Military service
Burial/memorial information
Brother of Private Riley Erwin Prieston, regimental number H-41803, Winnipeg Grenadiers, prisoner of war in Hong Kong, who survived the war, and Private Felix Albert Prieston (enlisted as Preaston), regimental number H-17554, killed in action in Normandy, France, on June 10th, 1944 with the Regina Rifle Regiment.
He enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and served in Manitoba and Ontario before transferring to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers on October 21st, 1941 to fight in Hong Kong with "C" Force. He had 190 days of service, including 54 overseas.
To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Prieston Lake located southeast of Swan River near Wellman Lake in his honor in 1973.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Private William Alfred Prieston
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Inscription
Private WILLIAM ALFRED PRIESTON 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 was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. -
Newspaper Clipping
Private WILLIAM ALFRED PRIESTON was reported Killed in Action, in the Canadian Army's 242nd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 1943. -
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. -
Photo of William Prieston
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 WILLIAM ALFRED PRIESTON
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
Digital gallery of
Private William Alfred Prieston
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 42 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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