Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Edward Allan Bowman and Lily May Shafer. Husband of Margaret Azilda Malone, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He served with the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers – NPAM – from 1 March 1933 to 1 September 1939, then with the regular forces of that regiment in Manitoba, in Jamaica with Force Y, in Hong Kong with Force C. He had 838 days of service, including 59 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN 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.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN 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 8, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN was also reported to have been Killed in Action in this article published in the Globe and Mail on January 7, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
This contains excerpts from a long article in the Globe and Mail published on September 8, 1945, which provides some background on the situation in Hong Kong prior to the battle and, in the right hand column, an account of fighting by the Winnegeg Grenadiers on December 19, 1941 in whch over 60 members of the regiment, including Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN were killed.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
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 Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN lie 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.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
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.
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Captain Alan Shafer Bowman
From the Toronto Star December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
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In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN 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.
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Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN 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 8, 1943.
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Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN was also reported to have been Killed in Action in this article published in the Globe and Mail on January 7, 1943.
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This contains excerpts from a long article in the Globe and Mail published on September 8, 1945, which provides some background on the situation in Hong Kong prior to the battle and, in the right hand column, an account of fighting by the Winnegeg Grenadiers on December 19, 1941 in whch over 60 members of the regiment, including Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN were killed.
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Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
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Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
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Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
-
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 Captain ALAN SHAFER BOWMAN lie 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.
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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.
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Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 24 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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SAI WAN MEMORIAL Victoria, Hong Kong
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.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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