Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

George Alexander Rutherford

In memory of:

Private George Alexander Rutherford

December 23, 1941

Military Service


Service Number:

H/6447

Age:

38

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:

May 15, 1903
Strathroy, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 19, 1939
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Son of James Alexander Rutherford and Jennette Stringham. James served for three years with the Oxford Rifles (7th Regiment), regimental number 3072. He first enlisted on December 6th, 1915 in London, Ontario, with the 142nd Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Regimental Number 823097. Sent to England, he was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Battalion. He was repatriated on January 11th, 1917 without having fought. He was discharged on February 20th, 1917. Enrolled a second time on June 22nd, 1918, regimental number 823097, he was demobilized on February 22nd, 1919 without ever having participated in the fighting.

Brother of Private Edwin Robert Rutherford, regimental number 602740, a veteran of the First World War, and Corporal John Nelson Rutherford, regimental number H-63526, who served in Europe with the 5th Canadian Infantry Division. They survived the war.

Served in Manitoba, Jamaica with Y Force and Hong Kong with C Force. He had 827 days of service, including 57 overseas.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Rutherford Island located on Little Bolton Lake in his honor in 1995.

Commemorated on Page 43 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. F 2.

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
  • Photo of GEORGE ALEXANDER RUTHERFORD– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of George Rutherford– In memory of those who served in Hong Kong during World War II 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.

Date modified: