Commission and he said that we could never get what we needed without legislation. So that is why we appeal to honourable members of the House of Commons now to see what they can do. I think that it will have to be legislation. 242-18
In a brief submitted to the Standing Committee in May 1961, the Association presented a claim for additional war claim payments of one dollar per day of imprisonment for slave labour. This would place the Canadian veterans payments on a par with the awards received by the American prisoners of war, Japanese Theatre. The Canadians had first requested these payments in December of 1959, but were informed by the Minister of Veterans Affairs of the Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative government that the War Claims Commission had been dissolved and the money in the fund largely depleted. 243-19 When their request for a breakdown of all claims paid was ignored, they sought information from the Minister of Finance through NDP member, H.W. Herridge. In March 1960 the Association was informed that the final report of the War Claims Commissioner had not yet been completed and that the information requested was not available at that time. Responding to a question by Liberal MP Paul Hellyer (for a change of pace, it was the Conservatives who were now under the gun concerning the Hong Kong veterans) the Finance Minister stated publicly that the War Claims Commission had not been dissolved, and went on to contradict the statement that the war claims fund had been depleted. The government subsequently granted the veterans' claim for slave labour compensation.
In 1963 representatives of the Hong Kong Veterans Association appeared once again before the Standing Committee. Before presenting their requests and recommendations they recounted, in considerable detail, their miseries as prisoners of war and a history of earlier attempts to improve their lot after the war. Following this justification, they asked for a review of the pensions currently being received by all Hong Kong veterans, the revival of the 1950 disability survey, annual medical checkups, and free dental and optical care. They also requested that studies be made of the effects of avitaminosis, pelagra, beriberi, and dysentery to determine the exact connection between these ailments and the present condition of many of the members. The main objective of this multi-barrelled request was to build up a sufficient amount of evidence to entitle all Canadian survivors of Japanese prisoner of war camps to an automatic pension for 50% disability, based on the residual effects of avitaminosis. The magic of the 50% figure was that this was the level at which the widows of veterans were granted widows' benefits. As a result of the Association's representations the Committee ordered a study of the problems of the Canadian Hong Kong veterans to be conducted by Dr. H.J. Richardson on behalf of the Canada Pension Commission.
David Groos, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Victoria, had become a vocal supporter of the Hong Kong veterans. As vice-chairman of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, he initiated a survey within his constituency to substantiate their claims. 243-20 In June 1964 he moved to have the Standing Committee empowered to deal with the circumstances of the Hong Kong veterans and reported the opinions of the survivors on special measures that could be undertaken to alleviate the disabilities resulting from their internment. Speaking on this motion Groos said:
I am a veteran and I take the view-I think it is shared by a great many other veterans-that a man has little claim on his country because of what might have happened to him in uniform, but I do earnestly believe that the nation owes at the very least a decent life to veterans who did suffer lasting damage as a result of service in their country's cause.
I believe we owe it to these men to pass the motion now before the House in order that we may establish the facts in order that we may show these men [Hong Kong veterans] that we are interested in their difficulties and are prepared to grapple with their problems. 244-21
The motion was debated but no vote was taken. It was pointed out in the course of the debate that a study was already in progress, and that Dr. Richardson's report was expected to be tabled shortly.
The findings of both the Groos survey and the Richardson Report, which was submitted in 1965, supported the claim of the Hong Kong Veterans Association. 244-22 As Dr. Richardson quoted in his report:
The psychological stresses to which the Hong Kong veterans were subjected during their period of imprisonment were severe and long continued. Four years of rough treatment, beatings, and constant threat of torture in many forms, stress of undernourishment, inadequate clothing along with forced labour under intolerable conditions have left hidden personality scars which continue to lower the veterans ability to adjust to normal civilian life. Even cursory observation of many of these veterans today will verify the permanent damage that was suffered under deplorable conditions experienced by no other prisoner of war. 244-23
Dr. Richardson found that the death rate of the Hong Kong survivors was 23% higher than that of veterans who had served in other theatres. One in nineteen Hong Kong veterans had gone blind since returning to Canada, and one in five suffered from heart disease and hypertension. Three quarters of those who received pensions had been assessed at less than 48% disability, and their dependents were therefore ineligible for benefits. Many of these men were unemployed because of their inability to compete on the job market, and although they had not offered their services to Canada for monetary reward, they had assumed that if the effects of their service prevented their earning a living their dependents would be provided for. 244-24 Problems were not only physical, however, and imprisonment had left a permanent mark on the minds of many of the survivors. One man still saved scraps of bread as he had in prison camp, even though his monthly income exceeded $400.
Dr. Richardson's report to the Pension Commission concluded:
Twenty years after the liberation of these men from 44 months captivity, there is conclusive evidence in medical literature and/or in this report of the nature and course of some of the disabilities, such as optic atrophy, neurological, muscular, and minor circulatory defects of the feet and legs, inferior dental health, and an abnormally high death rate from coronary artery (A.S.H.D.) disease. There is impressive evidence though not conclusive in the statistical sense of widespread gastro-intestinal, neuro-muscular, cardiovascular and nervous symptoms, and fatigue disproportionate [to] identifiable physical factors. The extent to which such symptoms are due to organic diseases cannot be determined but the reality of the symptoms and of a disability of greater or lesser degree is not in doubt.
While further study of some of these problems will undoubtedly be required in the future, the public responsibility under existing legislation can, in my view, be adequately discharged only by a sympathetic and generous policy based on the information now available. To wait any longer would be to wait too long. 245-25
The report recommended the review of individual disability assessments as soon as possible, as well as an effective date for a pension rate increase over and above anything awarded because of reassessment. The request for a minimum pension level was supported by Dr. Richardson; it was not up to the Committee to initiate legislation that would encompass the recommendations. There was still a period of waiting ahead for the veterans.
One of the 148 recommendations contained in a report submitted in 1969 by a committee established to survey the work and organization of the Canadian Pension Commission (the Woods Report) concerned the pension request of the Hong Kong veterans. Its recommendation, based on the Richardson report, was that any Hong Kong veterans who demonstrated any disability whatsoever should be awarded a 50% disability pension. What the report proposed, in essence, was that service in Hong Kong should automatically entitle the veterans to be treated as disabled. They had endured four years as prisoners in exceptionally arduous circumstances and should be regarded as deserving of a pension under the cited conditions as a matter of right. 245-26
Finally, by January 1971, the government was willing to acknowledge the special service of Hong Kong veterans who had died prior to the effective date of the pension act. Their deaths were to be automatically attributed to their service, thereby making their widows and dependents eligible for pensions. The legislation did not apply solely to the Hong Kong veterans, but to all Canadian servicemen who had been captured by the Japanese and held prisoner for a year or more. The Hong Kong Veterans Association had worked hard for over 25 years to obtain this final adjudication, devoting their time unceasingly to the effort and returning to the struggle despite repeated disappointments. Maurice D'Avignon, President of the Quebec Maritime Branch of the Hong Kong Veterans Association, expressed the common emotion when he spoke to the Standing Committee the following year:
Then last year [1971] our dream became a reality when legislation to amend the Pension Act was passed. This in itself was a blessing to our widows, dependents, and orphans not receiving war pension and to our Hong Kong survivors below 50% prior to March 30, 1971.
The ironic twist of fate for these men is that in death they know their families will be provided for. In life this satisfaction is denied them. 246-27
In April 1976 the last hurdle was surmounted when the government generously gave Hong Kong veterans with assessed disabilities an additional 30% pension. Each man therefore collected a minimum 80% pension. It was not until after the Hermann Report on Second World War POW's that other veterans who had been taken prisoner, such as those captured at Dieppe, were awarded a minimum 20% addition.
In the immediate post-war years the government exhibited all the defensive reactions of an uneasy conscience as far as the Hong Kong veterans were concerned. The shabby episode of the Pacific Pay entitlement occurred at a time when the government was desperately trying to hold the lid down to prevent the whole Hong Kong issue from boiling over again. Unfortunately, the current status of the C Force men was lumped in with other aspects of the controversy.
It is interesting to speculate as to what might have happened if the government had had the courage and integrity to come straight out and admit their responsibility and had thereafter tried to compensate the Hong Kong veterans for the hardships they endured. Possibly the Hong Kong Veterans Association would have remained a social organization. But admission of error has never been a dominant characteristic of politicians, and it took many years of effort and pressure by the Veterans Association, aided by sympathizers in Parliament and by officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs (who have rarely received the acknowledgment they deserve), before full acknowledgment or compensation for their needs was received.
The Hong Kong Veterans Association still exists. Its members, a diminishing band of aging men, still bear the external and internal scars of their experience. Few would now recognize that these were once the fine young men of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers who were so casually despatched to the doomed outpost of Hong Kong over forty years ago.