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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Harry Orvis

In memory of:

Private Harry Orvis

December 27, 1941
King George Hospital, Hong Kong

Military Service


Service Number:

H/6932

Age:

22

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.

Additional Information


Born:

August 2, 1919
Balsam Bay, Manitoba

Enlistment:

April 24, 1941
Winnipeg, Manitoba

He was born as Harry Nelson Orvis.

Son of David Orvis and Annabelle Donald of Grand Marais, Manitoba.

Enrolled in the Winnipeg Light Infantry - NPAM - regimental number H-501004 under the 1940 NRMA, he served from November 22nd to December 21st, 1940, then with the 1st Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers in Manitoba, Jamaica with Y Force and Hong Kong with C Force. He had 248 days of service, including 61 overseas.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Orvis Lake located west of Nueltin Lake in his honor in 1972.

Commemorated on Page 40 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

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  • Photo of HARRY ORVIS– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Private HARRY ORVIS is one of 27 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial.  He died of wounds substained during the defense of Hong Kong which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.  In total, 290 Canadian soldiers were killed and 493 were wounded in this battle.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Private HARRY ORVIS was reported to have died while a prisoner of war in the Canadian Army's 107th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on May 28, 1942.
  • 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.
  • Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong– Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
  • Canadian Casuatlies in the Defence of Hong Kong– Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
  • 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 in Section 9 Row D.  There is a possibility that the remains of Private HARRY ORVIS lie beneath this grave marker.  The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
  • Photo of HARRY ORVIS– 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.

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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