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In memory of:

Private William James Skene

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Military service

Service number: H/20708
Age: 39
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Unit/Regiment: Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C.
Birth: September 25, 1904 Coulter, Scotland
Enlistment: October 1, 1940 Manitoba
Death: April 15, 1944 Camp Tsurumi 3D, Yokohama, Japan

Burial/memorial information

YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY
Grave reference: Sec. B. B. 1.
Additional information
Son of Andrew Skene and Mary Elizabeth Skene of Aberdeen, Scotland. Husband of Gertrude Emma Sayer of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Father of June Carole Skene. Andrew enlisted on May 6th, 1915 with the 45th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 425322, fought in France and Belgium with the 8th Battalion, was seriously wounded in action at the Battle of the Somme on September 25th, 1916 and was discharged on August 12th, 1918 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He enlisted with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and transferred on October 21st, 1941 to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers to fight in Hong Kong with C Force and as a prisoner of war in Japan. He had 1,293 days of service, including 901 overseas.

To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Skene Lake located southeast of Pike Lake in his honor in 1972.

Related media

Second World War (1939 – 1945)

In the Books of Remembrance

Commemorated on:

Page 444 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY Japan

YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY is 9 kilometres west of the city on Yuenchi-Dori, Hodogaya Ward, which branches left off the old Tokkaido highway. The nearest railway station is Hodogaya, 5 kilometres to the north on the JNR line but the cemetery is easily reached by bus from Yokohama station.

For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

 

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