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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Charles Duncan French

In memory of:

Lieutenant Charles Duncan French

December 19, 1941
Hong Kong

Military Service


Age:

20

Force:

Army

Unit:

Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal Hong Kong Bar.

Additional Information


Born:

March 7, 1921
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

January 10, 1941
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Son of Charles Duncan French and Clara Elizabeth Nowell of Norwood Grove, Manitoba. Charles fought in France during the First World War with the 12th Engineer Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 3346231. Enrolled as a Second Lieutenant on July 18th, 1940 in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, posted to the regular forces of that regiment on January 10th, 1941, transferred to the 1st Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers on October 18th, 1941 as a Lieutenant. Served in Manitoba, Hong Kong with C Force.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named French Island located on the Winnipeg River in Pinawa in his honor in 1973.

Commemorated on Page 30 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

SAI WAN MEMORIAL
Victoria, Hong Kong

Grave Reference:

Column 26.

Location:

This SAI WAN MEMORIAL honours over 2,000 men of the land forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who died in the defence of Hong Kong during the Second World War. The SAI WAN MEMORIAL is in the form of a shelter building 24 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. It stands at the entrance to Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery, outside Victoria, the capital of Hong Kong. From the semi-circular forecourt, two wide openings lead to the interior of the building. The names are inscribed on panels of Portland stone. The dedicatory inscription reads:


1939 - 1945 The officers and men whose memory is honoured here died in the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941 and in the ensuing years of captivity and have no known grave.

The northern side of the Memorial is open and four granite piers support the copper roof. From a commanding position 305 metres above sea level, it looks out over the War Cemetery where some 1,500 men lie buried, and across the water to Mainland China - a magnificent view of sea and mountains. The Cape Collinson area has many cemeteries. Walking up this narrow one-way traffic road, one will pass the Catholic Cemetery situated on the hillside to the left of the road, and the Hong Kong Military Cemetery on the right. Sai Wan War Cemetery is about half way up Cape Collinson Road and faces the Muslim and Buddhist cemeteries. One can also get a taxi from Chai Wan Terminus and follow the same route. Alternatively, one can board a public light bus, Route No.16M, which runs from Chai Wan MTR Terminus to Stanley. En route to Stanley the minibus will pass Sai Wan War Cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH– In memory of those who served in Hong Kong during World War 11 and did not come home. Submitted with permission on behalf of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association by Operation: Picture Me.
  • Newspaper Clipping– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Attestation papers– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Lieutenant CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH was reported to have been Killed in Action in the Canadian Army's 243rd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 13, 1943.
  • Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong– Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
  • Canadian Casuatlies in the Defence of Hong Kong– Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
  • Memorial– Lieutenant CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH is one of 18 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial.  He was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
  • Dedicatory Inscription of the Sai Wan Memorial– Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL.  This memorial  bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
  • Unknown Marker– The Sai Wan Memorial is located at the entrance of Sai Wan Cemetery.  1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War are buried or commemorated at this  cemetery, of which 444 of the burials are the remains of unidentified soldiers, including those of 107 Canadian soldiers, most of whom were killed or died of wounds during the defense of Hong Kong, which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. This is one such grave marker.  There is a possibility that the remains of Lieutenant CHARLES DUNCAN FRENCH beneath this grave marker, or one of the other 106 grave markers in Sai Wan Cemetery that simply read, A SOLDIER OF THE 1939-1945 WAR.  A  CANADIAN REGIMENT.  KNOWN UNTO GOD.  The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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