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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Frank Charles McGuire

In memory of:

Private Frank Charles McGuire

December 19, 1941
Hong Kong

Military Service


Service Number:

C/28713

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps

Citation(s):

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

Additional Information


Born:

September 15, 1917
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Enlistment:

August 26, 1940
Kingston, Ontario

He was baptized as Francis Charles McGuire.

Son of Charles Steward McGuire and Laura Christine Riley of Kingston, Ontario.

Charles Steward enlisted on June 22nd, 1907 with the Canadian Ordnance Corps - NPAM - regimental number 2775680, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and for 3 years and 9 months with the Princess Louise Fusiliers - NPAM - regimental number 2775680, as a Sergeant. On June 22nd, 1918, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force without having seen combat in the First World War.

Brother of soldiers G.B. McGuire of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and L.W. McGuire of the 5th Company Canadian Forestry Corps. They survived the war.

Served one season in 1933 with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals - NPAM - and two months from June 5th, 1939 with the 2nd Pont and Bridge Park of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps - NPAM - service number 46. Enlisted on August 26th, 1940 with the 3rd Detachment of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and served in Ontario, Hong Kong with C Force. He had 481 days service, including 53 overseas.

Commemorated on Page 38 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 MEMORIAL
Victoria, Hong Kong

Grave Reference:

Column 28.

Location:

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.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Kingston Whig-Standard. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Kingston Whig-Standard. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Inscription– Private FRANK CHARLES MCGUIRE, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, is one of 11 Canadian soldiers who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial, and one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Private FRANK CHARLES MCGUIRE 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.
  • Grave 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 FRANK CHARLES MCGUIRE 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.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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