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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Denis Cyrel Matthews

In memory of:

Private Denis Cyrel Matthews

December 25, 1941
Sai Wan, Victoria, Hong Kong

Military Service


Service Number:

H/6197

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Information


Born:

March 24, 1918
St. Leonards, Sussex, United Kingdom

Enlistment:

September 9, 1939
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Son of Charles Cyril James Matthews and Nellie Beatrice Day. Husband of Irma Matthews.

Brother of Private Norman Charles Matthews MID, regimental number H-6044, 1st Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers, who was a prisoner of war in Hong Kong and died in Japan on February 22nd, 1944.

Served with the Winnipeg Grenadiers - NPAM - from 1926 to 1927, then from 1937 to 1939, regimental number 3501, with the 1st Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers in Manitoba, in Bermuda with B Force, in Jamaica with Y Force, in Hong Kong with C Force.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named West Matthews Lake located west of Semmens Lake in his honour in 1995.

Commemorated on Page 37 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY
Victoria, Hong Kong

Grave Reference:

IX. D. 21.

Location:

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.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • 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
  • 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
  • Temporary Grave Marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Circumstances of death registers– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Photo of Denis matthews– 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.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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