Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Joseph Edmond Chaboyer and Marie Emma Ducharme, of St. Laurent, Manitoba. Husband of Rose Coutu. Cousin of Privates Chrysostôme Chaboyer, who fought in Europe, and of Wilfrid Chaboyer, service number H-41693, Winnipeg Grenadiers, prisoner of war in Hong Kong, both survived the war, and cousin of David J. Chaboyer, service number H-41688, Winnipeg Grenadiers, killed in action in Hong Kong on 19 December 1941.
Marcel served in Manitoba and Ontario with the Armoured Corps, then transferred to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers at an unknown date, to fight with Force C in Hong Kong. He had 184 days of service, including 53 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, Hong Kong Bar.
Digital gallery of Private Marcel Chaboyer
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
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
Private Marcel Chaboyer
Private MARCEL CHABOYER 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. Privates David Chaboyer and Wilfrid Chaboyer were also members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers who fought at Hong Kong. Like Marcel they were from St. Laurent, Manitoba. It is known that David and Wilfrid were brothers, sons of of Mr. and Mrs. Vital Chaboyer. It is not known if Marcel was a thrid son. David and Wilfrid were taken Prisoners of War after the surrender. David died of pneumonia on March 13, 1945 as was buried in YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY. Wilfrid survived the war.
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
Private MARCEL CHABOYER was reported to Died of Wounds in the Canadian Army's 246th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 12, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
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
Private Marcel Chaboyer
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
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 MARCEL CHABOYER 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
Private Marcel Chaboyer
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
Private Marcel Chaboyer
Digital gallery of
Private Marcel Chaboyer
From the Winnipeg Free Press 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
-
In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
-
Private MARCEL CHABOYER 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. Privates David Chaboyer and Wilfrid Chaboyer were also members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers who fought at Hong Kong. Like Marcel they were from St. Laurent, Manitoba. It is known that David and Wilfrid were brothers, sons of of Mr. and Mrs. Vital Chaboyer. It is not known if Marcel was a thrid son. David and Wilfrid were taken Prisoners of War after the surrender. David died of pneumonia on March 13, 1945 as was buried in YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY. Wilfrid survived the war.
-
Private MARCEL CHABOYER was reported to Died of Wounds in the Canadian Army's 246th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 12, 1943.
-
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
-
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
-
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 Private MARCEL CHABOYER 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.
-
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.
-
-
From the Winnipeg Free Press 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 26 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Request this page
Download this page
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.
Did we miss something?
Contribute information to this commemorative page
Do you have photographs, information or a correction relating to this individual’s virtual memorial? Learn more about the CVWM and the information we collect.