The Aftermath of the Defence of Hong Kong
The aftermath of the Canadian defence of Hong Kong against the Japanese was tragic and immense. 290 Canadian soldiers were killed, and 493 others were wounded.
After surrender, many soldiers were taken as POWs (prisoners of war) by the Japanese. For more than three and a half years, Canadian POWs were imprisoned, starved, forced to work 12 hour days in filthy, inhumane conditions, and treated both brutally and cruelly. In the end, more than 550 of the 1,975 Canadians who sailed from Vancouver in 1941 never returned. |
"The Canadians at Hong Kong fought against overwhelming odds and displayed the courage of seasoned veterans, though most had limited military training.
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