Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of William Gebbie Aitken and Elizabeth Ann Montgomery, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Husband of Jessie Pearl Gordon, of St. James, Manitoba. Father of Robert William and Gordon Montgomery Aitken. Brother of William Gebbie Aitken, service number H-6429, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, who served overseas during the Second World War and survived.
John Aird served in Manitoba with the 90th Winnipeg Rifles – NPAM – from 1928 to 1930, with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Jamaica with Force Y, in Manitoba, in Hong Kong with Force C. He had 823 days of service, including 79 overseas.
Digital gallery of Private John Aird Aitken
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Photo of JOHN AIRD AITKEN
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
Private JOHN AIRD AITKEN was reported to have been 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. -
Honour Roll
Honour Roll -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
Canadian Casuatlies in the Defence of Hong Kong
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
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. -
Memorial
Private JOHN AIRD AITKEN is one of 30 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. -
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 Private JOHN AIRD AITKEN lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
Digital gallery of
Private John Aird Aitken
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 22 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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