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2919 results returned within branch Army
Sudden Blindness

Sudden Blindness

Mr. Harrison is reading one night when he suddenly becomes totally blind.

Kai Tak Airport

Kai Tak Airport

Mr. Harrison describes sabotaging the concrete mixture used on the runway extension.

Rations

Rations

Mr. Harrison describes the fact that cooking rice was a skill the Canadians took a while to master, with serious gastrointestinal consequences. Other than rice, watery green tea and a bit of bread were all they had to eat.

Taken Prisoner

Taken Prisoner

Mr. Harrison describes the details of his forced march to Sham Shui Po camp.

Final Battle

Final Battle

Mr. Harrison describes raking the advancing Japanese with Bren gun fire and grenades, exacting a heavy toll on the enemy. This allowed the Canadians to safely retreat to the Aberdeen Reservoir. The following morning the island of Hong Kong is surrendered.

Escape from High Ground

Escape from High Ground

Mr. Harrison is promoted to sergeant on the battlefield, and leads his men, under extreme pressure from the Japanese, to a secure location. After nightfall, he orchestrates an escape to the valley in an old sedan with four flat tires.

Evacuation to Hong Kong Island

Evacuation to Hong Kong Island

Mr. Harrison is initially involved in a rearguard to protect the retreating British at Kowloon. The rapid Japanese advance forces the Canadians into a very disorderly evacuation to the island.

Overpaid Rickshaws

Overpaid Rickshaws

Mr. Harrison describes the Canadians' tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers in Kowloon. Soon there seem to be no drivers around. Mr. Harrison speculates that the rickshaws were parked in favor of visits to the local bars.

Nuttin' but Mutton

Nuttin' but Mutton

Mr. Harrison describes with some humor the endless diet of mutton aboard ship, and proceeds to discuss how the weather affected their escort vessels.

Is Your Porthole Closed?

Is Your Porthole Closed?

Mr. Harrison describes being tasked with making sure all the portholes are secured shut, as the Awatea is beset by a storm. He accidentally enters a nurse's cabin just as she's emerging from the shower. His innocent question leads to a lot of laughter!

The Awatea Mutiny

The Awatea Mutiny

Mr. Harrison describes helping to organize a protest against the cramped, unsanitary accommodations aboard the troop ship. The mutiny fails due to lack of support from the other troops.

Homecoming

Homecoming

Mr. Gerrard discusses being taken by the Americans to a hospital ship for medical treatment, then on to Guam for further medical assessment and treatment. He travels to San Francisco by boat and takes the train to Victoria, B.C. To his pleasure and surprise, his girlfriend (and future wife) is there to greet him.

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