Military service
Burial/memorial information
Half-brother of Private Edward S. Smith, regimental number H-87317, of the 5th Light Aid Detachment, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. He fought in Europe and survived the fighting in the Second World War.
He enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and served in Manitoba and Ontario, transferring to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers on October 21st, 1941 to fight in Hong Kong with "C" Force. He had 532 days of service, including 396 overseas.
To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Smith Lake located southeast of Swan River in his honor in 1973.
Digital gallery of Private William Alexander Rule Smith
Digital gallery of
Private William Alexander Rule Smith
Digital gallery of
Private William Alexander Rule Smith
Digital gallery of
Private William Alexander Rule Smith
Image gallery
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 115 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY Victoria, Hong Kong
SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY is in the north-east of the island of Hong Kong, in the Chai Wan area, about 11 kilometres from the centre of Victoria, the capital of Hong Kong.
At the entrance to the cemetery on Cape Collinson Road stands the memorial to those who died in Hong Kong and have no known grave. From it, the cemetery slopes down towards the sea and originally, the view towards the main land was magnificent.
The easiest way to reach the cemetery is by the mass transit railway (MTR) Hong Kong line to Chai Wan Terminus.
From the Terminus one can either walk up to the cemetery following Chai Wan Road to the roundabout, turning west into Wan Tsui Road, then south east up Lin Shing Road which leads to Cape Collinson Road. The CWGC road direction sign is fixed to a wall facing down Lin Shing Road.
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 where the CWGC has another cemetery, the Stanley Military Cemetery. En route to Stanley the minibus will pass Sai Wan War Cemetery, stopping only on request.
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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