Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 2, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba A4 local dec Murm 2000 old soldiers fading away Between Hong Kong trips by Doug Nairne Hong Kong a delegation of Canadian veterans has made what May be their last trip to Hong 59 years after they fought to defend the former British Colony from the invading its a trip Many of the elderly men and their families have made but one that few will be Able to make Well keep coming Here As Long As we but weve All got health problems that make it difficult to keep travelling All this said Harry a Winnipeg Grenadier and one of the youngest surviving but ill try to come even if they have to push me in a it was in Hong Kong that Canadian sol Diers were first bloodied in the second world at the request of the Canada sent soldiers from the grenadiers and the Quebec Cit based Royal rifles of Canada to bolster the colons the fighting claimed the lives of 290 canadians and 264 More died under brutal conditions in Japan Ese prisoners War since a delegation from the two units has come to Hong Kong every five years to visit the battlefields where Commonwealth troops each visit includes a pilgrimage to the Graves of their fallen 283 of whom Are buried at Sai wan War its an emotionally painful but one the men say they feel compelled to carry on As Long As they we want the fellas who didst make it to know that we Haven forgotten said who is National president of the Hong Kong veterans association of we May not shed any tears for them on the but we have tears on the particularly for the Guys who died As prisoners of time is relentlessly doing to the grenadiers what the War and 44 months of suffering in japanese Force labour Camps of the canadians who made it Home in Only 275 Are still another 75 die each the average age of a Canadian Hong Kong Veteran is now i think wed be doing really Well to have 100 members left in five said Only 20 made the trip this a Frac Tion of the number who attended in if the veterans Are unable to return to Hong Kong in a group organized by their children and grandchildren has agreed to carry on the like Many historic military the grenadiers no longer exist except As a Cadet corps for Young Steven a member of the grenadiers said he values the memories his unit represents for the vet its the last thing they have he it makes us feel like even though we we rent Trach and three other Grenadier cadets from Winnipeg Are part of the delegation in Hong the group is led by Gildas speaker of the sen and includes a number of veterans family they will take part in commemorative ceremonies at the Sai wan War Ceme Tery and Stanley military cemetery in Hong and the Yokohama British War cemetery in Japan before return ing to Canada on Atkinson said he has missed Only one r k r i Osborn continued from Page a1 Sale on now while quantities table Westminster r3c 4k9 Harry Atkinson visits his brother Ronalds grave above on each pilgrimage to Hong the first when he was too Busy to get away from his brother Ronald is buried at Sai and each visit includes time at the grave and a trek to the spot where he and his com rades made their last stand before being but if the grenadiers do come Back in a familiar face could be while he is Spry and has a near photo graphic recollection of everything that happened to him during the Atkin son has a new enemy to fight lung if the japs kill me in 44 there is no Way that in going to let cancer do he defiantly Light ing another of the cigarettes that led him to his current but ill beat just like i beat Osborn was 52 years old when the battalion was sent to Hong Kong in 1941 As part of a Force made up of the Royal rifles of Canada and a Small brigade they arrived Only two weeks before the Japan Ese on in the heat of the Osborn led a Bayonet charge against a japanese Force on Hong Kong islands mount Butler and recaptured the strategic but he and a detachment of including were soon Cut off and As the japanese threw grenades into their Osborn picked them up and threw them when one fell beyond his he shoved another Soldier aside and threw himself on the Atkinson said he was shooting a Bren gun at the advancing japanese a Short distance away from where Osborn and the other canadians were he heard the explosions As the grenades went then that was he was Atkinson a few hours Atkinson and his comrades were after the when the surviving grenadiers told the Story of Osborne he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross the highest recognition available for bravery during the site on mount Butler where Osborn died is now part of a Park and was unmarked and overgrown with Trees the last time the Veter ans visited the site in it ideas Uumo casual Fine clothing for men limited time Only 30 off 4757244 email Holiday hours monday Friday 98 saturday 9 6 sunday 1 5 up to Lee denture clinic 274 Smith Portage Graham Avenue 9434048 9437639 personalized denture service to the Public since 1955 we accept All denial insurance i Hospital 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