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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Rufus Pope

In memory of:

Sergeant William Rufus Pope

September 16, 1943
Sham Shui Po Hospital, Hong Kong

Military Service


Service Number:

E/29819

Age:

28

Force:

Army

Unit:

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

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Hong Kong Bar, Defense Medal.

Additional Information


Born:

June 14, 1915
Carbon, Alberta

Enlistment:

July 15, 1940
Quebec City, Quebec

Son of Colin Cecil Pope and Gretchen Luline Bailey, of Cookshire, Québec. His brother, Colin Clifford Pope, service number E-29818, Royal Rifles of Canada, also died in captivity in Japan on 25 March 1944.

William Rufus served with the 7/11 Hussars – NPAM – where he qualified as telegraphist. He also served in Québec, in New Brunswick, in Newfoundland with Force W, in Hong Kong with Force C. He was first buried in Argyle Street cemetery, and was reburied in Sai Wan.

Commemorated on Page 204 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. E. 10.

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 WILLIAM RUFUS POPE– 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.

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