Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Alexander Rule Smith
In memory of:
Private William Alexander Rule Smith
November 27, 1942
Sham Shui Po Hospital, Hong Kong
Military Service
H/41807
18
Army
Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Additional Information
May 20, 1924
Corning, Saskatchewan
June 14, 1941
Swan River, Manitoba
Son of William Rule Smith and Hilda Jane Rice, of Pelly, Saskatchewan.
Half-brother of Private Edward S. Smith, regimental number H-87317, of the 5th Light Aid Detachment, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. He fought in Europe and survived the fighting in the Second World War.
He enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and served in Manitoba and Ontario, transferring to the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers on October 21st, 1941 to fight in Hong Kong with "C" Force. He had 532 days of service, including 396 overseas.
To commemorate his sacrifice, the Manitoba government named Smith Lake located southeast of Swan River in his honor in 1973.
Commemorated on Page 115 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY
Victoria, Hong Kong
VIII. F. 4.
SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY is in the north-east of the island of Hong Kong, in the Chai Wan area, about 11 kilometres from the centre of Victoria, the capital of Hong Kong. At the entrance to the cemetery on Cape Collinson Road stands the memorial to those who died in Hong Kong and have no known grave. From it, the cemetery slopes down towards the sea and originally, the view towards the main land was magnificent. The easiest way to reach the cemetery is by the mass transit railway (MTR) Hong Kong line to Chai Wan Terminus. From the Terminus one can either walk up to the cemetery following Chai Wan Road to the roundabout, turning west into Wan Tsui Road, then south east up Lin Shing Road which leads to Cape Collinson Road. The CWGC road direction sign is fixed to a wall facing down Lin Shing Road. The Cape Collinson area has many cemeteries. Walking up this narrow one way traffic road, one will pass the Catholic Cemetery situated on the hillside to the left of the road, and the Hong Kong Military Cemetery on the right. SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY is about half way up Cape Collinson Road and faces the Muslim and Buddhist cemeteries. One can also get a taxi from Chai Wan Terminus and follow the same route. Alternatively one can board a public light bus, Route No. 16M, which runs from Chai Wan MTR Terminus to Stanley where the CWGC has another cemetery, the Stanley Military Cemetery. En route to Stanley the minibus will pass Sai Wan War Cemetery, stopping only on request.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Details
Newspaper Clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper Clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper Clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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