Thoughts on Japan

Heroes Remember

Thoughts on Japan

I never bore any animosity towards the Japanese people as such, then or now. I bear deep animosity towards the people whoever they are, who were responsible for executing the four Winnipeg Grenadiers. I bear animosity towards the very senior people either civil or military who made the decision not to allow the Red Cross to provide us with food and medicine, who took the decision that free flow of mail was not something that was important and things like that so I resent all that but I have no animosity towards the Japanese people as such. They were caught up in something just as a lot of other people were. As I say, I have grievances against individuals, not against the country.

Mr. Golden describes having no animosity towards the people of Japan in general. He does, however, harbor grievances against those who executed four North Point escapees, and those who denied prisoners access to Red Cross parcels and mail from home.

David Golden

The third of four children, David Sinclair was born on February 22, 1920 in Sinclair, Manitoba. His father, an insurance salesman, moved the family to Vancouver, returning to Winnipeg when Mr. Golden was ten years old. In his third year at the University of Manitoba, he joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. Mr. Golden missed his University graduation due to a May, 1941 call up by the Winnipeg Grenadiers. As a 2nd Lieutenant he served with the Grenadiers in Jamaica. After returning to Canada he was assigned as an intelligence officer to the Royal Rifles, with whom he went to Hong Kong. Mr. Golden was imprisoned in Hong Kong for the entire war. After returning to Canada, he practiced law.

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Recorded:: June 30, 1998
Duration:: 1:23
Person Interviewed:: David Golden
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Hong Kong
Battle/Campaign:: Hong Kong
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Royal Rifles of Canada
Rank:: Lieutenant
Occupation:: Intelligence officer

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I Was Poorly Trained!

Mr. Golden admits that his training fell short of what he felt was necessary to adequately perform his instructor's duties prior to his deployment to Hong Kong.

An Uninformed Intelligence Officer

Mr. Golden, as an Intelligence Officer, describes having received no information about the enemy's movements or intentions until one day prior to their attack.

A Diary and the Fear of Death

Mr. Golden discusses keeping an illegal diary. His secret is discovered by the Japanese, the diary confiscated, and he lives in fear for his life for several days before realizing there will be no repercussions.

Hong Kong was not a Reign of Terror.

Mr. Golden contradicts the opinion of many POW's that there was a reign of terror in North Point and Sham Shui Po camps. He does, however, reiterate the claims of filth, disease, malnutrition and neglect.

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Mr. Golden describes a basic diet of weevil infested rice and vegetable green 'soup'. Supplements included oddities such as octopus, fish heads, and on one occasion, very unusual 'turkey'.

Cigarette Addiction

Mr. Golden discusses how addictive cigarettes eventually became to the prisoners, to the extent that even the malnourished and seriously ill would trade food for smokes.

Date modified:: 2024-12-30