This topic is so very interesting. The more research I do about Canadian's and the wars they have been involved in, the more I learn about Canadian history and about the Canadian people. They perceive themselves as friendly and peaceful. They see themselves as homogenous members of the world community, and at the same time as a distinct and unique peoples. They are slow to anger, but when they are pushed they become very staunch. They love their country, their heritage, and their place on the world stage. As warriors they are second to none. Their bravery and their accomplishments are chronicled in museums, libraries, and internet sites the world over. From the Victoria Cross (For British and Commonwealth forces - one of the very first Victoria Crosses was awarded to Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn, a Canadian, during the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in October, 1854 ) to the Medal of Honor (Peter C. Lemon serving with the US Army in Vietnam has been the only Canadian to earn this award given by the US) they have paved the way to being a country to reckon with, a main player in the development of the modern world. Their armed forces have served in greater majority to their populations than most other countries involved in any of the worlds wars, police actions, and peace keeping missions. Unknown to me until I began this research was that Canadian's also served and died in India, Southeast Asia, and China during WWII.
And along this vein I would like to write, that in 1941 Canadian soldiers saw their first combat of WWII against the Japanese in the defence of Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a strategic point in the defence of South East Asia. Although impossible to defend, Canadian's and their allies hunkered down and did what was possible. What was possible was to fight as best as one could, and to die.
Unprepared for battle, the Canadians were raw recruits untrained in front line combat duties, and in only three weeks time the Japanese simultaneously attacked, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Northern Malaya, and the Philippines. Canadian battalions involved in the defence were the Royal Rifles of Canada and The Winnipeg Grenadiers. Commanders of the Canadian forces was, Lt.-Col. J.L.R. Sutcliffe of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Lt.-Col. W.J. Home of the Royal Rifles of Canada. Brigadier J.K. Lawson was overall commander of Canadian forces. A force of 1,975 men were deployed in Hong Kong, but tragically the 212 or so vehicles destined to be embarked with them were given to the US forces for the defence of
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