Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of William Acton Phillips and Ethel Emmeline Van Camp. William Acton served with the 90th Regiment (Ontario Western Regiment) before enlisting on March 30th, 1916 with the 190th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 892138, transferred to the 8th Battalion to fight in France and Belgium. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his actions in combat, The London Gazette, issue 31121 of January 18th, 1919, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Husband of Doris Fairhurst and posthumous father of Donald Anthony Phillips.
Served as Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, Regimental Number 9412, from December 14th, 1932 to December 14th, 1934, then from February 5th to September 2nd, 1936 on HMCS Armentière as Able Seaman. Enlisted in the Army on May 27th, 1940, he served in British Columbia and Hong Kong with Force C. He had 572 days of service, including 53 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Sergeant William Edward Phillips
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS, Corps of Military Staff Clerks, is one of 11 Canadian soldiers who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial, and one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS was reported to have been Killed in Action in the Canadian Army¿s 242rd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 1943.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
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
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
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. There is a possibility that the remains of Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS lie beneath this grave marker, or one of the other 106 grave markers in Sai Wan Cemetery that simply read, A SOLDIER OF THE 1939-1945 WAR. A CANADIAN REGIMENT. KNOWN UNTO GOD. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William Edward Phillips
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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Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS, Corps of Military Staff Clerks, is one of 11 Canadian soldiers who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial, and one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941.
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Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS was reported to have been Killed in Action in the Canadian Army¿s 242rd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 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. There is a possibility that the remains of Sergeant WILLIAM EDWARD PHILLIPS lie beneath this grave marker, or one of the other 106 grave markers in Sai Wan Cemetery that simply read, A SOLDIER OF THE 1939-1945 WAR. A CANADIAN REGIMENT. KNOWN UNTO GOD. 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 41 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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