Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of George Hargreaves and Mary Robinson of St. James, now Winnipeg, Manitoba. Husband of Eva Shaw of Kildonan West, Manitoba. Father of Glen Richard Hargreaves. Brother of Private Tommy Hargreaves, who served overseas with the Canadian Army during the war. He survived the war.
He served with the 10th District Signals Royal Canadian Corps of Signals - NPAM - regimental number 1573 replaced by H-440229, from August 12th, 1940 to May 20th, 1941, enlisted on May 20th with the 91st Infantry Regiment, transferred on October 22nd, 1941 to the 1st Battalion of the Winnipeg Grenadiers to fight in Hong Kong with "C" Force. He had 220 days of service, including 59 overseas.
To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Hargreaves Lake located east of Cross Lake in his honor in 1973.
War Medal 1939-1945, Pacific Star, 1939-1945 Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Private John Hargreaves
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
Private JOHN HARGREAVES is one of 19 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial. He was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
Private JOHN HARGREAVES was reported to have been Killed in Action the Canadian Army's 246th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 12, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
The Sai Wan Memorial is located at the entrance of Sai Wan Cemetery. 1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War are buried or commemorated at this cemetery, of which 444 of the burials are the remains of unidentified soldiers, including those of 107 Canadian soldiers, most of whom were killed or died of wounds during the defense of Hong Kong, which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. This is one such grave marker. Although the identity of the soldier is only ¿Known Unto God¿, there is a possibility that the remains of Private JOHN HARGREAVES lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
Digital gallery of
Private John Hargreaves
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.
Image gallery
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In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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Private JOHN HARGREAVES is one of 19 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial. He was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
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Private JOHN HARGREAVES was reported to have been Killed in Action the Canadian Army's 246th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 12, 1943.
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Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians.
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Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
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Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
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The Sai Wan Memorial is located at the entrance of Sai Wan Cemetery. 1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War are buried or commemorated at this cemetery, of which 444 of the burials are the remains of unidentified soldiers, including those of 107 Canadian soldiers, most of whom were killed or died of wounds during the defense of Hong Kong, which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. This is one such grave marker. Although the identity of the soldier is only ¿Known Unto God¿, there is a possibility that the remains of Private JOHN HARGREAVES lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
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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.
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 32 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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SAI WAN MEMORIAL Victoria, Hong Kong
This SAI WAN MEMORIAL honours over 2,000 men of the land forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who died in the defence of Hong Kong during the Second World War.
The SAI WAN MEMORIAL is in the form of a shelter building 24 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. It stands at the entrance to Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery, outside Victoria, the capital of Hong Kong. From the semi-circular forecourt, two wide openings lead to the interior of the building. The names are inscribed on panels of Portland stone. The dedicatory inscription reads:
1939 - 1945 The officers and men whose memory is honoured here died in the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941 and in the ensuing years of captivity and have no known grave.
The northern side of the Memorial is open and four granite piers support the copper roof. From a commanding position 305 metres above sea level, it looks out over the War Cemetery where some 1,500 men lie buried, and across the water to Mainland China - a magnificent view of sea and mountains.
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. En route to Stanley the minibus will pass Sai Wan War Cemetery.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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