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Sergeant Gander

Page 18

by Robyn Walker

3. Hong Kong Veterans’ Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong:1941–1945 (Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001), 24.

  4. Carl Vincent, No Reason Why, 6.

  5. From www.hkvca.ca/historical/accounts/ca–doret.htm, accessed on December 3, 2008.

  6. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941– 1945: 35.

  7. Ibid., 35.

  8. Carl Vincent, No Reason Why (Stittsville, ON: Canada’s Wings Inc., 1981), 109.

  9. Oliver Lindsay, The Lasting Honour: The Fall of Hong Kong, 1941 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1978), 17.

  10. Interview with Rifleman John Beebe, available at www.geocities.com/rcwpca/index-8.html, accessed on December 3, 2008.

  11. Ted Ferguson, Desperate Siege: The Battle of Hong Kong (Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1980), ix.

  12. Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong: 1941–1945 (Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001), 15.

  13. Terrence and Brian McKenna, The Valour and the Horror: Savage Christmas Hong Kong 1941, CBC Television, 1992.

  14. Ibid.

  15. MacDonell, One Soldier’s Story, 1939–1945 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2002), 48.

  16. CBC Radio Broadcast, available at archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/veterans/topics/1039-5847/, broadcast on August 11, 2000.

  17. Ted Ferguson, Desperate Siege: The Battle of Hong Kong (Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1980), ix.

  18. Regimental war diaries are notes written as events happen, often quickly jotted with no time for reflection. The War Diary of the Royal Rifles is held by the Canadian Department of Defence/Directorate of History.

  19. Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong: 1941–1945 (Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001),16.

  20. Ibid., 43.

  21. Ibid.

  20. Ibid.

  Chapter 5: The Battle Rages

  1. The American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was the target of a surprise attack conducted by the Japanese navy on December 7, 1941. The attack was conducted before a formal declaration of war by Japan. This act brought the United States into the Second World War.

  2. Ted Ferguson, Desperate Siege: The Battle of Hong Kong (Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1980), 45.

  3. Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong: 1941–1945 (Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001), 45.

  4. Ibid., 36.

  5. Ibid., 52.

  6. Ibid., 53.

  7. Ibid., 52.

  8. Ibid., 54.

  9. Ibid., 54.

  10. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1941 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997), 69.

  11. Ibid., 69.

  12. Excerpt from Rifleman Sydney Skelton’s diary, available at www.geocities.com/rcwpca/index-13.html, accessed on December 4, 2008.

  13. Isabel George, “Dog of War,” Companions Magazine, Issue 16 (Spring 2001), 31.

  14. Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong: 1941–1945 (Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001), 61.

  15. CBC Radio Broadcast, available at http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/veterans/topics/1039-5847/, broadcast on August 11, 2000.

  16. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1941 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997), 75.

  17. Isabel George, “Dog of War,” Companions Magazine, Issue 16 (Spring 2001), 31.

  18. Ibid., 31.

  19. Tony Banham, Not the Slightest Chance: The Defence of Hong Kong, 1941 (Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2003), 114.

  20. CBC Radio Broadcast, available at http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/veterans/topics/1039-5847/, broadcast on August 11, 2000.

  21. Ibid.

  22. Ibid.

  23. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1941 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997), 97.

  24. Ibid., 97.

  25. Ibid., 98.

  26. MacDonell, One Soldier’s Story, 1939–1945 (TorontoDundurn Press, 2002), 48.

  27. The Geneva Convention of 1929 was drawn up by the International Committee of the Red Cross specifically to address the treatment of prisoners of war. Geneva Conventions and their amendments are international treaties that outline the rules limiting the barbarity of war. They protect non combatants (i.e., civilians, medics) and those who are no longer able to fight (i.e., wounded, prisoners), and are universally accepted. They are a cornerstone of international humanitarian law and have currently been ratified by 194 countries. See www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/ht–mlall/genevaconventions, accessed on May 25, 2009.

  28. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1941 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997), 75.

  29. Carl Vincent, No Reason Why (Stittsville, ON: Canada’s Wings Inc., 1981), 211.

  30. Brereton Greenhous, “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1941 (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997), 118.

  31. Carl Vincent, No Reason Why (Stittsville, ON: Canada’s Wings Inc., 1981), 214.

  Chapter 6: Gander Gets His Medal

  1. From www.hkvca.ca/aboutus/hkvahist.htm, accessed on January 3, 2009.

  2. Ibid.

  3. From www.pdsa.org.uk/mariadickin.html, accessed on January 3, 2009.

  6. Isabel George, “Dog of War,” Companions Magazine, Issue 16 (Spring 2001), 32.

  4. Ibid.

  5. From www.pdsa.org.uk/dickinmedal.html, accessed on January 2, 2009.

  7. “Heroic Dog of Hong Kong Recognized,” Legion Magazine, January 11, 2001.

  8. Isabel George, “Dog of War,” Companions Magazine, Issue 16 (Spring 2001), 32.

  9. Buzz Bourdon, “Dog’s War Medal Praised as One of ‘Most Deserving’,” The Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2000.

  Chapter 7: Animals at War

  1. Fromhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4037873.stm, accessed on January 4, 2009.

  2. Val Shushkewich, The Real Winnie: A One-of-a-Kind Bear (Toronto: Natural Heritage Books, 2003), 22.

  3. From www.vac-acc.gc.ca/youth/sub.cfm?source=feature/week2006/vw_edres/animalswar_news/page5, accessed on December 18, 2008.

  4. Ibid.

  5. Evelyn Le Chene, Silent Heroes: The Bravery and Devotion of Animals in War (London: Souvenir Press, 1994), 96.

  Bibliography

  Articles

  Bourden, Buzz. “Dog’s War Medal Praised as One of ‘Most Deserving’.” Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2000.

  Dick, Ray. “Heroic Newfoundland Dog Awarded Animal VC.” Legion Magazine (November/December 2000), 56.

  George, Isabel. “Dog of War.” Companions, Issue 16, (Spring 2001), 30–32.

  Books

  Axelrod, Alan. Encyclopedia of World War II. NewYork: Facts on File, 2007.

  Cambon, Ken. Guest of Hirohito. Vancouver: PW Press, 1990.

  Carew, Tim. The Fall of Hong Kong. London: Blond, 1960.

  Banham, Tony. Not the Slightest Chance: The Defence of Hong Kong, 1941. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2003.

  Ferguson, Ted. Desperate Siege: The Battle of Hong Kong. Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1980.

  George, Isabel, et al. Animals at War. London: Usborne Publishing, 2006.

  Greenhous, Brereton. “C” Force to Hong Kong:A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941–1945. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997.

  Herstein, H.H., et al. Challenge and Survival:The History of Canada. Toronto: Prentice- Hall of Canada, 1970.

  Hong Kong Veterans’ Association. The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong: 1941– 1945. Carp, ON: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Co., 2001.

  Le Chene, Evelyn. Silent Heroes: The Bravery and Devotion of Animals in War. London: Souvenir Press, 1994.

  Lewis, Val. Ships’ Cats in War and Peace. Middlesex: Nauticalia Ltd., 2001.

  Lindsay, Oliver. The Lasting Honour: The Fall of Hong Kong, 19
41. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1978.

  Lord, Walter. The Miracle of Dunkirk. New York: Viking Press, 1982.

  MacDonell, George. One Soldier’s Story, 1939– 1945. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2002.

  Veterans Affairs Canada. Canadians in Hong Kong. Ottawa: Veterans Affairs Canada, 2005.

  Vincent, Carl. No Reason Why: The Canadian Hong Kong Tragedy. Stittsville, ON: Canada’s Wings Inc., 1981.

  Videos

  McKenna, Brian and Terrence (writers), “Savage Christmas: Hong Kong 1941,” Television Documentary: The Valour and the Horror. Story by D’Arcy O’Connor, National Film Board of Canada, 1992.

  Websites (accessed over 2008–09)

  “Animal Attraction.” http://animalattraction.com/.

  “Hong Kong Veterans Award Bravery Medal to Dog.” http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/veterans/clips/5847/.

  “Canine War Hero.” www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/08/11/nf_gander000811.html.

  “Major Maurice A. Parker.” www.geocities.com/rcwpca/index.html.

  “HMCS Prince Robert Tribute.” http://airmuseum.ca/rcn/prsellers.html.

  “Hong Kong Veterans’ Commemorative Association.” www.hkvca.ca.

  “International Committee of the Red Cross.” www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/genevaconventions.

  “Library and Archives Canada.” http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/.

  “The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.”www.lancastermuseum.ca/bcatp.html.

  “Guard Dogs: Newfoundlands’ Lifesaving Past, Present.” http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0207_030207_newfies..html.

  “Newfound Friends.” www.newfoundfriendsco.uk/.

  “Newfoundland/Labrador Heritage.” www.heri–tage.nf.ca.

  “North Atlantic Aviation Museum.” www.naam.ca.

  “People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.” www.pdsa.org.uk.

  “Purr-n-Fur UK.” www.purr-n-fur.org.uk.

  “United Kennel Club.” www.ukcdogs.com.

  “Veterans Affairs Canada.” www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

  Other Sources

  Email correspondence with Eileen Elms, former Gander playmate, October to December 2008.

  Email correspondence with Isabel George, PDSA, 2008–09.

  Email correspondence with Derrill Henderson, President HKVCA, 2008.

  Email correspondence with Ron Parker, son of Major Maurice Parker of the Royal Rifles, 2007–08.

  Interview and emails with Jeremey Swanson, former Canadian War Museum Commemorations Officer, 2006–08.

  Email correspondence with Jim Trick, Secretary HKVCA, 2007–08.

  Index

  A

  All Alone, DM, 107

  Allied Forces Mascot Club, 82, 85

  Animals War Memorial, 81

  Anti-Comintern Pact, 34

  Antis, DM, 101

  Appollo, DM, 101

  Australian War Memorial, 84

  B

  Barnett, Captain James, 59

  Beachcomber, DM, 103

  Beauty, DM, 94, 95, 97

  Beaverbrook, Lord, 28

  Beebe, Rifleman John (RRC), 50

  Bell, Rifleman William (WG), 33

  Billy, DM, 105

  Bishop, Major Wells Arnold (RRC), 61

  Black Watch regiment, 23

  Boatswain, 18, 19

  Bob, DM, 97

  Bonfire, 89, 90

  Botwood, Newfoundland, 26

  Bowhill, Sir Frederick, 28

  Bradley, Lieutenant Bill (RRC), 65, 67

  Brian, DM, 100

  British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 28

  British Expeditionary Force (BEF), 13, 37

  Broad Arrow, DM, 106

  Brooke-Popham, Sir Robert, 32

  Bush, Captain Howard (WG), 44

  Buster, DM, 102 Byron, Lord, 18

  C

  Cadoret, Rifleman Bruce (RRC), 47

  Cambon, Rifleman Ken (RRC), 44, 48

  Canadian Dental Corps, 40

  Canadian Postal Corps, 41

  Canadian War Museum (Ontario), 9, 10, 74, 80

  Chafe, Joan, 25

  China, 13, 31, 32, 34, 35, 54, 55

  Chinese civilians, 46, 53, 54, 64

  Churchill, Prime Minister Winston, 24, 27, 31, 32

  Colebourn, Lieutenant Harry, 86, 88, 89

  Cologne, DM, 108

  Commando, DM, 105

  Clayton, Sergeant Robert, 10

  Crerar, General Henry Duncan Graham, 37

  Cyr, Rifleman Roger (RRC), 11, 12

  D

  Devil’s Peak, Hong Kong, 56, 57, 62

  Dickin, Maria, 75–77, 91

  Dickin Medal, 11, 15, 77, 78, 91–96

  Doddridge, Rifleman Phil (RRC), 38

  Duke of Normandy, DM, 107

  Dunkirk, 37, 45

  Dutch Coast, DM, 104

  E

  Elms, Eileen (née Chafe), 21, 25, 26, 77

  F

  Ferry Command, 23, 24, 28, 29

  Flying Dutchman, DM, 104

  Fraser, Douglas, 21

  Friesen, Rifleman Ike (WG), 54

  G

  Gander Airport (RCAF Gander), 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 30

  Gander, Newfoundland, 17, 20

  Gander, Sergeant, DM, 2, 9–12, 15, 20, 26, 30, 31, 38, 39, 41, 43, 47, 48, 51, 54, 58, 60, 61, 63–67, 70, 73–75, 78–80, 86, 96, 101, see also Pal

  Gavey, Captain J.A. (RRC), 65, 67

  Geneva Convention, 68

  GI Joe, DM, 104

  Gin Drinkers Line, 55, 56, 60

  Grasett, Major General Arthur Edward, 32

  Gustav, DM, 104

  Guy, Sir Roland, 78

  H

  Hairy Dog (Newfoundland dog), 19

  Halifax, 23, 40

  Hayden family, 17, 25, 26

  Hennessy, Colonel Pat (WG), 44

  Henrik, Jan, 48

  Hitler, Adolf, 13, 162

  HMCS Prince Robert, 40–43, 48, 49, 70

  HMS Amethyst, 93

  HMS Danae, 45

  Hong Kong, crown colony of, 15, 31–35, 37, 43, 45–47, 49, 54, 56, 60

  Hong Kong Island, 46, 47, 56, 60, 61, 64, 68

  Hong Kong Veterans’ Association, 11, 15, 71, 73, 77, 78

  Hong Kong Veterans’ Commemorative

  Association, 71, 73

  Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, 49, 58

  Hong Kong Mule Corps, 49

  Hurd, Captain Edmund Lionel (RRC), 59

  I

  Ilford Cemetery, 95

  Irma, DM, 92, 94, 97

  Irvine, Rifleman Gordon (RRC), 67

  Island Brigade, 54, 56

  J

  Jamaica, 33

  Jet, DM, 97

  Judy, DM, 99

  K

  Kai Tek Airport, Hong Kong, 51, 55, 60

  Kelly, Rifleman Fred (RRC), 30, 31, 38–40, 51, 54, 64–67, 76–78

  Kenley Lass, DM, 104

  King, Prime Minister Mackenzie, 24, 26, 27

  Kirkpatrick, John Simpson, 82–84

  Kowloon, Hong Kong, 46–48, 53, 55, 56, 59, 60

  L

  Labrador, Newfoundland, 21, 23, 28

  Law, Rifleman Reginald (RRC), 64, 65

  Lawson, Brigadier J.K., 31, 33, 37, 40, 44, 56

  Lucky, DM, 102

  Lye Mun, Hong Kong Island, 58, 60, 61, 64

  Lye Mun Barracks, Hong Kong Island, 57, 63,

  66

  Lye Mun Passage, 52, 56, 57, 61, 62

  Lynch, Private Wilf (WG), 52 Lyndon, Major C.A. (WG), 44, 45

  M

  MacDonell, Sergeant George (RRC), 30, 31, 40, 54, 70

  Maltby, Major General C.M., 50, 54, 60

  Manchester, Sergeant Bob (WG), 10, 12

  Mainland Brigade, 54, 55

  Maquis, DM, 106

  Mary of Exeter, DM, 92, 106, 107

  McCrae, Doctor/Lieutenant Colonel John, 89, 90

  Mercury, DM, 107

  Middlesex Regiment, 1st Battalion, 50, 56, 58

  Milne, Christopher Robin,
89

  Montreal, 23

  Murphy, the donkey, 82–84

  N

  Navy Blue, DM, 104

  Newfoundland, Dominion of, 17, 20–22, 75

  New Territories, Hong Kong, 46, 47, 55, 56, 60

  Niimi, Vice Admiral Masaichi, 61

  North Point Camp, 68

  O

  Olga, DM, 108

  Osborn, Sergeant Major John, VC, 10, 72, 73, 74, 96

  P

  Paddy, DM, 104

  Pal, 17, 20, 24, 25, see also Gander

  Pat (Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s dog), 27

  Pearl Harbor, 45, 59

  People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA),

  11, 75–78, 80, 85 Peter, DM, 99, 100

  Phillips, Rear Admiral Tom, 32

  Pigeon DD.43.Q.879, DM, 108

  Pigeon DD.43.T.139, DM, 108

  Pigeon NPS.42.NS.2780, DM, 106

  Pigeon NPS.42.NS.7524, DM, 106

  Pigeon NURP.38.BPC.6, DM, 107

  Pigeon NURP.43.CC.1418, DM, 107

  Princess, DM, 107

  Prisoner of War (POW) Camps, 15, 68, 70

  Punch and Judy, DM, 99, 100

  Punjabis, 2/14th, 50, 55, 58, 60

  Q

  Quebec City, 30, 39, 40

  Queenie (Winnipeg Grenadier dog), 33

  R

  Rajputs, 5/7th, 50, 55, 58, 61

  Ratcliffe, Mike, 25

  Regal, DM, 109

  Rex, DM, 99

  Ricky, DM, 100, 101

  Rifleman Khan, DM, 98

  Rimouski, Quebec, 23

  Rip, DM, 98, 99

  Rob, DM, 97

  Roosevelt, President Franklin Delano, 27, 35

  Royal Air Force (RAF), 17, 23, 28, 37, 51, 60

  Royal Artillery, 49

  Royal Blue, DM, 105

  Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), 20, 23, 28

  Royal Engineers, 49

  Royal Navy, 37, 46, 49, 51, 68

  Royal Rifles of Canada, 11, 15, 26, 30, 31, 33, 37, 38, 40–42, 48, 54–62, 65, 66, 68, 73, 74, 78, see also Appendix B and C Royal Scots, 2nd Battalion, 50, 55, 58

  Ruhr Express, DM, 105

  Rydstrom, Marilyn, 78

  S

  Sadie, DM, 103

  Sai Wan Fort, Hong Kong Island, 66, 67

  Saint John, New Brunswick, 31

  Sakai, General Takashi, 61

  Salty and Roselle, DM, 101

  Sam, DM, 102

  Scotch Lass, DM, 105

  Sham Shui Po Barracks (and POW Camp), 47, 53, 54, 59, 68, 69

  Sheila, DM, 99

  Simon, DM, 93, 109

  Singapore, 15, 46

  Shell Oil Company, 17

  Skelton, Rifleman Sydney (RRC), 41, 44, 45, 62

  St. John Ambulance Brigade, 49

 

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