Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Johnson, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Husband of Lily Johnson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Digital gallery of Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
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 Cecil Henry James Johnson
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 Cecil Henry James Johnson
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
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. Although the identity of the soldier is only ¿Known Unto God¿, there is a possibility that the remains of Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON lie beneath this grave marker. All of the unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON is one of 19 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.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON was reported to be Missing in Action the Canadian Army's 243rd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Bonnett -----
In memory of Cecil H. Johnson; presented by his wife. Cecil Henry Johnson was a medical non-combatant with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Hong Kong. After being captured by the Japanese army, the men were being walked to the internment camp and one of the men in front of Private Johnson tripped and fell. Johnson stopped to tend to him and their captors shot and killed both men. After WWII Ended, the members of his battalion melted down their combat medals to create an award commemorating Pte. Johnson’s actions for his family.
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[stained glass window/vitrail]
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF CECIL H.J. JOHNSON, WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM, AT HONG KONG, DECEMBER THE TWENTY FIRST 1941. ERECTED BY HIS WIFE.
Digital gallery of
Private Cecil Henry James Johnson
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 Cecil Henry James Johnson
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
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In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
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Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
-
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
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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. Although the identity of the soldier is only ¿Known Unto God¿, there is a possibility that the remains of Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON lie beneath this grave marker. All of the unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
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Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON is one of 19 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.
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Private CECIL HENRY JAMES JOHNSON was reported to be Missing in Action the Canadian Army's 243rd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 1943.
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Photo Credit: Elizabeth Bonnett ----- In memory of Cecil H. Johnson; presented by his wife. Cecil Henry Johnson was a medical non-combatant with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Hong Kong. After being captured by the Japanese army, the men were being walked to the internment camp and one of the men in front of Private Johnson tripped and fell. Johnson stopped to tend to him and their captors shot and killed both men. After WWII Ended, the members of his battalion melted down their combat medals to create an award commemorating Pte. Johnson’s actions for his family. ------------------------------------------------------------ [stained glass window/vitrail] TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF CECIL H.J. JOHNSON, WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM, AT HONG KONG, DECEMBER THE TWENTY FIRST 1941. ERECTED BY HIS WIFE.
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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.
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 33 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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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.
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