Occupation and Surrender in Hong Kong

Heroes Remember

Occupation and Surrender in Hong Kong

Transcript

The plan for the Canadian Force was in the event of war was to move back to the Hong Kong Island itself because the plan was to defend Hong Kong, the island, this was the plan. And after two or three attempts the Japanese succeeded in landing on the island and their plan was to drive right across the center and cut it in two. Brigadier Lawson, yes, his headquarters was right in their path and the Canadian headquarters was very soon surrounded. I was stationed with the Winnipeg Grenadiers and I set up an advance dressing station with Captain Worrick, a British doctor, but there were no dental casualties at all and I assisted Dr. Worrick in the advanced dressing station there. There were wounded coming in periodically. His headquarters was pretty well in the path too of the Japanese. We moved back and we ended up at Bowen Road Hospital, it was a military hospital, and we were there when the surrender took place.

Description

Dr. Cunningham describes the steady advance of the Japanese which eventually resulted in his field hospital retreating to Bowen Road Hospital.

Dr. Winston Ross Cunningham

Dr. Winston Cunningham was born in Elgin, Manitoba on January 4, 1911. He was the third of five children. His father was a storekeeper and moved the family to a permanent home in Souris, Manitoba. Mr. Cunningham decided to pursue a career in dentistry, studying in Toronto. After graduating in 1934, he returned to his home in Souris to take over a vacant dental practice. In 1939, he volunteered for military service, assuming the rank of Captain. Doctor Cunningham was sent to the Hong Kong garrison, which quickly fell to the Japanese. He spent almost four years in Sham Shui Po POW camp, where he provided dental care to the internees. After the war, Doctor Cunningham remained in the military, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1963.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Recorded:: July 8, 1998
Duration:: 2:06
Person Interviewed:: Dr. Winston Ross Cunningham
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Canada
Battle/Campaign:: Hong Kong
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Royal Rifles of Canada
Rank:: Captain
Occupation:: Doctor

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Date modified:: 2019-06-20