Military service
Burial/memorial information
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.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Private Harry Orvis
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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. -
Photo of HARRY ORVIS
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
Digital gallery of
Private Harry Orvis
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 40 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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