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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Deighton Aitken

In memory of:

Rifleman Deighton Aitken

December 2, 1942
Bowen Road Hospital, Hong Kong

Military Service


Service Number:

E/30391

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Rifles of Canada, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

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

Additional Information


Born:

January 29, 1919
Grindstone, Magdalen Island, Quebec

Enlistment:

August 26, 1940
Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec

Baptized Robert Deighton Lawes Aitken. Son of Robert Stenman Aitken and Lottie Gertrude Burke, of Entry Island, Québec.

He served in Québec, in New Brunswick, in Newfoundland with Force W, in Hong Kong with Force C. He had 1,040 days of service, including 612 overseas.

The following people from Entry Island, Magdalen Islands, Quebec, are all brothers and/or cousins that served during the Second World War. They served with the Royal Rifles of Canada or the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, unless indicated otherwise. Eight died in service.

Edward Carleton Aitkens died in Japan.
Thomas Robert Aitkens, RCNVR, survived the war.
--
Deighton Aitken died in Hong Kong.
--
John Maxwell Chenell died in Hong Kong.
William Radley Chenell died in Japan.
James Chenell, RCNVR, survived the war.
--
Albert Benjamin Chenell died in Japan.
Bernard Leslie Chenell, E-30389, prisoner of war in Japan.
George Borden Chenell, E-30379, prisoner of war in Japan.
Edward Bahan Chenell, E-30403, prisoner of war in Hong Kong.
--
Ancil Josey, E-30390, prisoner of war in Japan.
--
Ernest Edwin Welsh, E-30397, prisoner of war in Hong Kong.
Arthur Lloyd Welsh, RCNVR, survived the war.
Allen Benjamin Welsh died in Hong Kong.
--
Delbert William Louis Welsh died in Hong Kong.
--
Melvin Burton Welsh died in Japan.
George Walter Welsh survived the war.

Commemorated on Page 54 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:

VIII. A. 3.

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

  • Photo of Deighton Aitken– 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 Deighton Aitken– location unknown
  • Photo of Deighton Aitken– Deighton Aitken - Location & Date Unknown

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