Hong Kong Signal Company Royal Canadian Corps of Signals of ‘C’ Force Fortress Signal Company, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Signals This roll of those who served with the Hong Kong Signal Company, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, the British NCOs of the Fortress Signal Company and all ranks of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Signals has been compiled from the war diary and records of Lieutenant Colonel E. O. Levett,1 from information provided by Tony Banham at Hong Kong War Diary, from contributors (particularly the work of Elizabeth Ride) to Gwulo: Old Hong Hong and POW Research Network Japan, and from the original roll of prisoners of war in Hong Kong and their fate compiled by the immensely courageous Tse Dickuan (you can read his story here). For his bravery in undertaking this work, Tse Dickuan was awarded the British Empire Medal for ‘special services during the enemy occupation of Hong Kong.’2 Those who died prior to 25 December 1941, or in the date range 8-25 December, are recorded as ‘killed in action’ or ‘died of wounds’ where that is known, otherwise they are indicated as ‘died’. The men indicated as ‘wounded’ were wounded in December 1941 unless stated otherwise. The sailing of the Lisbon Maru was the 2nd transportation to Japan. Those who died on 2 October 1942 when it sank and who have no known grave are commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. The men who survived the sinking are indicated as having done so. Note that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the date of death of many men as 1 October or as 1/2 October; in fact, most casualties occurred on 2 October. All who died in Hong Kong during the fighting in December 1941 or later as prisoners of war and who have a known grave are buried in Stanley Military Cemetery and Sai Wan War Cemetery. Those who died in Japan and whose remains (ashes) were identified are interred in Yokohama War Cemetery. All with no known grave are commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. Finally, the honours and medals earned are annotated and citations provided in the footnotes; they amounted to one OBE, one MBE, six Military Medals and four mentions in despatches for the defence of Hong Kong and one Distinguished Conduct Medal and two British Empire Medals earned as prisoners of war. Hong Kong Signal Company Summary of Casualties Page 2 Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Summary of Casualties Page 2 Hong Kong Signal Company Page 3 Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, ‘C’ Force Page 10 Fortress Signal Company, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Page 12 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Signals Page 12 Royal Signals Soldiers Died Elsewhere & Buried in Hong Kong Page 15 1 https://royalsignalsoperationalawards.com - as at 5 May 2019. Hong Kong Signal Company Summary of Casualties Hong Kong Signal Company Strength, December 1941 185 1 Killed in action or died of wounds up to 25 December 1941 15 Transported on the SS Lisbon Maru 129 Transported to Japan on the other five transports 23 Remained in Hong Kong 18 Died as a prisoner of war in Hong Kong after 25 December 1941 7 Died when the Lisbon Maru sank 50 Lisbon Maru survivors died in Shanghai 2 Lisbon Maru survivors died in Japan 16 Other transports died in Japan 1 Survived captivity having remained in Hong Kong 11 Survived captivity in Japan 83 Died in an air crash after release from captivity in Japan 2 Hong Kong Signal Company killed in action, died of wounds, 93 died in captivity or died en route to freedom Hong Kong Signal Company survived 92 Note: 1. Including Lieutenant Colonel E. O. Levett. Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Summary of Casualties Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Strength, December 1941 33 Killed in action or died of wounds up to 25 December 1941 5 Transported to Japan 17 Remained in Hong Kong 11 Died as a prisoner of war in Hong Kong after 25 December 1941 4 Survived captivity having remained in Hong Kong 7 Survived captivity in Japan 17 Royal Canadian Corps of Signals killed in action, died of 9 wounds or died in captivity Royal Canadian Corps of Signals survived 24 2 https://royalsignalsoperationalawards.com - as at 5 May 2019. Hong Kong Signal Company Chief Signals Officer LEVETT Lt Col Eustace Oliver Awarded OBE.3 Hong Kong Signal Company ALLEN 2975172 Sig Alfred Lisbon Maru, survived. ALLIN 2589561 Sig Bernard Lester Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. AMOTT 2323402 Sig Thomas Henry Wounded. Lisbon Maru, survived. ATKINSON 2325182 L/Cpl Edwin Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. BARRITT 2310677 Sig Leslie 1st transportation to Japan. BATES 2350743 Sig Harold Medwell Wounded. 5th transportation to Japan. BEDFORD 2323921 Cpl George Lisbon Maru, died, 2 October 1942. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of diphtheria at Osaka, BENNETT 2323504 Sig Sidney Japan, 17 February 1943. Yokohama War Cemetery. William Thomas BEVAN 2325210 Sig Lisbon Maru, survived. Edward BIGGS 23302 L/Cpl52 Reginald E. Lisbon Maru, survived. Killed in action in Hong Kong, 8 December 1941. His body was found by Chaplain H. L. O. Davis and buried BIRKETT 2323542 Sig Gerald Anthony near St. Albert’s convent; his grave was not found, and he is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial. BLOUNT 2318812 Cpl Walter Henry 3rd transportation to Japan. BRACKENBURY 2319478 Cpl Bernard Lisbon Maru, survived. Officer Commanding No. 3 Infantry Brigade Section BROWN Lt Charles Dixon (East Infantry Brigade). Lisbon Maru, survived. Wounded at Coombe Road, Wanchai Gap, 19 December BROWN 2324377 Cpl George Kenneth 1941. 5th transportation to Japan. Officer Commanding No. 1 Operating Section. Lisbon BUCKE Lt Cyril Edward Maru, survived. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of dysentery at Osaka, BUNDY 2319902 Sgt Cecil Japan, 28 October 1942.4 Yokohama War Cemetery. BUSBY 2326081 Sig George Temple Lisbon Maru, survived. BUTLER 2323332 Sig William Alfred Lisbon Maru, survived. CARROLL 2326548 Sig George Lisbon Maru, survived. Fred Augustus CARTER 2320707 Cpl Wounded. Henry CARTWRIGHT 2325662 Sig Leslie George Wounded. Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. CLARKE 2325061 Sig Harry Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of poisoning in Hong Kong, 6 February 1942.5 Originally buried on the rifle range at Sham Shui Po CLARKE 2350848 Sig Henry William Camp, his remains were reinterred in Stanley Military Cemetery on 12 December 1946. CLEGGETT 2323569 Sig Albert Ernest Wounded. Lisbon Maru, died, 1 October 1942. Killed in action in Hong Kong, 15 December 1941. Sai CLOVER 2323406 Sig Peter William Wan Memorial. 3 https://royalsignalsoperationalawards.com - as at 5 May 2019. COGBILL 2326543 Sig Robert George 6th transportation to Japan. COOK 2324228 Sig Peter Harold Lisbon Maru, died, 1 October 1942. COOK 2350854 Sig William James Lisbon Maru, survived. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died at Osaka, 26 November COATES 2330292 Sig Ernest 1942.6 Yokohama War Cemetery. Died of wounds 19 December 1941 in Hong Kong.7 Originally buried at No. 1 Crater, Bowen Road, his COOKE Sgt 2316204 Reginald John remains were reinterred at Stanley Military Cemetery on 10 January 1947. COOMBE 2321834 Sig Lionel Lisbon Maru, survived. Wounded at Coombe Road, Wanchai Gap, 19 December COPSEY 2323556 L/Sgt Harold Edwin 1941. 5th transportation to Japan. Killed in action at Wanchai Gap between 8 & 25 December 1941. Originally buried at No. 1 Crater, CORNISH 2362237 Sig Frederick David Bowen Road, his remains were reinterred at Stanley Military Cemetery on 10 January 1947. COTTON 2324263 Sig Raymond David 5th transportation to Japan. CRAWLEY 2330255 Sig Frederick William Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. 5th transportation to Japan. Died of beri beri & CRUMP 5381830 Sig Edwin Herbert malnutrition at Narumi, Japan, 18 October 1944. Yokohama War Cemetery. DANNAN 2323003 L/Cpl Stephen John Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. DEVLIN 2324023 William DIGNAM 2324067 L/Cpl James Lisbon Maru, survived. Killed in action at Stanley, Hong Kong between 8 & 25 DIXON 2324289 L/Cpl Henry Villiers December 1941. Stanley Military Cemetery. DOVE 2335489 L/Cpl James William 3rd transportation to Japan. EDEN 232561 Sig John Charles Lisbon Maru, survived. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of dysentery at Osaka, EVENETT 2330259 Sig Alan George Japan, 20 October 1942.8 Yokohama War Cemetery. FERRIE 2326553 Sig Gordon Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of pneumonia at Osaka, FIELDHOUSE 2353991 Sig Stanley Japan, 4 March 1943. Yokohama War Cemetery. Killed in action in Hong Kong, 8 December 1941. His body was found by Chaplain H. L. O. Davis and buried FLEET 2324029 Sig Alfred near St. Albert’s convent; his grave was not found, and he is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial. FOX 2325079 Sig Henry Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. FRAZER 2323240 L/Cpl Matthew Wounded. GALE 2331384 Sig Edward George Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. Wounded. Lisbon Maru, survived. Died of pneumonia at GILBERT 2325023 L/Cpl Donald Arthur Moji, Japan, 21 October 1942. Yokohama War Cemetery. GOLDING 2325699 L/Cpl William Charles Lisbon Maru, survived. GORDON 2570900 L/Cpl Frank Norman 1st transportation to Japan. GORMAN 2319515 Sgt James Thomas Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. GOUDIE 2353843 Sig Harold Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. GREAVES 2322243 Cpl William Henry Lisbon Maru, survived. 4 https://royalsignalsoperationalawards.com - as at 5 May 2019. GRACEY Capt Peter Douglas Area Signal Officer. Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. GREEN 2317132 Sgt Ernest Edward Lisbon Maru, died, 1/2 October 1942. Died in Hong Kong, 19 December 1941. Sai Wan GRIFFITHS 2324460 L/Cpl Owen Memorial.