I was the one that found out.

Heroes Remember

I was the one that found out.

Transcript

I was the one that found out. I was the one that found out. See, I was, I had a dixie. I used to carry tea back and forth to the men. I wasn’t allowed to do any work, so I carried tea back and forth. The Indians were guarding us, and one of these Indians told me, “What the hell are you doing here?” I said, “What do you mean, what the hell I'm doing here?” “Well,” he said, “The war is over.” I said, “Come on, get the hell out of here.” “Yeah,” he said, “The war is over." He said, "It’s been over for three days.” So I went back to camp and I told my officer that. So they all got up and went and took over, took over from the Japs. The Japs were in prison then. They were interned by our men.

Description

Mr. Moar briefly describes how he found out that the war had ended.

James Moar

James Moar was born in Kenville, Manitoba in 1915. He was one of fifteen children. His father worked both as a fisherman and as a farm labourer. After completing grade five, Mr. Moar left school, moving to Swan River to work, and eventually enlisted there. He joined the Royal Rifles, and did his basic training at Portage La Prairie. Before leaving for Hong Kong, he joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Mr. Moar was wounded early in the Hong Kong campaign. His leg injury left him unable to join the labour gangs, and he became a batman for five of his officers in the POW camp at Sham Shui Po. He reports having been well treated by his officers, but being beaten by his Japanese guards. Mr. Moar became a fisherman after safely returning to Canada. He remains proud of his service to his country.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:14
Person Interviewed:: James Moar
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Hong Kong
Battle/Campaign:: Hong Kong
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Royal Rifles, Winnipeg Grenadiers

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I was the one that found out.

Heroes Remember