No Medications
Heroes Remember
No Medications
Transcript
Description
Mr. Hurd discusses the Japanese denial of medications to the Canadian POWs. He also accuses his captors of stealing a relief shipment of food and medicine from the Red Cross.
Lionel Hurd
Lionel Hurd was born on February 3, 1907 in Maple Leaf, P.Q. He was the eldest of three sons. After finishing school he went to work in a lumber yard, and then out to the gold mines in Kirkland Lake. In 1936 he became a surveyor. Despite being married with two children, Mr. Hurd enlisted in 1940, serving as a Captain at an internment camp near Quebec City. He then took a demotion to Lieutenant in order to join the Royal Rifles. Mr. Hurd was soon a Captain acting as regimental quartermaster. After the fall of Hong Kong, he was fortunate to be imprisoned with the other officers, thus avoiding much of the misery experienced by the non-commissioned ranks.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Recorded:
- February 2, 2005
- Duration:
- 0:37
- Person Interviewed:
- Lionel Hurd
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Hong Kong
- Battle/Campaign:
- Hong Kong
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Royal Rifles of Canada
- Rank:
- Captain
Related Videos
Alien Internment Camp
Mr. Hurd discusses being offered a Captain's commission to serve at an alien internment camp near Quebec City. Later he takes a demotion to lieutenant to join the Royal Rifles. He eventually becomes a regimental quartermaster, regaining his rank of Captain.
Sham Shui Po was a Good Layout
Mr. Hurd says that from his perspective Sham Shui Po was well laid out and spacious enough to accommodate the two Canadian regiments and their respective stores.
Our Vehicles Never Arrived
Mr. Hurd discusses the failure of the Canadian army's heavy trucks and equipment to arrive in Hong Kong. He makes the point that the troop ship had plenty of room in her hold to carry several Bren gun carriers, which Mr. Hurd feels would have greatly aided the defense of Hong Kong.
Surrender
Mr. Hurd discusses his officer's relief at the Hong Kong's surrender, as he had felt the battle was futile and would cost too many unnecessary deaths among his men. The Royal Rifles were, ironically, the last Commonwealth regiment to lay down their arms.
North Point Camp
Mr. Hurd describes North Point as a filthy nightmare. The diet consisted of rice contaminated with rat feces, and boiled lettuce-like greens. Yams were an occasional treat.
The War Ends
Mr. Hurd describes hearing about the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, and senses that the war is over. His officer challenges the Japanese commandant about his authority, and the Japanese soon all disappear.
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