Military service
Burial/memorial information
He served in Ontario with the 1st Battalion, Lake Superior Regiment from 23 July 1941 to 22 October 1941, when he was deployed to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers, in Manitoba, and posted to Force C to fight in Hong Kong. He had 150 days of service, including 53 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Private William Laurence Atkinson
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Memorial
Private WILLIAM LAURENCE ATKINSON 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. -
Newspaper Clipping
Private WILLIAM LAURENCE ATKINSON was reported to be Missing in Action in the Canadian Army's 243rd 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. -
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 WILLIAM LAURENCE ATKINSON lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial. -
Honour Roll
Hall of Honour
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
Digital gallery of
Private William Laurence Atkinson
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 22 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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