Military service
Burial/memorial information
Brother of Seaman James A. Maxwell, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, and airman Campbell E. Maxwell, Royal Canadian Air Force. They survived the war.
He enlisted on October 2nd, 1939 and was posted to the depot because he was too young. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers on January 15th, 1940 and served in Manitoba, Jamaica with Y Force and Hong Kong with C Force.
To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Maxwell Lake located north of Big Sand Lake in his honor in 1963.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, Hong Kong Bar.
Digital gallery of Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
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Newspaper Clipping
In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Memorial
Private RALPH CLIFFORD MAXWELL 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 RALPH CLIFFORD MAXWELL 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. -
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 RALPH CLIFFORD MAXWELL lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial. -
Photo of RALPH CLIFFORD MAXWELL
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 RALPH CLIFFORD MAXWELL
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
Digital gallery of
Private Ralph Clifford Maxwell
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 37 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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