Winnipeg Grenadiers

Mr. Friesen describes various diseases in the camp and the attempts to curb them with meagre medication and rations.

Mr. Friesen describes his first POW experience at Sham Shui Po and being conned by the local Chinese.

Mr. Friesen describes how heavy Japanese bombing forces the Allies to surrender Hong Kong.

Mr. Friesen gives some impressions of Hong Kong and discusses preparations for the expected Japanese attack.

Mr. Friesen describes the food related embarkation riot in Vancouver, and the Awatia’s not-so-secretive stop in Honolulu, Hawaii on the voyage to Hong Kong.

Mr. Bérard reflects on his lifelong resentment of Japan, has harsh words about Canada’s military decisions but finishes by expressing his total respect for the officers and men with whom he served.

Mr. Bérard describes working in the Kawasaki steel yards and being beaten for alleged sabotage of a pipe elbow.

Mr. Bérard describes being shipped to Japan, defiance of the Geneva Convention by the Japanese, and an entertaining arrival in Nagasaki.

Mr. Bérard describes being forced under threat of death to “shorten” the bodies of the dead to fit the smaller Japanese caskets, and risking his own safety to ensure that proper burials took place.

Mr. Bérard discusses the fact that the POW’s were blessed with terrific doctors. Despite this, these MD’s often suffered disappointment and humiliation.