Original subtitles

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[ ♪♪♪ ]

YEAH, THAT'S A PILE OF BRITISH UP THERE.

[ NARRATOR ]: 50 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR

TOOK THEM TO JAPAN, TWO CANADIAN SOLDIERS

HAVE COME BACK FOR A VISIT.

THE VETERANS ARE PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR A REUNION.

ALL OUR AUSTRALIAN BUDDIES UP THERE...

AUSTRALIANS, BRITISH, EAST INDIANS AND CANADIANS

FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE IN THE PACIFIC.

THE RETURNING CANADIANS CAN REMEMBER SOME GOOD TIMES,

BUT HERE THEY ALSO RELIVE

ONE OF THE DARKEST MILITARY STORIES IN CANADIAN HISTORY.

THEY'VE COME TO SEE 137 FELLOW CANADIANS IN YOKOHAMA TODAY.

THIS IS NOT GOING

TO BE EASY, ROBERT.

ALL OF THOSE OLD COMRADES LIE IN THIS CEMETERY.

DEAR MUGGS, I'M IN THE SAME MOOD HOMER MUST HAVE BEEN

STARTING THE ODYSSEY.

WAR ISN'T LIKE EVERYONE THINKS --

RUNNING UP A HILL, FIRING AWAY.

IT'S MORE LIKE THE TWO OF US SITTING HERE,

AND SOME SON OF A BITCH 8 MILES AWAY SAYS,

"HEY, LET'S KILL SOMEONE OVER THERE."

SO THEY FIRE A SHELL, BLOWS EVERYONE TO PIECES.

THE THOUGHT THAT MY GOVERNMENT

WOULD KNOWINGLY OFFER A COUPLE OF THOUSAND OF ITS YOUNG MEN

AS LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER...

IN ORDER TO MEET SOME SORT OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY...

YOU KNOW, ROBERT, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND HERE AND SEE THESE GUYS,

NONE OF THEM HAD AN EASY DEATH.

EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

IT'S HARD TO COME BACK TO VISIT THE CLOSE FRIENDS

WHO WERE KILLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

BOB MANCHESTER FOUGHT AS ONE OF THE OLDER MEMBERS

OF THE WINNIPEG GRENADIERS.

HE WAS 25.

BOB CLAYTON WAS A TEENAGER.

WHEN HE WAS WOUNDED IN BATTLE,

HE PASSED OVER COMMAND OF HIS PLATOON TO HIS PAL,

MURRAY GOODENOUGH.

HE WON THE MILITARY MEDAL DOWN AT STANLEY.

IS THAT RIGHT?

HE'S THE YOUNGEST MAN HERE IN THE WHOLE CEMETERY --

BRITS, AUSTRALIANS --

HE'S THE YOUNGEST MAN.

IMAGINE THAT.

THEY LOOK AT STONES, EH?

WE LOOK AT PEOPLE.

THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE SOLDIERS WERE,

FOR A LONG TIME, SUPPRESSED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE TERRIBLE STORY IS KNOWN TO VERY FEW CANADIANS.

MANY JAPANESE WOULD ALSO PREFER THAT IT BE FORGOTTEN.

YAAH!

[ SHOUTING ]

ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM

THE YOKOHAMA CEMETERY, ANOTHER REUNION...

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

THE 228th JAPANESE REGIMENT.

IN 1941, SOME OF THESE MEN WERE KILLING CANADIANS,

AND NOT ALWAYS IN BATTLE.

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[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

A SHINTO PRIEST TELLS THEM TO HONOUR THE MEMORY

OF WHAT THEY DID IN THE WAR.

THESE REUNIONS WERE ONCE HELD IN SECRET.

NOW THERE IS AN OPEN CELEBRATION OF THE SPIRIT

THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER FOR WAR.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ INTERPRETER ]: YOU MUST DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD

THE TRUE WORTH OF JAPANESE MANHOOD.

HIS MAJESTY DESIRES TO BRING PEACE IN THE FAR EAST

AND SET ASIA FREE.

YOU ARE THE POINT OF HIS SWORD.

YAAH! YAAH!

[ NARRATOR ]: IN 1941, JAPAN WAS INTENT

ON THE EXPANSION OF ITS EMPIRE.

THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY BEGAN

ITS CAMPAIGN WITH A SWEEP THROUGH CHINA...

LEAVING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION

AND TERROR IN ITS WAKE.

[ SCREAMING ]

BONZAI!

[ SHOUTING ]

THE SEEMINGLY INVINCIBLE JAPANESE TROOPS MOVED SOUTH

TOWARDS THE CHINESE BORDER WITH THE BRITISH COLONY OF HONG KONG.

IN EARLY 1941, WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID PRIVATELY THAT THERE WAS

NOT THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE OF HOLDING HONG KONG

OR OF RELIEVING IT IF THE JAPANESE ATTACKED.

EVENTUALLY, HIS MILITARY PERSUADED HIM THAT IT WAS WORTH

AT LEAST A SYMBOLIC ATTEMPT TO HOLD HONG KONG.

BUT RATHER THAN RISK MORE OF THEIR OWN TROOPS,

THE BRITISH DECIDED TO ASK CANADA TO TAKE ON THE JOB.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

THE FIRST CANADIAN TROOPS DESIGNATED FOR THE JOB

WERE THESE WINNIPEG GRENADIERS

ASSIGNED TO GARRISON DUTY IN ANOTHER BRITISH COLONY --

JAMAICA.

INCREDIBLY, CANADA ANSWERED ENGLAND'S CALL WITHOUT MAKING

AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE PERIL,

ACCEPTING THE MOTHER COUNTRY'S ASSURANCE THAT THE MEN

WOULD NOT BE IN HARM'S WAY.

THE GRENADIERS HAD A LOT OF TIME TO POLISH THEIR BASEBALL GAME,

BUT FEW OF THEM

HAD EVER THROWN A GRENADE.

SOME HAD NEVER EVEN FIRED A RIFLE.

BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF TRAINING,

THEY WERE OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED

BY THE CANADIAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AS UNFIT FOR COMBAT.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING ]

BACK IN CANADA, THE GRENADIERS

WERE JOINED BY ANOTHER UNIT WITH THE SAME CLASSIFICATION,

THE ROYAL RIFLES OF CANADA.

FOR SECURITY REASONS, THE 2,000 SOLDIERS

HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY WERE BEING SHIPPED

OR WHAT THREAT THEY WOULD FACE.

...ABOARD.

IN THE LINE-UP

WAS 21-YEAR-OLD JOHN PAYNE, AND ARTIST AND MUSICIAN.

HE WAS BORN TO BE A SOLDIER.

HIS FATHER WAS A BRITISH CORPORAL WHO MET AND MARRIED

HIS MOTHER, A NURSING SISTER, DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

JOHN'S GUITAR PLAYING AND EASY-GOING MANNER

HAD MADE HIM A POPULAR SERGEANT.

HE WAS THE APPLE OF HIS MOTHER'S EYE

AND HAD PROMISED TO WRITE TO HER OFTEN.

HE ALSO WROTE TO HIS CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART,

MAGDELENE LIZOTTE.

DEAR MUGGS,

SOMETIMES I DON'T THINK YOU APPRECIATE

THE WORK I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE BRITISH EMPIRE,

TO PRESERVE PEACE AND DEMOCRACY ON THE EARTH

FOR MANY A YEAR TO COME.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.

THEY LAUGHED AT COLUMBUS, POISONED SOCRATES,

AND NOW THE ARMY COOKS ARE TRYING TO POISON ME.

[ NARRATOR ]: AS THEY SHIPPED OUT FROM VANCOUVER,

THERE WAS LITTLE SENSE OF FOREBODING.

FOR MOST, IT WAS AN ADVENTURE.

SOME EVEN LIED ABOUT THEIR AGE TO GET IN,

LIKE ARMAND BOURBONNIERE OF ST. BONIFACE, MANITOBA,

WHO WANTED TO SPITE HIS MOTHER.

ME?

I LIKE SKATING A LOT.

HOCKEY? I'M QUITE GOOD AT IT.

BUT MY MOTHER, HEY, SHE GAVE MY SKATES AWAY.

I GOT SO MAD, I JOINED THE SERVICE.

OH, IT WASN'T LONG SHE GOT ME OUT.

I WAS UNDERAGE.

BUT I WENT BACK IN AGAIN, SO SHE LEFT ME THERE.

ANYWAY, I GOT A BROTHER, THE OLDEST ONE,

WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT I WAS BACK IN THERE, HE CAME.

WE'RE IN THE SAME REGIMENT.

KAY CHRISTIE WAS ONE OF THREE

CANADIAN NURSING SISTERS WITH THE EXPEDITION.

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CANADIAN NURSING SISTERS WITH THE EXPEDITION.

OUTSIDE OUR CABIN, THEY'RE GIVING THEM LECTURES --

TELLING THEM WHAT THIS END OF THE RIFLE IS CALLED,

WHERE TO PUT THE BULLET IN.

HONESTLY, IT'S JUST APPALLING.

[ NARRATOR ]: AFTER THREE WEEKS AT SEA,

THE CANADIANS ARRIVED IN HONG KONG

ON NOVEMBER 16th, 1941.

THE 2,000 TROOPS MARCHED IN TO BOLSTER

THE SMALL BRITISH GARRISON.

[ SHOUTING COMMANDS ]

THERE WAS AN AIR OF UNREALITY.

THE COLONY WAS ONLY SIX WEEKS

AWAY FROM ITS CENTENNIAL

AND EXPECTING TO PROSPER FOR DECADES TO COME

UNDER BRITISH MIGHT.

BUT MOST OF THE BRITISH FLEET WAS GONE,

LEAVING ONLY A FEW NAVAL VESSELS TO HELP.

THERE WERE TWO MILLION PEOPLE TO DEFEND --

THE COLONY SWOLLEN WITH CHINESE REFUGEES

FLEEING THE ADVANCING JAPANESE.

HONG KONG WAS NOT JUST AN ISLAND, BUT A CHUNK OF MAINLAND

INCLUDING THE CITY OF KOWLOON.

THE MAINLAND TERRITORY STRETCHED 40 KILOMETRES

TO THE CHINESE BORDER, WHERE THE JAPANESE ARMY SAT.

BETWEEN THE JAPANESE AND MOST OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE

WAS THE MAIN DEFENSE --

STRETCHING FROM GIN DRINKER'S BAY

11 MILES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.

A WHITE RIBBON OF CONCRETE, THE GIN DRINKER'S LINE,

IS STILL ETCHED INTO THE MOUNTAINS

OVERLOOKING A CRUCIAL FRESHWATER RESERVOIR.

FOR A BRITISH ARMY GEARED UP

FOR FIRST WORLD WAR-TYPE BATTLES, THE BUNKERS

AND TUNNELS WITH NAMES LIKE

CHARING CROSS ROAD SEEMED A GOOD IDEA.

SERGEANTS BOB CLAYTON, BOB MANCHESTER

AND THE REST OF THE CANADIANS DIDN'T KNOW

OF LONDON'S EARLIER CALCULATION THAT THESE DEFENSES

WOULD NOT SURVIVE LONG IF THE JAPANESE ATTACKED.

BOB CLAYTON REMEMBERS THE BRITISH MAKING FUN OF THE ENEMY.

[ BOB CLAYTON ]: SOMEBODY ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW,

IF THEY THOUGHT THE JAPANESE WERE GONNA DO ANYTHING...

AND THEY JUST SOUNDED LIKE, HELL, THEY MIGHT MISS A CUP

OF TEA WHILE THEY WERE SENDING THEM BACK ON THEIR WAY,

BUT THEY WEREN'T ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

[ BOB MANCHESTER ]: AND THEY WERE SAYING,

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE JAPANESE."

"THEY CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT; THEY ALL WEAR GLASSES;"

"THEY HAVE NO AIR FORCE -- IT NEVER FLIES AT NIGHT."

[ CLAYTON ]: WE WERE MORE INTERESTED IN THE GIRLS

IN WANXIAN THAN WE WERE IN THE JAPANESE COMING OVER THE BORDER.

[ NARRATOR ]: SIGNS OF THE LEGENDARY NIGHTLIFE

OF HONG KONG BRING BACK MEMORIES

FOR THE TWO CANADIAN WAR VETERANS --

MEMORIES OF THE SHORT, HAPPY THREE WEEKS BEFORE WAR.

PAID BETTER THAN BRITISH SOLDIERS,

THE CANADIANS WERE ASTONISHED

AT WHAT THEIR MONEY WOULD BUY.

EVERYTHING WAS CHEAP.

BEER WAS 10 CENTS A BOTTLE.

RICKSHAW RIDES WERE 10 CENTS A CRACK, AND YOU COULD PICK UP

MOST ANYTHING FOR A GOOD CANADIAN BUCK --

LONG TIME, SHORT TIME, MEDIUM.

HEY, ROBERT, LOOK AT THIS HERE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE,

THERE WERE THE TATTOO PARLOURS.

THAT'S WHERE BOB CLAYTON BOUGHT HIMSELF AN INDELIBLE MEMORY

OF HIS HONG KONG ADVENTURE --

HIS REGIMENTAL CREST AND THE WORD "MOTHER".

HE PAINTS IT ON YOUR ARM,

AND THEN HE JUST COMES ALONG WITH A...

IT HURT LIKE HELL, TOO.

I GUESS THEY THOUGHT HERE WE WERE A LITTLE NUTS, YOU KNOW?

AND THE RICKSHAW GUY, HE'S RUNNING

RIGHT BY THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

HE WANTS TO GET TO THE CANADIAN, 'CAUSE THE CANADIAN

AIN'T GIVING HIM A DIME -- HE'S GIVING HIM A HONG KONG DOLLAR.

YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS WONDERED WHAT STRUCK THEM.

NOT ONLY THAT, THE CANADIAN ENDS UP PULLING THE RICKSHAW GUY

UP THE STREET, THE RICKSHAW GUY'S IN THE RICKSHAW,

AND THE CANADIAN'S GOT A HOLD OF THE SHAFTS,

AND HE'S JUST TROTTING HIM RIGHT UP THERE, YOU KNOW?

IN HONG KONG IN 1941

THE CHINESE WERE ASSIGNED

TO PULL RICKSHAWS AND SERVE THEIR WHITE MASTERS.

AND JUST TO SURVIVE, THEY HAD TO LEARN

TO STAY OUT OF THE PATH OF BRITISH DRIVERS.

IKE FREISEN OF MANITOBA WAS BRIEFED

ON THE RULES OF THE ROAD BY A BRITISH OFFICER.

HE SAYS, "IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE STREETS IN THE CITY"

"OF KOWLOON, AND YOU HIT A CHINAMAN,"

"YOU LOOK BACK IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR,"

"AND IF HE'S STILL KICKING, YOU BACK THAT TRUCK UP"

"AND RUN OVER HIM AGAIN."

HE SAYS, "BECAUSE IF YOU SEND HIM TO THE HOSPITAL,"

"IT'LL COST YOU THE HOSPITAL BILL."

"IF YOU KILL HIM, IT WILL ONLY COST YOU $5 FOR BURIAL."

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THAT'S HOW MUCH A CHINESE COOLIE'S LIFE IS WORTH.

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THE CANADIANS SAVOURED THEIR LEISURE MOMENTS

AND WROTE THEIR FIRST LETTERS HOME.

JOHN PAYNE WAS ENJOYING THIS NEW ADVENTURE.

DEAR MOTHER,

SO FAR SO GOOD.

I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SAY WHERE WE ARE, BUT OVERALL, IT'S TOP HOLE.

FOR 60 CENTS A WEEK, CANADIAN, I HAVE A HOUSEBOY

TO DO MY CLEANING, WASHING AND ODD JOBS.

WITH THE GUYS, I CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY

OVER AT A PLACE CALLED JINGLES, WHICH IS SOMETHING

THAT MY POCKETS DIDN'T DO WHEN I GOT HOME.

TONIGHT I'M READING DUMAS' BLACK TULIP.

I'M SERIOUSLY THINKING OF WRITING A BOOK,

IF ONLY I COULD THINK OF A CLIMAX.

[ NARRATOR ]: AT THE BORDER WITH THE REST OF CHINA,

THE CURTAIN WAS ABOUT TO RISE ON A TRAGEDY.

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE

ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE

ONLY 5,000 JAPANESE SOLDIERS IN POSITION

TO THREATEN HONG KONG.

IN FACT, THERE WERE 10 TIMES THAT MANY:

50,000 BATTLE-HARDENED VETERANS OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY

ASSEMBLING ON THE BORDER.

THE FIVE-YEAR LAND CAMPAIGN IN CHINA

GAVE THEM PRECIOUS EXPERIENCE.

SUPERIOR WEAPONS AND TRAINING GAVE THEM

CONFIDENCE.

[ SHOUTING ]

THE EMPEROR GAVE THEM A CAUSE.

[ SHOUTING ]

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ INTERPRETER ]: WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER THE ENEMY,

REGARD YOURSELF AS IF YOU WERE AN AVENGER COME FACE TO FACE

WITH HIS FATHER'S MURDERER.

IF YOU FAIL TO DESTROY HIM UTTERLY,

YOU CAN NEVER REST AT PEACE.

[ NARRATOR ]: IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th,

THE JAPANESE HIGH COMMAND

ORDERED ITS FORCES INTO ACTION ACROSS ASIA.

AT 7:50 A.M. CAME THE SURPRISE ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN FORCES

IN PEARL HARBOR.

OVERSHADOWED AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN ARE THE OTHER JAPANESE ATTACKS

IN THE HOURS AFTER PEARL HARBOR -- THE PHILIPPINES,

MALAYA, AND THEN

HONG KONG.

[ CLAYTON ]: I TAKE A LOOK UP, AND THERE'S THIS "V"

OF AIRPLANES COMING OVER, AND I HEARD A BRITISH VOICE SAY,

"OH, THEY MUST BE UP FROM SINGAPORE."

WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, HOLY JESUS,

THESE BLACK OBJECTS STARTED TO DROP OUT OF THE BOTTOM.

WELL, I'VE NEVER BEEN BOMBED BEFORE,

BUT I'M NOT STUPID, YOU KNOW.

I WAS THE FIRST GUY IN THE BIG DITCH

THAT'S RIGHT BESIDE THE PLATE.

I WAS IN THERE HEADFIRST, AND THAT DITCH IS DEEPER THAN I AM.

AT THE CHINESE BORDER,

JAPANESE GROUND TROOPS CROSSED EASILY INTO HONG KONG TERRITORY.

SOON THERE WAS

AN ARTILLERY DUEL WITH THE RETREATING BRITISH.

KATONG, TONG, SH-SH-SH-SH...

THE SOUNDS OF HIS OWN SHELLS, OUTGOING, ARE STILL VIVID

FOR JAPANESE MOUNTAIN GUNNER, SHIGATOKI HOSOKI.

[ IMITATING OUTGOING SHELLS ]

BUT THE HONG KONG VETERAN ESPECIALLY REMEMBERS

BRITISH SHELLS, INCOMING.

[ IMITATING INCOMING SHELLS ]

UNDER COVER OF ARTILLERY, THE JAPANESE BEGAN

A 40-KILOMETRE TREK TOWARDS THE GIN DRINKER'S LINE.

THE BRITISH CALCULATED IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK.

BUT 12 HOURS LATER, THE JAPANESE PATROL,

LED BY AN ENTERPRISING OFFICER, REACHED THE BRITISH POSITION.

THIS OFFICER

HAD RECONNOITRED AND FOUND OUT

THAT THIS WAS THE MAIN HINGE IN THE LINE.

WHEN THIS WENT, THE LINE WENT.

THAT WAS THE END OF THE LINE.

UNSEEN AT THE EDGE OF THE RESERVOIR, THE JAPANESE

SCANNED THIS HILL, LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF BRITISH TROOPS.

SUDDENLY THEY SAW UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS WAVING IN THE BREEZE.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ INTERPRETER ]: TO OUR SURPRISE,

WE SPOTTED LAUNDRY DRYING ON THE LINE.

WE SOON REALIZED WHERE TO ATTACK.

WITH GRAPPLING HOOKS, THEY SCALED THESE CLIFFS

AND SURPRISED THE SCOTTISH SOLDIERS IN THE BUNKERS BELOW.

[ CLAYTON ]: THEY GOT UP HERE AND GOT

TO THE VENTILATOR SHAFTS AND WERE STILL UNDETECTED.

IT WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE.

AND I CAN JUST IMAGINE THESE FELLOWS BEING IN HERE --

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AND I CAN JUST IMAGINE THESE FELLOWS BEING IN HERE --

SOME MIGHT BE SLEEPING, OTHERS SITTING UP

SHOOTING THE GUFF OR SOMETHING --

AND THESE JAPANESE ARE OUTSIDE.

THEY STARTED DROPPING THEIR GRENADES INTO HERE

IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN AWFUL SHOCK TO THESE GUYS.

AND MANY A GOOD SCOTSMAN DIED DOWN HERE.

[ MANCHESTER ]: MOSTLY?

YEAH, A LOT OF GOOD MEN WENT DOWN HERE.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE GIN DRINKER'S LINE

WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD OUT FOR WEEKS.

THE JAPANESE TOOK IT IN A FEW HOURS.

THE PRECIOUS NORTHERN RESERVOIR WAS NOW CONTROLLED

BY THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY --

THE COLONY'S WATER SUPPLY IN PERIL.

THE MOMENTUM OF THE BATTLE WAS NOW WITH THE JAPANESE,

AND SOON THEY WERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF KOWLOON,

THE MAINLAND PART OF HONG KONG.

THE WINNIPEG GRENADIERS JOINED OTHER DEFENDERS

FIGHTING A REARGUARD ACTION.

EVERYONE WAS HANDED A RIFLE --

EVEN ARMY TELEPHONE LINEMAN, WALTER JENKINS.

EVERYBODY GETS THE WIND UP, SEE?

HEY, THE JAPS ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

THIS IS THE MAIN ROAD IN HONG KONG, RIGHT?

EVERBODY OUT. EVERYBODY GETS DOWN THERE.

THEY'RE BEHIND THESE SANDBAGS, RIGHT?

I SAID TO THE SERGEANT -- ALWAYS AN EFFICIENT SERGEANT

AROUND THERE -- I SAYS, "HEY, I HAVEN'T GOT A SANDBAG."

"AW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT -- IT'LL JUST GET IN YOUR WAY."

AND I'M THINKING, "WELL..."

"THAT'S WHAT I WANT THE FUCKING THING FOR."

[ NARRATOR ]: EVERYONE SCRAMBLED FOR A PLACE ON THE FEW BOATS

BACK FROM KOWLOON TO THE ISLAND.

[ EXPLOSION ]

CANADIAN TROOPS COMANDEERED THE LAST FERRY.

BUT A 21-YEAR-OLD MANITOBA FARM BOY MISSED THE BOAT.

JOHN GREY, THE ELDEST OF SEVEN CHILDREN,

WAS CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE AND EXECUTED.

HE BECAME THE FIRST CANADIAN INFANTRYMAN TO DIE IN COMBAT

IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

SHORTLY AFTER THE EVACUATION,

THE JAPANESE COMMANDERS PARADED THROUGH THE CITY OF KOWLOON

WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER PRISONERS.

AND THEN MOST OF THE COMMANDERS

TURNED THE TOWN OVER TO THEIR SOLDIERS.

ALL CHINESE WOMEN WERE DECLARED TO BE PROSTITUTES...

AND FREE.

THE RAPING AND PILLAGING BEGAN.

[ SHOUTING ]

THE CANADIANS JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS HARBOUR

COULD HEAR IT ALL.

IT WAS HORRIBLE.

THE SCREAMS AND-- ALL NIGHT LONG WAS JUST--

I DON'T WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

I GUESS THEY WERE LOOTING AND EVERYTHING ELSE,

BUT THAT WHOLE CITY WAS JUST ONE MASSIVE SCREAM ALL NIGHT LONG.

JUST RAISED THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE JAPANESE PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS

DROPPED ON THE DEFENDERS

PROMISED FAIR PLAY FOR ANYONE SURRENDERING

BUT ALSO ACCURATELY DEPICTED THE MILITARY SITUATION:

THE JAPANESE FIRMLY ON THE MAINLAND,

THE SMALLER DEFENDING FORCES STRANDED AND SURROUNDED

ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

THEN A PEACE MISSION WAS DISPATCHED TO THE ISLAND

WITH THE MESSAGE THAT SURRENDER

WAS THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID ANNIHILATION.

THE JAPANESE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG FOR THEIR ANSWER.

AFTER ONLY 15 MINUTES, THE BRITISH COMMANDER

SENT BACK HIS ONE-WORD ANSWER: NO.

[ SHOUTING ]

THE STAGE WAS SET FOR A DESPERATE SIEGE.

THE CANADIANS HAD OFTEN BEEN ASSURED THAT HONG KONG ISLAND

WAS AN IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS.

NOW THEY WERE NOT SO SURE.

[ NARRATOR ]: ON DECEMBER 13th,

1941, THE JAPANESE BEGAN

A FIVE-DAY BOMBARDMENT

OF THE ISLAND OF HONG KONG,

SOFTENING IT UP FOR THE COMING AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT.

THE JAPANESE ATTACKERS WERE OFTEN AS APPREHENSIVE

AS THE DEFENDERS.

SHUICHI KAMATO WAS THERE -- A 22-YEAR-OLD CONSCRIPT

COMMANDING A 25-MAN PLATOON.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

HE HAD HEARD THAT HONG KONG WAS A VERY STRONG CASTLE

THAT WOULD TAKE 100 YEARS TO DESTROY...

AND SO AS HE PREPARED FOR THE BATTLE,

HE PREPARED FOR HIS OWN DEATH.

THE BRITISH COMMANDERS HAD ALWAYS EXPECTED AN ATTACK

FROM THE SEA, AND SO HAD PLACED MOST OF THEIR FORTIFICATIONS

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ISLAND.

THEY STILL EXPECTED A JAPANESE ATTACK FROM THE SEA,

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THEY STILL EXPECTED A JAPANESE ATTACK FROM THE SEA,

EVEN THOUGH THE ENEMY WAS NOW

IN CONTROL OF THE MAINLAND ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ALL THE JAPANESE HAD TO DO WAS CROSS THE HARBOUR.

CANADA'S ROYAL RIFLES WERE PLACED

AT THE NARROWEST CROSSING POINT, LYE MUN PASSAGE.

THE BRITISH COMMANDER SAID THE JAPANESE WOULD NEVER

COME ACROSS THE WATER AT NIGHT.

CANADIANS WERE ASSURED THAT THE JAPANESE WERE RACIALLY PRONE

TO SEASICKNESS.

BECAUSE OF THEIR EYE SHAPE,

THEIR NIGHT VISION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POOR.

BOTH SIDES REDUCED THE ENEMY TO A RACIAL CARICATURE.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ TRANSLATOR ]: WESTERNERS THINK THEMSELVES VERY SUPERIOR PEOPLE

BUT ARE REALLY VERY EFFEMINATE AND VERY COWARDLY.

THEY HAVE AN INTENSE DISLIKE OF FIGHTING IN THE RAIN

OR AT NIGHT, SO THAT IS HOW WE ATTACK.

[ NARRATOR ]: AT 10:00 P.M., ON DECEMBER 18th,

THE JAPANESE CROSSED TO THE ISLAND

ROYAL RIFLEMAN JOHN STROUD

WAS IN HIS TRENCH WAITING.

IT WAS DARK.

WE HEARD SOMEONE COMING,

BUT HE SAID, "DON'T WORRY. IT'S ME, JOE."

AND THEN HE LUNGED AND THRUST HIS BAYONET INTO MY LEG.

[ SCREAMING ]

IT WAS A JAP, BUT HE SAID,

"IT'S ME, JOE," IN PERFECT ENGLISH, NOT EVEN AN ACCENT.

AND THEN THE JAPANESE WERE ALL OVER US.

[ GUNS FIRING ]

[ NARRATOR ]: THE CANADIANS FOUND THEMSELVES

UNDER FIRE IN THE PITCH BLACK.

JOHN PAYNE PHONED BRITISH HEADQUARTERS TO REPORT

THAT THE JAPANESE HAD COME ASHORE.

I GOT A BRITISH STAFF OFFICER

AND TOLD HIM THE JAPANESE HAD LANDED.

I SAID WE NEEDED ARTILLERY SUPPORT AND QUICKLY.

HE TELLS ME THERE'S NO POSSIBILITY

THE JAPANESE ARE ON THE ISLAND.

WE'RE COMMANDED BY THESE BRITISH IMPERIAL TYPES.

SOME OF THEM JUST DON'T TRUST US COLONIALS.

HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT I MUST BE DREAMING.

[ NARRATOR ]: ON THAT FIRST NIGHT OF THE INVASION,

AS BOB CLAYTON WAS WALKING UP THIS ROAD AT LYE MUN,

HE HAD HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE JAPANESE.

[ BOB CLAYTON ]: MY PLATOON OFFICER SENT ME

DOWN TO PICK UP A FLARE PISTOL.

THIS IS 1:00, 2:00 IN THE MORNING, DARK.

I'M COMING BACK UP THE ROAD

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, RIGHT IN FRONT ME,

A SHEET OF FLAME COME UP AND HIT ME IN THE FACE.

[ GUN FIRING ]

I SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES.

I LANDED DOWN ON THE ROAD.

I DIDN'T FEEL ANY PAIN OR ANYTHING, BUT I COULDN'T GET UP.

I CRAWLED UP THE ROAD.

I CALLED FOR MY PLATOON OFFICER, AND IT'S PITCH BLACK.

AND HE SAID, "DID YOU GET THE FLARE PISTOLS?"

AND I SAID, "NO, SIR."

HE SAID, "YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND GET THEM."

I SAID, "I CAN'T, I'VE BEEN HIT."

[ NARRATOR ]: CLAYTON WAS DRAGGED INTO A SMALL BUNKER

AT LYE MUN AND LEFT ALONE.

ABOUT 10 MINUTES GO BY, AND I THOUGHT, "BOY,"

"WHEN THOSE JAPS GET IN HERE, I'M GOING TO GET A SHORT SHIFT."

"I'M GOING TO GET THE BAYONET."

SO, HAH, YOU GET THE WIND UP, YOU KNOW.

I HAD A HAND GRENADE STRAPPED ON HERE, AND I THOUGHT, HELL.

I TOOK THE HAND GRENADE OUT AND TOOK THE PIN OUT.

I THOUGHT THIS IS EASIER THAN THEM GETTING HERE.

I WAS GOING TO LET THE LEVER GO

AND PUT THE GRENADE AGAINST MY CHEST,

AND THEN I HAD SECOND THOUGHTS.

AND I THOUGHT THAT'S A GODDAMNED COWARD'S WAY TO DO IT.

I SHOULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE BASTARDS

WITH ME WHEN THEY GET HERE.

THE NEXT THING, IN WALKS THIS LIEUTENANT SCOTT, AND HE SAYS,

"I COME BACK TO SEE IF YOU WERE HERE."

HE SAYS, "GET ON MY BACK," AND I DID.

WE WENT OUT THE DOOR, AND WE STARTED UP THE ROAD,

AND I SAID, "MR. SCOTT, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU"

"AS LONG AS I LIVE."

HE SAYS, "WE'LL HAVE A DRINK SOME DAY."

[ NARRATOR ]: CLAYTON WAS BROUGHT

TO A NEARBY BRITISH FIELD HOSPITAL.

I STILL GOT THE HAND GRENADE IN MY HAND.

IT WAS AN OLD MAJOR THERE, A MEDICAL OFFICER, YOU KNOW.

AND THE OLD ARMY MAJOR'S BENDING OVER ME,

FINALLY HE SAYS, "WHAT YOU GOT IN YOUR HAND?"

I SAID, "I GOT A HAND GRENADE, SIR."

HE SAYS, "WILL IT GO OFF?"

I SAID, "SHE'LL GO OFF IF I LET GO OF HER, BOY."

HE SAID, "HOLY JESUS!" AND SO THE NEXT THING, THEY COME IN

I THINK IT WAS MALKEY TOOK THE GRENADE.

HE MADE SURE HE HELD THAT LEVER.

AND THAT OLD LIMEY OFFICER,

HE'S JUST MADDER THAN HELL THEN, YOU KNOW.

HE SAYS, "WHATEVER YOU DO, ANYBODY WHO COMES IN ANY MORE,"

HE SAYS, "I WANT TO HAVE THEM"

"SEARCHED BEFORE THEY COME IN HERE."

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, JUST ABOUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER,

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AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, JUST ABOUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER,

I HEARD THAT GRENADE GO OFF.

THIS BUNKER WAS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, AND I GUESS

THEY WENT AROUND THE CORNER AND THREW IT DOWN THERE,

AND I HEARD THE DAMN GRENADE GO OFF, EH?

SO IT ENDED UP, IT WAS FUNNY, BUT IT WASN'T VERY FUNNY.

BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT MR. SCOTT.

HE WAS A VERY, VERY BRAVE MAN,

BECAUSE I'D HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT IN THAT--

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?

WELL, WE NEVER GOT OUR DRINK TOGETHER.

THEY FOUND LIEUTENANT SCOTT AND LIEUTENANT LISTER

AND THREE OF OUR PRIVATES ALL TIED TOGETHER AND BAYONETTED.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

[ NARRATOR ]: BY THE TIME BRITISH HEADQUARTERS

ACCEPTED THAT THE ATTACK WAS REAL,

THE JAPANESE HAD LANDED 7,500 SOLDIERS

ON THE ISLAND OF HONG KONG.

THEY STREAMED OVER IN BOATS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.

SEASICKNESS WAS NOT A PROBLEM.

MANY OF THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS RATHER ENJOYED

THEIR SHORT BOAT RIDE OVER TO THE ISLAND.

SOME EVEN REMEMBER SINGING ALONG THE WAY.

[ SINGING IN JAPANESE ]

INFANTRYMAN SHINSUKI ADAKI RECALLS SINGING A SENTIMENTAL

SAMURAI SONG ABOUT A SOLDIER PINING FOR HIS MOTHER.

THE JAPANESE FORCES SWEPT ACROSS THE CHANNEL FROM THE MAINLAND

AND ROLLED THE DEFENDERS BACK UP

THE MOUNTAINS IN THE CENTRE OF THE ISLAND.

A KEY BATTLE TOOK PLACE

AT THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN PASS CALLED THE WONG NEI CHONG GAP.

TODAY IT'S STILL THE ONLY WAY

THROUGH THE CENTRE OF THE ISLAND.

SERGEANT BOB MANCHESTER'S FIGHT WAS HERE

WITH THE WINNIPEG GRENADIERS.

[ BOB MANCHESTER ]: THERE MUST HAVE BEEN

AT LEAST A DOZEN OFFICERS, NCO's AND OTHER RANKS

WHICH OPERATED THIS COMMAND POST.

THIS IS WEST BRIGADE

COMMAND POST.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE CANADIAN COMMANDER

WAS KILLED AT HIS HEADQUARTERS HERE

EARLY IN THE BATTLE.

HANDFULS OF GRENADIERS STRUGGLED

TO KEEP THE HIGH GROUND AND SURPRISE

THE JAPANESE BELOW THEM.

THE BATTLE IS BLOODY AND DESPERATE.

A HUNDRED GRENADIERS ARE HOLDING OFF TWO JAPANESE REGIMENTS.

THE GUY'S WHO'VE NEVER THROWN A GRENADE

ARE ACQUIRING SOME EXPERIENCE.

THE JAPANESE MACHINE GUN ON TOP OF THE HILL,

HE OPENED UP AGAIN, AND JUST AT THAT TIME,

I GOT SMACKED IN THE ARM, AND THE MARKS ON MY FOREARM

ARE STILL HERE.

THERE ARE FOUR HOLES THAT WENT THROUGH AT THAT POINT.

I...I'M...I GOT HIT.

I'M BURNIN'.

I'M NUMB.

JAP SNIPER GOT ME.

SO I'LL JUST LIE QUIET HERE FOR A WHILE.

JAP SNIPER COME OUT TO SEE

IF YOU DIE OR IF YOU GOT GOLD IN YOUR MOUTH.

I'M WAITING FOR HIM.

I GOT A NEW MAGAZINE IN MY STEN.

SO LET HIM COME.

LET HIM COME REAL CLOSE.

[ SCREAMING ]

I EMPTIED IT IN HIS BODY.

I GOT HIM RIGHT HERE.

I MADE A HOLE RIGHT HERE.

BUT I WASN'T SATISFIED, SO I TROMPED HIS HEAD IN.

AH, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE GRUDGE YOU GET AFTER A WHILE.

[ MANCHESTER ]: WE WERE OUTNUMBERED BY

50 TO 1 AT LEAST.

WE HAD HUNG ON IN THIS PARTICULAR POSITION

FOR ABOUT FOUR AND HALF DAYS,

AND WE WERE NOW RUNNING OUT OF AMMUNITION AND FOOD.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS

WERE ORDERED TO MAKE A SERIES

OF SUICIDE ATTACKS AGAINST THE CANADIAN POSITIONS.

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OF SUICIDE ATTACKS AGAINST THE CANADIAN POSITIONS.

THEY SUFFERED 800 CASUALTIES TO WIN THE BATTLE

AT WONG NEI CHONG GAP.

WHEN THE JAPANESE DISCOVERED HOW FEW DEFENDERS

HAD CAUSED THIS DECIMATION,

THE FIELD COMMANDER WAS FORCED TO APOLOGIZE TO HIS SUPERIORS.

THE GRENADIERS AND OTHERS ROUNDED UP AS PRISONERS

WERE NOW IN DANGER.

SOME JAPANESE SOLDIERS WANTED REVENGE.

[ MANCHESTER ]: THE JAPANESE CAME IN,

MOVED US OUT OF THE COMPOUND.

THEY TOLD US THAT THE WAR

WAS OVER AS FAR AS WE WERE CONCERNED.

WE ASKED ABOUT THE WOUNDED AND COULD WE TAKE THEM WITH US.

AND THEY SAID, "NO, DEFINITELY NOT."

"LEAVE THEM HERE."

"WE'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM."

SO THEY DID -- REAL GOOD CARE OF THEM.

THEY WENT IN AND PUT BAYONETS IN THEM, SHOT THEM,

AND THEN THEY BURNT THE WHOLE WORKS THAT WERE LEFT.

[ NARRATOR ]: AFTER THE WAR, WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS

WENT LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF THAT EXECUTION.

HERE, NEAR THIS STREAM IN THE WONG NEI CHONG GAP,

THEY FOUND THE BONES

OF THE MURDERED CANADIAN AND BRITISH SOLDIERS.

JOHN OSBORNE WON THE VICTORY CROSS,

THE EMPIRE'S HIGHEST AWARD FOR BRAVERY,

FOR HIS PART IN THE DEFENSE OF WONG NEI CHONG GAP.

HE WAS A WINNIPEG GRENADIER,

KILLED TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 1941.

THE BATTLE WAS STILL NOT OVER.

MANY MORE CANADIANS WOULD JOIN HIM IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

[ NARRATOR ]: THIS IS ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE,

A HONG KONG PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE BRITISH TRADITION.

DURING THE SEIGE OF HONG KONG IN 1941,

THE GLEAMING FLOORS OF THE LIBRARY HERE WERE COVERED

WITH ALMOST 100 BADLY WOUNDED BRITISH AND CANADIAN SOLDIERS.

IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIELD HOSPITAL

STAFFED BY TWO DOCTORS AND 11 NURSES.

THIS IS WHERE 19-YEAR-OLD BOB CLAYTON

WAS BROUGHT TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 1941.

THE JAPANESE GRENADE THAT EXPLODED AT HIS FEET

MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO WALK.

HE WOULD SPEND A WEEK IN THIS BUILDING, AND DURING THAT TIME,

HE WOULD WITNESS AN EVENT SO CRUEL, SO BRUTAL,

THAT HE WOULD BE MARKED BY IT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

SORRY.

OK.

WHERE DID THEY PUT YOU DO YOU REMEMBER,

WHEN YOU WERE BROUGHT IN?

YUP.

WHERE THEY LAID YOU DOWN?

I, UH, I'D BEEN WOUNDED IN BOTH LEGS, AND THEN COMING UP HERE,

THEY FIRED ON THE AMBULANCE, AND I GOT WOUNDED AGAIN IN THE FACE.

SO I GUESS I WAS ALL COVERED IN BLOOD.

AND, UH...

THEY BROUGHT ME IN HERE, PUT THE STRETCHER ON THE FLOOR.

OR MAYBE IT WAS A BED.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND, UH...THIS LADY COME OVER.

SHE WAS A VOLUNTEER NURSE.

I GUESS SHE'D BE 40 YEARS OLD.

AND, UH, SHE COME OVER AND KNELT DOWN BESIDE ME AND LOOKED AT ME.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK ON HER FACE.

I JUST CAN'T-- I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS SAYING,

"BOY, OH, BOY, WHAT'S THIS KID DOING HERE?"

AND THEN SHE WENT AWAY, AND SHE COME BACK

WITH A BUCKET OF WATER,

OR A PAIL OF WATER OR WHATEVER IT WAS,

AND WASHED MY FACE ALL OFF, AND WASHED MY LEGS ALL OFF, AND...

ASKED ME IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I'D LIKE.

AND I SAID I'D LIKE TO HAVE A HOT CHOCOLATE, IF THEY HAD ANY.

SO SHE WENT AND GOT ME A HOT CHOCOLATE.

SHE SAID, "YOU TRY TO GO TO SLEEP NOW."

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THIS YOUNG LAD, BUD SWEET,

FROM BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK, WAS ASLEEP IN MY WARD...

WITH FRECKLES ACROSS HIS NOSE AND A LOCK OF HAIR.

HE LOOKS AS THOUGH HE SHOULD BE

OUT PLAYING MARBLES OR SOMETHING.

AND HERE HE IS WITH HIS LEFT ARM OFF RIGHT UP TO THE SHOULDER.

AND HE DOESN'T KNOW YET.

AND I'M THINKING, "DEAR GOD,"

"WHAT AM I GOING TO TELL YOU WHEN YOU COME TO?"

BUD BEGAN TO STIR.

HE LOOKED...AT HIS SHOULDER...

AND HE SAID, "HOW AM I DOING?"

I SAID, "YOU'RE DOING JUST FINE."

HE SAID, "YOU MEAN WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS DOING FINE."

I SAID, "THAT'S EXACTLY IT."

HE SAID, "WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I FIGURED."

AND HE JUST TURNED ASIDE AND WENT TO SLEEP.

[ NARRATOR ]: OUTSIDE, THE BATTLE RAGED ON.

EVERY HOUR BROUGHT MORE JAPANESE TROOPS ON TO THE ISLAND.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1941,

AMONG THE WOUNDED, THE DEAD AND THE DYING

AT ST. STEPHEN'S HOSPITAL, WAS LAURIE MACKAY.

CHRISTMAS EVE.

THE PLACE WAS FILLED WITH BEDS, PEOPLE HIT REALLY BAD.

THEY WERE BEATING THIS ONE FELLOW,

TRYING TO BRING HIM OUT OF SHELL SHOCK.

YOU COULDN'T SLEEP.

WE COULD HEAR MACHINE GUN FIRE AS THE JAPANESE GOT CLOSER.

"JEEZ," I WAS THINKING, "I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."

BUT I WAITED TOO LONG.

[ GUN FIRE ]

BOB CLAYTON WAS UPSTAIRS IN ST. STEPHEN'S

WHEN THE JAPANESE CLOSED IN

ON THE HOSPITAL AT 5:30 A.M. ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

SO OUR WOUNDED WERE LAYING IN BED THERE,

AND JUST BEFORE THEY BROKE INTO THE HOSPITAL,

THERE WAS A HELL OF A COMMOTION OUTSIDE,

AND I HEARD A GUY HOLLERING, "FOR CHRIST'S SAKE,"

"DON'T LET THOSE BASTARDS GET IN THIS HOSPITAL."

WHEN THE JAPANESE CAME THROUGH THE DOOR,

THE DOCTORS MET THEM, AND THEY HAD THEIR HANDS UP.

THE DOCTORS TRIED TO SURRENDER THE HOSPITAL,

BUT THEY KILLED THEM.

THEN THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS STARTED KILLING ALL AROUND ME.

I SAID, "OH, MY GOD, THIS IS IT."

I PULLED THE BLANKETS OVER MY HEAD.

ONE JAP RAN OVER ME TO BAYONET THE GUY IN THE NEXT BED.

AND I ROLLED OFF MY MATTRESS, AND I MADE A RUN FOR THE DOOR.

AND I WAS HIT OVER THE HEAD.

I WENT ARSE OVER TEAKETTLE.

I DON'T REMEMBER A THING TILL I CAME TO.

AND THIS RED CROSS NURSE WAS TRYING TO STOP

THIS JAPANESE SOLDIER FROM KILLING US.

SO THE SOLDIER GRABS HER BY THE THROAT AND DRAGS HER AWAY.

THE SURVIVING NURSES AND SOLDIERS,

LIKE LAURIE MACKAY AND BOB CLAYTON,

WERE DRAGGED DOWN THIS CORRIDOR

IN THE SCHOOL'S DORMITORY.

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IN THE SCHOOL'S DORMITORY.

SEPARATING THE NURSES, THE JAPANESE JAMMED MORE THAN 60

WOUNDED AND TERRIFIED SOLDIERS INTO THIS DORM.

ONE AFTER THE OTHER,

SOLDIERS WERE TAKEN OUT,

TORTURED AND DISMEMBERED WITH SWORDS.

THE RAPING OF THE NURSES BEGAN.

THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO THE ROOM AND FIRING INTO IT.

THE FEAR HAD REALLY SET INTO ME.

I HAD MY HEAD DOWN, AND THIS OLD FIRST WORLD WAR VET SAYS TO ME,

"LOOK, KID, WE'RE GOING TO DIE TODAY."

"BUT ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO DO."

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE LIKE CANADIANS."

"DON'T BE SCARED OF THEM."

IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY, AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT HOME,

AND I THOUGHT OF MY MOTHER A MILLION TIMES, AND I KNEW SHE'D

BE GOING CRAZY, ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, WHICH I FOUND OUT AFTER.

ANYWAY, YOU DO STUPID THINGS, AND I WAS SITTING THERE

ON THE FLOOR, AND I KEPT SAYING,

"MA, I'M ALL RIGHT. MA, I'M ALL RIGHT."

THEN THIS JAP SOLDIER CAME IN...

HE SAYS, "CANADA!"

AND I SAYS, "YEAH, THE HELL WITH YOU."

"GO AHEAD, YOU BASTARD."

"KILL ME."

HE LOOKS AT ME.

HE STARTS KICKING ME, AND THEN HE SAYS, "CANADA!"

"COWBOY?"

I SAYS TO MYSELF, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

SO I SAY, "YEAH...COWBOY."

SO HE STEPS BACK, AND HE TWIRLS HIS HAND OVER HIS HEAD

LIKE A LARIAT, AND HE YELLS,

"WHOOOHOOO! HOO! HOO! HOO! YIP! YIP! YIP!"

AND THEN HE TELLS ME TO STAND UP...

AND QUICK DRAW.

ALL NIGHT, HE KEPT BRINGING BACK HIS FRIENDS

AND TELLING ME TO QUICK DRAW.

[ NARRATOR ]: 5,000 MILES ACROSS THE PACIFIC,

IN TORONTO, IT WAS EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING.

MY MA AND DAD, THEY'RE LAYING IN BED,

AND MY MOTHER SHAKES MY DAD AND WAKES HIM UP, AND SAID,

"ROB, BOBBIE WAS RIGHT IN THIS ROOM."

"HE WAS SAYING, 'MA, I'M ALL RIGHT. MA, I'M ALL RIGHT.'"

UH...MY, UH, DAD TOLD HER SHE WAS HEARING THINGS.

SHE SURE DID.

SHE SAYS AFTER THAT, SHE NEVER WORRIED AGAIN.

AND SHE NEVER DID.

HE CAME BACK LATER AND BROUGHT ME A PACK OF CIGARETTES...

A PICTURE OF DEANNA DURBIN AND AN ALARM CLOCK.

THE CIGARETTES, I REALLY APPRECIATED.

THE ALARM CLOCK, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG I WAS GOING TO NEED.

AND THE PICTURE OF DEANNA DURBIN...

WELL, I GUESS THEY KNEW SHE WAS CANADIAN TOO.

[ NARRATOR ]: OUTSIDE, CLAYTON'S REGIMENT

WAS ORDERED BY THE BRITISH TO MAKE A SUICIDE CHARGE

TO RETAKE THE HIGH GROUND AROUND ST. STEPHEN'S.

THEY WERE ANNIHILATED.

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THEY WERE ANNIHILATED.

JACKIE LYONS, HENRY'S BROTHER, DIED DOWN THERE.

GORDON LATIMER DIED DOWN THERE.

BUT AT LEAST THEY DIED FIGHTING.

WHAT THOSE BASTARDS DID IN HERE, I'LL NEVER FORGET.

FIVE OF THE SEVEN NURSES AT ST. STEPHEN'S,

INCLUDING THE ONE WHO GAVE CLAYTON HOT CHOCOLATE,

WERE RAPED AND KILLED.

OF THE 93 WOUNDED SOLDIERS,

63 WERE MURDERED BY THE JAPANESE.

YAAAGH!

MANY CAPTIVES LIKE BOB CLAYTON WERE SPARED.

BUT DURING THE BATTLE,

OFFICIAL JAPANESE POLICY WAS TO TAKE NO PRISONERS.

IN THE AFTERNOON OF CHRISTMAS DAY,

WITH MUCH OF HONG KONG IN FLAMES, THE BRITISH REALIZED

THAT FURTHER RESISTANCE WAS FUTILE.

AT 3:00 P.M., THE BRITISH COMMANDERS

OFFICIALLY SURRENDERED TO THE FORCES OF IMPERIAL JAPAN.

THE UNION JACK WAS LOWERED.

BONZAI!

[ CHEERING ]

BONZAI!

ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS IN HONG KONG,

THE JAPANESE COMMANDERS PARADED IN TRIUMPH

THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY.

THE DEFENDERS OF HONG KONG, FROM BRITAIN, INDIA AND CANADA,

WERE NOW PRISONERS OF WAR.

SOME APPEARED ALMOST JOVIAL,

HAPPY AT LEAST TO HAVE SURVIVED.

MANY EXPECTED

TO BE TREATED CIVILY, ACCORDING TO

THE RULES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION.

THEY WERE SADLY MISTAKEN.

OVER THE NEXT 3 1/2 YEARS OF CAPTIVITY, MANY OF THE LIVING

WOULD COME TO ENVY THE DEAD.

[ NARRATOR ]: THIS IS THE SHAMSHUIPO PRISON CAMP,

NEAR THE CENTRE OF HONG KONG.

AFTER THE BRITISH COLONY FELL TO THE JAPANESE

IN DECEMBER OF 1941,

THIS IS WHERE CANADIAN PRISONERS OF WAR WERE INCARCERATED.

MORE RECENTLY, THIS PRISON CAMP HAS BEEN USED TO HOLD

ILLEGAL VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG --

BOAT PEOPLE.

ONE THING, ROBERT, IT BRINGS BACK

A LOT OF BAD MEMORIES, I'M GONNA TELL YOU.

CANADIAN VETERANS BOB CLAYTON AND BOB MANCHESTER

FOUND IT HASN'T CHANGED VERY MUCH

SINCE THEY LIVED HERE 50 YEARS AGO.

BUT IMAGINE HAVING TO PUT UP

WITH THOSE THINGS -- IT HAS A REAL SMELL

OF OLD DEATH IN THERE.

IT WAS SOME PLACE.

I SEE THE BACKDROP OF THE HOUSES ARE STILL THE SAME, EH?

JUST THE SAME AS WHEN WE MARCHED OUT THERE.

YEAH, LOOKS JUST THE SAME.

[ NARRATOR ]: WHEN THE CANADIAN PRISONERS

WERE MARCHED INTO THIS CAMP

AFTER THE HONG KONG BATTLE, THEY HAD NO IDEA

HOW LONG THEY'D BE STAYING OR WHAT THEIR LIFE WOULD BE LIKE.

SOME THOUGHT THE GREATEST ENEMY WOULD BE BOREDOM.

ARMAND BOURBONIERE OF ST. BONIFACE WAS DETERMINED

TO MAKE A DECENT LIFE FOR HIMSELF AND HIS BROTHER HECTOR.

WHEN THEY TOOK US TO THE CAMP FROM THE HOSPITAL,

THEY TOLD US TO TAKE ALL THAT WE COULD CARRY.

SO I GOT THIS BIG MATTRESS.

I GOT SHEETS, PILLOWS, OH, AND THESE SOUP BOWLS.

SO I'M THINKING OF MY BROTHER.

SO ONE DAY, I BEGGED HIM TO COME AND MOVE IN WITH ME.

HE SAYS NO.

I MEAN, I BROUGHT UTENSILS AND A BOWL FOR HIM.

THEN HE MOVES IN WITH ME.

HE SPENDS A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND THEN HE GOT MAD, AND HE TOOK OFF.

AND THEN HE SOLD HIS BOWL FOR CIGARETTES.

I GOT SO MAD.

I HAVE A REAL HARD TIME WITH HIM.

I MEAN, I TRIED TO HELP HIM AND EVERYTHING.

BUT HE JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE WHAT I DO FOR HIM.

[ NARRATOR ]: THERE ARE FEW FILMS OR PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIFE

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[ NARRATOR ]: THERE ARE FEW FILMS OR PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIFE

INSIDE THE SHAMSHUIPO PRISON CAMP.

THESE DRAWINGS BY HONG KONG VETERANS

PROVIDE A RARE VISUAL RECORD.

THE PRISONERS WERE WAREHOUSED IN A STEAMING, CROWDED BARRACKS.

ONE OF THE ARTISTS WAS JOHN PAYNE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK IN THE CAMP THAT

WE'RE GOING TO BE LIBERATED BEFORE TOO LONG BY THE BRITS

OR THE AMERICANS OR SOMEBODY.

I WOULDN'T BET ON IT.

I'VE GIVEN THIS PLACE 100 DAYS.

I WON'T BE ALONE GOING OVER THE WIRE.

[ NARRATOR ]: STILL CLOSE TO THE SHAMSHUIPO CAMP

IS HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,

KAI TAK.

FEW MODERN TRAVELLERS REALIZE THE RUNWAY HERE WAS BUILT

BY CANADIAN AND OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR

UNDER THREAT OF STARVATION.

WINNIPEG GRENADIER LES CANIVET WORKED ON THAT RUNWAY.

THE TARMAC WE BUILT WAS ABOUT

THE WORST PIECE OF CONCRETE YOU'D EVER SEEN.

WE SABOTAGED IT

BY MIXING ALL KINDS OF SAND

IN WITH THE CONCRETE TO MAKE IT WEAK.

WHEN THE FIRST JAPANESE AIRCRAFT LANDED THERE --

IT WAS A LARGE AIRCRAFT WITH A FIGHTER ESCORT,

WITH VIPs ON BOARD --

CRASHED ON LANDING 'CAUSE THE TARMAC GAVE WAY.

YOU SEE, THE JAPANESE ENGINEER

TURNED THE PROJECT OVER TO A BRITISH ENGINEER,

'CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH IT.

I CAN RECALL THEM BRINGING THAT JAPANESE ENGINEER OUT,

AND THE OFFICER IN CHARGE JUST

CHOPPED HIS HEAD OFF RIGHT THERE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE IN FOR THE CHOPPING.

IT WAS US DOING THE WORK.

BUT, UM, WE GOT AWAY QUITE CLEAN.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE PRISONERS MAY HAVE LOST THE BATTLE,

BUT WERE DETERMINED TO STAND TALL.

ONE OF THEIR JAILERS WAS BENT ON CRUSHING THAT SPIRIT --

A MEMBER OF THE JAPANESE GESTAPO, THE KEMPETAI,

KENEWA INOUYE.

[ CLAYTON ]: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS SON OF A BITCH

COMES ALONG AND LOOKS US ALL UP.

HE'S WALKING UP AND DOWN, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HIM.

HE'S SOMETHING NEW -- WE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

SO HE STOPS AND HE LOOKS AT US ALL, AND HE SAYS,

"YOU'RE THE CANADIANS, EH", JUST LIKE THAT.

WELL, JESUS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS GUY NOW.

HE SAYS, "I WANT YOU TO KNOW I WAS BORN AND RAISED"

"IN KAMLOOPS, B.C., AND I HATE YOUR GODDAMN GUTS."

[ NARRATOR ]: INOUYE WAS A CANADIAN WHO LEFT HOME

AND ENLISTED IN THE JAPANESE MILITARY.

HE WAS KNOWN AS "THE KAMLOOPS KID."

HE WANTED TO GET GUYS THAT WERE

OUT FROM AROUND WHERE HE CAME FROM, YOU KNOW.

HE SAID WHEN HE WAS A KID GROWING UP THERE,

THEY'D CALL HIM "LITTLE YELLOW BASTARD"

AND STUFF LIKE THIS -- HE NEVER FORGOT THAT.

JOHN STROUD.

ANOTHER FELLOW AND I'D GET A HOLD OF A BASEBALL,

TRYING TO KEEP IN SHAPE.

AROUND THE CORNER COMES THE KAMLOOPS KID.

HE SAYS, "I THROW THE BALL."

SO I THROW IT TO HIM.

HE THROWS IT BACK A LITTLE HARDER.

I THROW IT BACK HARDER.

NOW, I'VE PITCHED A LOT OF BALLS IN MY LIFE,

SO AROUND THE FOURTH TRY, I PUT A CURVE ON IT.

HE MISSES IT WITH HIS HANDS AND I HIT HIM IN THE FACE.

HE PULLS OUT HIS FUCKING SWORD AND NICKS ME ON THE FOREHEAD.

THEN HE SAYS...

"THAT'LL TEACH YOU, YOU SMART BASTARD."

ONE OF OUR OFFICERS, CAPTAIN NORRIS, WHO WAS

THE REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER, HE DECIDED THAT HE WAS GONNA

APPROACH THIS, THIS AUTHORITY AND SAY HE WANTED CLOTHING,

AND BOOTS PARTICULARLY, FOR THE MEN IF THEY

WERE GONNA GO OUT TO WORK.

AND, UH, THE KAMLOOPS KID JUST WORKED HIM OVER

FOR A GOOD 15, 20 MINUTES UNTIL HE WAS BLEEDING...

HIS EARS, HIS FACE, HIS SHOULDERS.

IT WAS A DISGUSTING SITUATION TO WITNESS.

AT LEAST TWO WEAKENED CANADIANS DIED AFTER BEATINGS BY INOUYE.

OFFICERS PROTESTED BRUTALITY TOWARDS PRISONERS,

BUT THE JAPANESE WERE UNMOVED.

IN FACT, THE TREATMENT

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OF OFFICERS WAS ONE PART OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION

HONOURED BY THE JAPANESE.

THE OFFICERS GOT SPECIAL PRIVILEGES,

AND THIS SOWED TROUBLE WITH SOLDIERS

LIKE FRED REISCH.

SO 2% OF THE MEN HERE ARE OFFICERS...

AND THEY BUY 95% OF THE FOOD THAT THE JAPS BRING.

WE CAN'T BUY ANY FOOD AT THE CANTEEN,

'CAUSE THE OFFICERS HAVE BOUGHT IT ALL.

THEY PUT BARBED WIRE AROUND THEIR HUTS

TO HOARD THIS BLOODY FOOD.

WE WORK, AND THEY LAY IN THEIR BUNKS.

AND THEY SMOKE.

AND THEY FLICK HALF-CIGARETTES OUT OF THIS AREA.

AND IF YOU'RE A SMOKER,

YOU'RE DYIN' FOR A SMOKE, YOU KNOW.

SO ONE DAY...

HARRY ROBINSON, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE,

HE WALKED INTO THE GATE, PICKED UP A COUPLE OF BUTTS.

AND THIS GUY --

USED TO BE A COOK AND THEY MADE HIM A SERGEANT --

HE TELLS ROBINSON TO DROP THE BUTTS.

AND HARRY TELLS HIM, "YOU CAN KISS MY ASS."

AND THEY BROUGHT HIM UP ON CHARGE.

AND OLD TRISTS, OUR SENIOR OFFICER,

HE GIVES HIM THREE WEEKS' DETENTION,

NOT FOR PICKING UP THE BUTTS BUT FOR DISOBEYING AN ORDER...

IN A PRISON CAMP, GIVEN HIM BY A COOK.

SO THEY PUT HIM IN THE SHACK.

HE WAS ONLY THERE 2 1/2 WEEKS,

AND THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HE GOT DYSENTERY.

SO THEY TOOK HIM TO THE DYSENTERY HOSPITAL.

HE ONLY LASTED FOUR OR FIVE DAYS THERE.

HE WAS DEAD AND BURIED.

THE BEATINGS AND THE RELENTLESS HOURS OF WORK

TOOK THEIR TOLL ON BODY AND SPIRIT.

BUT OVER TIME, NOTHING DID MORE DAMAGE

THAN THE SLOW STARVATION THAT CAME FROM

A SINGLE RATION MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT.

WE WERE GETTING JUST STRAIGHT RICE.

THAT'S ALL IT WAS, STRAIGHT RICE.

YOU HAD TO LEAK ABOUT 15 TIMES A DAY BECAUSE THIS RICE,

THAT'S ALL IT WAS WAS WATER, YOU KNOW.

SO YOU WERE GOING TO THE BENJO ALL THE TIME.

BUT IT GOT SO WHEN YOU GOT UP,

EVERYTHING'D GO BLACK IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

THE RICE DIET CAUSED MEDIEVAL DISEASES,

STRIPPING THE LINING OF THE BRAIN,

STOPPING THE KIDNEYS WORKING, SLOWLY KILLING.

I USED TO GO AROUND SEE MY GUYS IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST FELLOWS

IN MY PLATOON TO DIE WAS CLARENCE WILBERT.

I WENT OVER TO SEE CLARENCE,

AND HE SAYS, "HOW ARE THINGS GOING?"

I SAID, "THERE'S ALL KINDS COMING."

"THE AMERICANS ARE ON THEIR WAY, AND WE'LL"

"BE OUT OF HERE IN A SHORT BLOODY TIME."

"WELL," HE SAYS, "THEY BETTER HURRY, SARGE."

AND HE THREW BACK THE BLANKET, AND HIS TESTICLES AND BALLS

WERE THAT BIG FROM WET BERIBERI.

IT HAD COME UP THAT FAR ON HIM.

AND THIS BERIBERI, THE WET BERIBERI,

YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGERS INTO YOUR LEG ANYWHERE,

OR WHEREVER YOU HAD IT, AND THE IMPRINT

WOULD STILL BE THERE THE NEXT DAY.

THEN WE HAD THE DRY BERIBERI.

I HAD THAT, AND IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY'S TAKING A KNIFE

AND SHOVING IT IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FEET.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAD HOT FEET ALL THE TIME.

AND THINGS GOT SO BAD, WITH THE GUYS WITH THE HOT FEET

KEEPING THE OTHER GUYS AWAKE, THEY PUT THEM ALL IN ONE WARD.

AND WE CALLED IT "THE AGONY WARD."

[ NARRATOR ]: THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SOLUTION.

THESE RED CROSS PARCELS OF FOOD AND MEDICINE

WERE PACKED BY THOUSANDS OF MOTHERS

BACK HOME FOR THE PRISONERS.

BUT FEW GOT THROUGH TO THE HONG KONG CANADIANS.

MOST WERE STOLEN AND SOLD ON THE BLACK MARKET BY RACKETEERS.

THIS MAN DID MOST OF THE STEALING,

THE HONG KONG CAMP COMMANDER, COLONEL CECIL TOKANAGA.

A DIPTHERIA EPIDEMIC DEEPENED THE AGONY.

THE JAPANESE CAMP DOCTOR HAD SERUM, BUT WITHELD IT.

MEN VOLUNTEERED TO CARE FOR BUDDIES,

KNOWING THE PLAGUE MIGHT KILL THEM.

SOMETIMES IT DID.

DIPTHERIA KILLED 108 CANADIANS.

ARMAND BOURBONIERE WAS TRYING TO SAVE HIS BROTHER.

MY BROTHER...

HE GOT BAD WITH MALNUTRITION...

ALL CRIPPLED WITH SORES AND BLOATED WITH BERIBERI.

SO I, I SQUEEZED THROUGH THE FENCE,

AND I SNUCK IN TO SEE HIM.

HE WAS FINISHED.

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SO I GAVE HIS MILITARY SHIRT TO THIS CHINESE IN EXCHANGE

FOR SOME POWDERED MILK.

AND I, AND I MIXED IT IN A CAN WITH SOME WATER.

I HAD SOYABEAN MILK, AND I WANTED HIM TO DRINK IT.

BUT HE WOULDN'T DO IT.

HE'D GIVEN UP.

SO I GRABBED HIM BY THE COLLAR,

AND I SAID, "YOU DRINK THIS OR I'LL FINISH YOU MYSELF."

SO I JUST SHOVED IT IN.

HE GAGGED AND EVERYTHING.

AND THEN I LEFT...

SENT TO JAPAN.

I, I FIGURED HE'D NEVER LIVE...

BECAUSE HE GAVE UP.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE PRISONERS HEARD IN AUGUST 1942

THAT MANY OF THEM WOULD BE SENT TO JAPAN.

FOUR OF THEM DECIDED THAT NOW WAS THE TIME TO TRY AND ESCAPE.

JOHN PAYNE WAS THE LEADER.

ON THE DAY OF THE ATTEMPT,

HE WROTE THIS LETTER TO HIS MOTHER IN WINNIPEG.

DEAR MOTHER:

I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING OUT.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS REASONS FOR THE STEP, THE CHIEF BEING

THAT THE CHOLERA AND THE FLY SEASON IS STARTING.

AND ANYWAY, I'M RUDDY SICK OF JAPANESE HOSPITALITY.

[ NARRATOR ]: JOHN PAYNE MADE THIS DRAWING

TO HELP PLAN THE ESCAPE.

ON A DARK NIGHT, A LADDER

WAS PLACED TO GET THEM OVER THE WIRE.

THEY GOT INTO A NEARBY SAMPAN

AND MADE A BREAK ACROSS THE WATER.

YOU SHARE MY VIEWS ON FATALISM,

SO I KNOW YOU WON'T CONDEMN MY JUDGMENT.

JUST IN CASE I SHOULDN'T MAKE IT, YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT

ACCORDING TO OUR BELIEFS, I HAVE DEPARTED

FOR A MUCH NICER PLACE, I HOPE,

ALTHOUGH IT WILL GRIEVE ME TO EXCHANGE A GUITAR FOR A HARP.

BUT ENOUGH OF THIS DRIVEL.

I'LL BE ABLE TO DESTROY THIS NOTE MYSELF, I AM SURE,

SO BYE-BYE FOR NOW.

YOUR DEVOTED SON, JOHN.

HALFWAY ACROSS, THEY GOT CAUGHT IN A TIDE OR SOMETHING,

AND THE JAPANESE PICKED THEM UP THERE.

IT WAS QUITE A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE FOUND OUT

THAT THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT, BUT, UH...THEY WERE EITHER

SHOT AND BEHEADED OR BEHEADED ANYWAY.

AND I, I IMAGINE THEY SUFFERED A HELL OF A LOT

BEFORE THEY FINALLY DONE AWAY WITH THEM,

BECAUSE THEY WERE THAT TYPE OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

AND RIGHT AFTER THAT, THEY PUT US IN GROUPS OF 10.

AND IF ONE IF YOU ESCAPED,

THEY SAID THEY WOULD KILL THE OTHER NINE.

AND WE DIDN'T DOUBT IT FOR ONE BIT.

IT WOULD HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD DO.

[ NARRATOR ]: AFTER ONE YEAR IN THE PRISON CAMPS OF HONG KONG,

CANADIAN PRISONERS OF WAR LIKE BOB CLAYTON

WERE PUT ONTO SHIPS AND SENT TO JAPAN.

THE SHIP THAT WE CAME OVER ON WASN'T MUCH BIGGER THAN

THAT ONE GOING RIGHT THERE.

THERE WERE 500 OF US.

WE WERE MARCHED ON BOARD THE SHIP IN HONG KONG,

AND DOWN INTO THE HOLD.

THEY CRAMMED AS MANY OF US DOWN THERE AS WE COULD.

AND WHEN I MEAN DOWN IN THE HOLD, I MEAN DOWN IN THE HOLD.

ALL THERE WAS WAS THE BOTTOM DECK.

THAT'S WHERE WE WERE -- THAT'S WHERE WE STAYED.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LONG

IT TOOK US TO GET OVER HERE TO JAPAN,

BUT IT TOOK US QUITE A WHILE.

AND WHEN WE DOCKED, UH...

AND THEY BROUGHT US UP OUT OF THE HOLD,

WE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ELSE.

WE COULDN'T SMELL EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE WERE DOWN THERE,

BUT WHEN WE COME UP,

AND THEM BUGGERS WERE UP ON THE TOP DECK WITH THEIR HANDS

OVER THEIR NOSE LIKE THAT, AND I WAS LOOKING AT THEM

AND THINKING, "WELL, WE'LL HAVE OUR DAY."

[ NARRATOR ]: FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS, CANADIANS WORKED

AS SLAVE LABOURERS IN A GIANT SHIPYARD NEAR TOKYO.

HERE, MANY OF THE VESSELS FOR JAPAN'S WAR FLEET

WERE BUILT AND LAUNCHED, AND STILL ARE TODAY

BY THE SAME CORPORATION THAT OPERATED

THE SHIPYARD DURING THE WAR --

NKK, NIPPON KO KON,

A FLOURISHING JAPANESE MULTINATIONAL.

BOB CLAYTON WORKED HERE FOR OVER A YEAR.

NOW HE CAN FIND ALMOST NO TRACE

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NOW HE CAN FIND ALMOST NO TRACE

THAT CANADIANS WERE EVER PRESENT.

BUT THE VETERANS HAVE NO TROUBLE

REMEMBERING THE CONDITIONS THEY LIVED IN.

THE MEN WERE FILTHY, STARVING,

BUT ALWAYS DETERMINED TO SURVIVE.

HEY, THE RATS ARE BIG...

JUST LIKE CATS.

AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, WE CAUGHT 22.

SO FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER, WE COOKED OUR RATS.

WE TOOK THE MEAT, EATING IT, AND THE JUICE -- IT'S FAT.

SO WE FIGURED WE GOT PROTEIN.

WE DRINK THEIR JUICE -- VITAMINS, EH?

BIG IDEA.

WE'RE LIKE A BUNCH OF KIDS.

SO THE NEXT DAY, WE GO TO WORK, AND SICK -- TAB.

EVERY TWO MINUTES, WE GOT TO GO TO THE LAVATORY.

DIARRHEA -- YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND EVERY TIME WE COME BACK, THE JAPANESE CIVILIAN

IN CHARGE OF US-- WELL, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY WORK.

WE'RE JUST RUNNING TO THE LAVATORY.

HE BEAT US UP STEADY.

SO I NEVER ATE ANY MORE RATS AFTER THAT.

OH, BUT THEY WERE GOOD.

HEY, JUST LIKE CHICKEN.

[ NARRATOR ]: THIS CARD FROM HOME

TOPPED OFF CHRISTMAS DINNER...

IT CAME FROM THE POLITICIAN WHO SENT THEM TO HONG KONG --

W.L. MACKENZIE KING, PRIME MINISTER.

500 MILES NORTH OF TOKYO WERE ANOTHER GROUP OF CANADIANS.

BOB MANCHESTER CAME TO NIAGATA HOPING FOR THE BEST.

THIS WAS HIS HOME FOR THREE YEARS.

AND HERE HE WOULD LEAVE MANY OF THESE BUDDIES.

THE HORROR STARTED INNOCENTLY ENOUGH,

WITH LINE-UPS -- LINE-UPS FOR PICTURES,

LINE-UPS FOR SLAVE LABOUR IN THE COALYARDS --

LINE UP AND BE COUNTED,

SOUNDING OUT YOUR NUMBER IN JAPANESE.

[ COUNTING IN JAPANESE ]

AND IF YOU GOOFED-- IF ANY ONE OF THOSE MEN ALONG THE LINE

GOOFED BY MUCKIN' UP THEIR NUMBER, THEN BANG,

OVER HIS HEAD WENT THE-- WE STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN.

[ NARRATOR ]: JOHN STROUD WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO ARRIVE.

[ STROUD ]: THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO LEARN IN JAPAN

IS BENJO -- THAT'S THE JAPANESE WORD FOR "OUTHOUSE."

CHRIST, SOME OF THEM ARE JUST KIDS.

THEY CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE WORD.

SO I TELL THEM, "JUST THINK OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT."

"BANJO."

WELL, AT NIGHT THEY GO TO THE GUARD, AND THEY SAY...

"GUITAR."

"UH, UKELELE."

"WHAT THE HELL DID STROUD TELL US?"

AND THEN THE GUARD BEATS THEM.

ONE DAY, THE GUARDS CAUGHT MANCHESTER'S FRIEND

JOHN MORTIMER AND ACCUSED HIM OF STEALING A TIN OF SALMON.

THEY BEAT HIM SAVAGELY.

[ MANCHESTER ]: THEN THEY STAKED HIM OUT IN THE COMPOUND

FOR, UH, ABOUT A WEEK.

HE HAD GANGRENE SET IN IN HIS FEET AND HANDS.

MORTIMER DIED A LINGERING DEATH, FINISHED OFF BY EXPOSURE.

IN THE NIAGATA CAMP ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF JAPAN,

THE WINTER OF 1943 WAS ONE OF THE HARSHEST EVER.

THE CANADIAN PRISONERS WERE DRESSED IN SOGGY GRASS CAPES

AND HAD TO MOVE TONS OF COAL EACH DAY.

AFTER TROPICAL HONG KONG, WINTER WAS UNEXPECTEDLY SAVAGE

FOR MEN FACING STARVATION.

TELL YOU HOW WE SLEEP.

PARTNERS.

ONE GUY SLEEPS FOR A FEW HOURS.

AND SO HE WON'T FREEZE TO DEATH, YOU WAKE HIM UP.

AND THEN YOU SLEEP.

LAST WEEK, THIS FELLOW...

HIS FRIEND WENT TO SLEEP.

THE FELLOW DIDN'T WAKE HIM UP...

SO HIS FRIEND FROZE TO DEATH.

[ SHIVERING ]

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[ CLAYTON ]: THE BIG THING WAS PNEUMONIA.

YOU GOT PNEUMONIA AND JUST DIED HERE.

THAT'S ALL THERE WAS TO IT.

IT DIDN'T-- FUNNY THING, IT DIDN'T

ONLY HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE WINTERTIME.

IT HAPPENED TO YOU IN SUMMERTIME.

I WAS WORKING OUT HERE AND IT WAS AUGUST 1943.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN... I CAN'T GET MY BREATH.

JUST HAPPENED THAT QUICK -- BANG!

AND TAR BABY, MY BUDDY I WAS WORKING WITH SAID,

"WHAT'S THE MATTER, FLASH?"

I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T GET MY BREATH.

ANYWAY, I HAD TO COME UP THE ROAD HERE TO THE JAPS,

AND WENT IN TO SEE THE GUARDS.

THEY LOOKED ME OVER AND PUT ME IN A CART

AND TOOK ME INTO CAMP.

I WENT INTO CAMP AND I SAW CAPTAIN REID.

AND HE SAID, "FLASH, GET YOUR CLOTHES AND GO IN THERE."

THAT'S LIKE SAYING YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY

TO THE CREMATORIUM, YOU KNOW.

I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF,

I'M COMING OUT OF THIS GOD-DAMNED PLACE AND...

[ NARRATOR ]: BECAUSE THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES

WERE WITHHOLDING MEDICINE,

THERE WAS LITTLE ANY CANADIAN ARMY DOCTOR COULD DO.

PRETTY HARD, SEEING YOUR BUDDIES DIE.

AND I CAN REMEMBER LYLE ELLIS DYING AND JIMMY AMOR DYING

AND MURRAY GOODENOUGH DYING, AND I CAN REMEMBER DOC REID CRYING,

BECAUSE HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, EH.

AT CLAYTON'S CAMP AND HERE AT NIAGATA,

THE DEATH RATE SKYROCKETED.

IT WAS SIX TIMES HIGHER THAN THE DEATH RATE

AT POW CAMPS IN GERMANY.

DOC REID SAID, "FLASH, WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE FELLOWS"

"TO THE CREMATORIUM."

WE STOOD THERE WHILE THEY SHOVED THEM IN, BOX AND ALL.

IT'S A WONDER THEY DIDN'T EVEN SAVE THE BLOODY WOOD.

UH, THERE WAS RICE BALLS AROUND THERE AND SOME FISH,

AND WE WERE PINCHING IT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SNEAK SOME OF IT;

WE WERE HUNGRY AS HELL.

ONE OF THE GUYS SAID, "JESUS, FLASH,"

"IF THEY CATCH US, WE'LL GO INTO THE CREMATORIUM ALIVE."

I SAID, "WELL, HELL, WE'LL GO IN FULL, ANYWAY."

LITTLE BIT OF HUMOUR WITH A HELL OF A LOT OF TRAGEDY.

[ NARRATOR ]: MANY OF THE JAPANESE

THAT LIVE AND WORK IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEAR THE OLD PRISON CAMP

HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE TREATMENT GIVEN CANADIANS

AND OTHER PRISONERS.

80-YEAR-OLD MR. KUWATO WORKED IN THE SHIPYARD

DURING THE WAR, AND HE STAYED ON FOR MANY YEARS

WITH THE NKK COMPANY.

HE WAS INTERESTED IN MEETING THE CANADIAN VETERANS,

AND HE EVEN HAD SOME SOUVENIR PICTURES

THAT HE WANTED TO SHOW THEM.

...PHOTO OF THAT TIME.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAMP.

THERE WERE PICTURES OF THE POWs LINED UP OUTSIDE THEIR BARRACKS.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

PICTURES OF THE PRISONERS SUPPOSEDLY HAVING A PARTY.

CHRISTMAS PARTY.

OH, CHRISTMAS PARTY.

AH, SO.

AH, TELL HIM THEY DON'T LOOK TOO HAPPY.

THERE ISN'T ANY OF THEM SMILING.

THEY WERE OLD PROPAGANDA PICTURES FROM THE NEIGHBOURING

AMERICAN POW CAMP, FOR WHICH THE PRISONERS WERE FORCED

TO STAGE HAPPY-LOOKING OCCASIONS.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

...CHRISTMAS DAY.

YEAH, AT CHRISTMAS.

MR. KUWATO WANTED TO POINT OUT

THE VERY GOOD TREATMENT GIVEN PRISONERS.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ INTERPRETER ]: THEY COULD RECEIVE

MANY CAKES, OR SOMETHING...

MANY CAKES? TELL HIM THEY WERE LUCKY.

WE DIDN'T GET ANY.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

WAS HE A GUARD THERE, OR...

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ NARRATOR ]: HE WAS A GUARD.

HE POINTED HIMSELF OUT IN THE PICTURE.

HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS.

BUT HE SAID THAT HE ONLY WORKED IN ADMINISTRATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DOES HE THINK

THAT THE POWs WERE TREATED IN HIS CAMP?

WHAT DID HE THINK OF THE TREATMENT?

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

MR. KUWATO ALLOWED AS HOW THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS THERE.

SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE

OF THE CULTURES AND THE CUSTOMS.

IT ISN'T A CUSTOM TO BE HUNGRY ALL THE TIME, DEAR.

I GUESS A LOT OF POWs DIED IN HIS CAMP?

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

JUST ONE, HE REMEMBERS.

ONE?

HE GOT SICK AND DIED.

HE GOT SI-- HE GOT SICK AND DIED?

I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN HAS A POOR MEMORY, DEAR.

WELL, MANY MEN DIED IN OUR CAMP, DEAR.

MANY, MANY.

I TOOK FOUR OUT ONE TIME MYSELF

TO THE CREMATORIUM, IN A CART.

IF YOU GOT PNEUMONIA, YOU JUST DIED.

SO IT HAD TO BE THE SAME IN HIS CAMP.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

HE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT.

HE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT?

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HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT, NO.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW, THEY NEVER REMEMBER, YOU KNOW.

UH-HMM, UH-HMM.

MAYBE THE DIFFERENCE OF THE CULTURE OR SOMETHING.

THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S A POSSIBILITY.

WE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM

EITHER, DEAR.

[ NARRATOR ]: NIPPON KO KAN

AND ITS FOUNDER, MOROSIRO SHIAICHI, MADE MILLIONS

OF DOLLARS PROFITING FROM THE JAPANESE WAR EFFORT,

PARTLY FROM USING CANADIAN PRISONERS AS SLAVE LABOURERS.

IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, GERMAN CORPORATIONS HAVE PAID BILLIONS

OF DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION TO WARTIME WORKERS.

JAPANESE COMPANIES ARE BEING PRESSED

BY CANADA'S VETERANS FOR COMPENSATION,

BUT REFUSE EVEN TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

IN JAPAN, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL ACCOUNT

OF THE CONDUCT OF THE IMPERIAL

JAPANESE ARMY DURING AND AFTER THE BATTLE FOR HONG KONG.

THE DARK EVENTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

ARE NOT EVEN TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS.

THESE SOLDIERS FOUGHT IN HONG KONG,

AND THEY'RE NOW PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY COME TO THE CONTROVERSIAL YASAKUNI SHRINE IN TOKYO,

A RELIC OF THE OLD POTENT MARRIAGE

BETWEEN THE SHINTO RELIGION AND JAPANESE MILITARISM.

THEY PERFORM AN OLD SAMURAI RITUAL,

CALLING UP THE SPIRITS OF THEIR FALLEN COMRADES.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ NARRATOR ]: SHINSUKI ADACHI

STILL BELIEVES IN THE BUSHIDO CODE.

SURRENDER, HE SAYS, SHAMES ONE'S FAMILY.

HE CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE CANADIANS WHO DID IT.

SUICIDE WITH A KNIFE, HARA KIRI, IS THE WARRIOR'S WAY OUT.

SHUICHI KAMATA, ON THE OTHER HAND, ENVIED THE FACT

THAT CANADIANS COULD SURRENDER.

FACING THE ROYAL RIFLES AT STANLEY, HE WAS ORDERED

TO MAKE SUICIDE CHARGES UNTIL HIS PLATOON OF 25

WERE ALL KILLED OR BADLY WOUNDED.

HE SUFFERED GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN THE LEFT ARM AND LEG,

AND STILL CARRIES THREE PIECES

OF AN EXPLODING CANADIAN HAND GRENADE IN HIS BACK.

THAT WAS HIS CHRISTMAS DAY.

SAME DAY AS THE ST. STEPHEN'S MASSACRE.

THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS WERE EAGER TO DISCUSS THE HONG KONG BATTLE

WITH THEIR OLD CANADIAN OPPONENTS.

FIELD GUNS CAUSED US A LOT OF TROUBLE.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

AND SO BOB MANCHESTER AGREED TO MEET WITH THEM

AT A RESTAURANT IN TOKYO.

WELL, UH, A FIELD GUN...

AND YOU WERE FIRING DOWN IN A, IN A...

SMALL GUN.

FOR A WHILE THERE WAS A MOOD OF COMRADESHIP AT THE DINNER.

OLD SOLDIERS TRADING STORIES ABOUT HOW THE BATTLE LOOKED

FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT.

THAT POINT.

THEN MR. ADACHI PRODUCED SOME ENLARGED PICTURES

OF THE BATTLE LOCATIONS FROM 1941.

BOB MANCHESTER ASKED TO SEE THE ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL,

WHERE THE ATROCITY TOOK PLACE ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

[ INTERPRETER ]: THAT ONE BUILDING

MIGHT BE THE HOSPITAL

HE REMEMBERS.

YEAH, THIS ONE HERE.

THIS ONE HERE.

MY FRIEND IS HERE WITH ME.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO VISIT WITH-- TONIGHT,

BUT HE WAS SO UPSET BECAUSE HE AND ALL THE OTHER CANADIANS

THAT WERE IN THIS HOSPITAL WERE...

THEY WERE TREATED, BEING TREATED FOR THEIR WOUNDS,

AND THE JAPANESE CAME IN AND KILLED MOSTLY

ALL OF THE MEN THAT WERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND MY FRIEND REFUSED TO COME DOWN TONIGHT

BECAUSE HE'S SO UPSET ABOUT THE WHOLE INCIDENT.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

THESE MEN SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT INCIDENT,

AND IN FACT CLAIMED THEY WERE HEARING THE STORY

OF THIS JAPANESE ATROCITY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SUICHI KAMATA'S FIRST REACTION SEEMED ONE OF OF DEEP REGRET.

THE OTHERS APPEARED MORE AMBIVALENT.

[ MANCHESTER ]: WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO

THE QUESTION OF ATROCITIES,

THE BLIND SEEMED TO COME DOWN AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN, UM,

SILENCE OF THOUGHT AND SILENCE OF ACTION.

AND, UH, YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

I MEAN, NO, NO WARRIOR-- WHETHER THEY HAD COMMITTED

THE ATROCITIES THEMSELVES OR HAD WITNESSED THEM,

OR HEARD ANY OF THEIR CHUMS TALK ABOUT ATROCITIES,

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OR HEARD ANY OF THEIR CHUMS TALK ABOUT ATROCITIES,

IS GOING TO ADMIT THAT,

LEAST OF ALL TO STRANGERS.

[ NARRATOR ]: IN THE SUMMER OF 1945,

MOST OF THE CANADIANS WERE SENT DOWN

TO WORK IN JAPANESE COAL MINES.

IN THOSE LAST DAYS OF THE WAR, THE EMPEROR'S MILITARY LEADERS

WERE PLANNING ONE LAST CRIME.

IF JAPAN WAS INVADED,

ALL PRISONERS OF WAR WOULD BE EXECUTED.

THE END, HOWEVER, CAME FAR MORE QUICKLY

THAN THE EMPEROR'S MEN HAD ANTICIPATED.

[ NARRATOR ]: IN AUGUST 1945, ATOMIC BOMBS

KILLED 12O,000 JAPANESE.

THE PRISONERS SAY THE BOMB ENDED THEIR AGONY

AND SAVED THEIR LIVES.

THE SECRET PLAN TO EXECUTE THEM WAS DROPPED.

THIS IS HOW CANADIANS LIKE ROGER CYR LEARNED THEIR FATE.

WE CAME UP FROM THE MINE TO THE SURFACE.

THE JAPS HAD RIGGED LOUDSPEAKERS TO UTILITY POLES,

AND THEY MADE US SIT AROUND IN A CIRCLE.

THEN WE HEARD THIS VOICE...

THIS, THIS DISEMBODIED VOICE CAME ON THE AIR.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL HE WAS SAYING.

IT WAS, IT WAS A SORT OF JAPANESE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

SO ONE OF THE FOREMEN WAS SORT OF INTERPRETING FOR US,

AND HE SAID, "THAT'S THE EMPEROR."

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ NARRATOR ]: THE BROADCAST OF HIROHITO'S SURRENDER SPEECH

FROM THE IMPERIAL PALACE WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT MOST JAPANESE HAD EVER HEARD THE EMPEROR'S VOICE.

HE TOLD THEM THEY MUST LEARN TO BEAR THE UNBEARABLE,

THAT THE ENEMY HAD DEVELOPED A WEAPON SO POWERFUL

THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT SURRENDER.

THE PRISON HOSPITALS IN HONG HONG AND JAPAN WERE FILLED

WITH MEN AT THE EDGE OF DEATH.

THOSE WHO SURVIVED WOULD NEVER FULLY RECOVER

FROM THEIR ORDEAL.

THE CANADIAN POWs WERE BROUGHT OUT TO AMERICAN SHIPS,

LIKE THE USS WISCONSIN, ANCHORED IN TOKYO BAY,

WHERE THOUSANDS OF SAILORS WATCHED THEM COME ABOARD.

THE AMERICAN FORCES ON THE WISCONSIN WANTED TO GIVE SPECIAL

WELCOMES TO EACH OF THE POWs BROUGHT ABOARD,

SO INDIVIDUAL U.S. SAILORS, LIKE MACHINIST MATE BOB GRILLO,

WERE ASSIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS

OF EQUIVALENT RANK.

WHEN SERGEANT BOB CLAYTON WALKED UP THIS GANGPLANK IN 1945,

HE WAS ASSIGNED TO BOB GRILLO.

MORE THAN FOUR DECADES LATER, THEY MEET AGAIN.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, ROBERT -- PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD?

I NEVER ASKED YOU THAT 45 YEARS AGO.

AND I'M NOT HUNGRY THIS TIME.

AND YOU'RE NOT THAT SAME LITTLE

SKINNY KID, EITHER.

NO, I'M NOT.

YOU'RE LOOKING GREAT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

SAME THING HAPPENED

TO YOU -- YOU LOOK GOOD.

NEVER FORGOT YOU GUYS AND WHAT YOU DID FOR US.

WONDERFUL, JUST WONDERFUL.

[ NARRATOR ]: FOR BOB CLAYTON, THE STRONGEST IMPRESSION

WAS LEFT BY THE AMERICAN OFFICER WHO TOOK COMMAND

OF THE PRISONERS AS THEY CAME ABOARD.

AND HE SAID, "SAILOR, YOU LOOK AT THAT SOLDIER."

"SOLDIER, YOU LOOK AT THAT SAILOR."

SO YOU AND I ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER.

HE SAYS, "ANYTHING HE WANTS, YOU GET IT FOR HIM."

"AND IF IT'S NOT ON THIS SHIP, YOU GO AND GET IT."

"YOU LOOK AFTER HIM, AND HE CAN EAT 24 HOURS A DAY."

"NOW I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING."

"YOU'RE THE HUNGRIEST LOOKING BUNCH OF BASTARDS"

"I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE."

"WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW."

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"WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW."

IF I CAN REMEMBER -- THAT'S SO MANY YEARS AGO --

BUT I THINK THEY JUST PUT SOME TABLES OUT RIGHT ALONG HERE.

WE SAT DOWN AND THE GUY COME OUT,

THEY COME OUT WITH THE BACON AND EGGS.

I THINK THE GUY SERVED THEM WITH A PITCHFORK.

THEY JUST-- BOOM, AND IT HIT--

HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOW PLATE.

HOW COULD WE BRING YOU DOWN BELOW?

AND YOU'D ONLY FINISH ONE EGG,

AND HE'D BE BACK WITH ABOUT TWO MORE.

WE HAD THE BACON; WE HAD TOAST.

I THINK HALF OF US GOT SICK.

WE WEREN'T USED TO THAT GREASE.

I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW GOOD YOU WERE.

DUNAWAY.

BROACH.

...CAPTAIN ON YOUR SHIP...

[ NARRATOR ]: THE AMERICAN NAVY TRANSPORTED THE CANADIANS

BACK TO NORTH AMERICA.

THE MEN LOOKED FORWARD TO PUTTING LIVES BACK TOGETHER.

ONE WINNIPEG GRENADIER SEARCHED FOR A BROTHER

HE LEFT NEAR DEATH IN HONG KONG, ARMAND BOURBONIERE.

YOU KNOW WHERE I SAW HIM AGAIN?

SAN FRANCISCO.

THE NAVY GAVE ME THIS SAILOR UNIFORM.

SO HE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE ME.

AND I DIDN'T TELL HIM.

HE STARTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE BROTHER HE LOST.

ME?

THEN WE GOT ON THE TRAIN TO SEATTLE.

AND THEN I SAID, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET YOUR BROTHER AGAIN?"

HE GOES, "IS HE ALIVE?"

AND I GO, "YEAH."

"I'M YOUR BROTHER."

SO HE...HE STARTED CRYING.

IN OCTOBER 1945,

FOUR YEARS AFTER THEY LEFT CANADA, THE HONG KONG VETERANS

WERE FINALLY HOME AGAIN.

[ CLAYTON ]: NOW, WHEN I ARRIVED,

AND THERE WERE 68 OF MY RELATIVES.

IT WAS 8:00 IN THE MORNING. I WAS EMOTIONAL.

MA STARTED TO CRY, AND I SAID,

"HEY, MA, I'M HOME NOW, YOU KNOW."

AND THEN WHEN WE ARRIVED AT MY PLACE, ALL THE TIME I WAS AWAY--

IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY WHEN I ARRIVED HOME.

IT WAS OCTOBER, BUT IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY.

MY DAD HAD COOKED UP GEESE, 'CAUSE I LOVE GOOSE, YOU KNOW,

AND HE HAD I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PUMPKIN PIES.

THE STREET WAS BLOCKED OFF.

AND ALL THE TIME I WAS AWAY, MY MOTHER PUT MY CHRISTMAS

PRESENTS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

AND THEN WITH MANY A TEAR, I GUESS, SHE'D PICKED THEM UP

AND PUT THEM IN A CUPBOARD UNTIL I COME BACK.

WHEN I COME BACK, I GOT THOSE PRESENTS.

SO SHE NEVER HAD ANY DOUBTS THAT I WASN'T COMING BACK.

[ NARRATOR ]: THE WINNIPEG GRENADIERS

SAILED INTO VICTORIA,

BOB MANCHESTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.

HE HAD A JOYFUL REUNION WITH HIS MOTHER AND WIFE, EDNA.

BUT ALWAYS THE SOLDIER, MANCHESTER HAD TAKEN ON

A HEART-BREAKING ASSIGNMENT.

JOHN PAYNE'S FAMILY, HIS MOTHER, MARGARET,

SISTERS DIANE, YVONNE, AND BROTHER BEN,

STILL WEREN'T SURE ABOUT HIS FATE.

AND ONE OF THE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WAS TO, UH,

UM, PAY MY RESPECTS TO THAT FAMILY.

THEY WERE VERY, VERY ANXIOUS TO KNOW

JUST WHAT DID TAKE PLACE.

BEFORE THE WAR, THE PAYNES HAD CELEBRATED WITH SOME GRENADIERS,

INCLUDING THE GUY ON THE FLOOR, BOB MANCHESTER.

NOW HE WAS COMING BACK INTO THEIR HOME,

CARRYING JOHN PAYNE'S LAST WORDS.

THE LETTER WAS GRIMY AND SWEAT-STAINED

FROM YEARS BEING HIDDEN UNDER MANCHESTER'S CLOTHES.

"DEAR, MOTHER."

"I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING OUT."

"YOU SHARE MY VIEWS ON FATALISM."

"ALTHOUGH IT WILL GRIEVE ME"

"TO EXCHANGE A GUITAR FOR A HARP..."

"BUT ENOUGH OF THIS DRIVEL."

"YOUR DEVOTED SON, JOHN."

"P.S. BEST REGARDS TO DI AND YVONNE."

"TELL BEN TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE NEXT WAR."

[ NARRATOR ]: SOME CANADIAN VETERANS

RETURNED TO JAPAN TO JOIN

THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM HUNTING JAPANESE WAR CRIMINALS.

A FEW HUNDRED SCAPEGOATS WERE ROUNDED UP AND PROSECUTED.

THE COMMANDANT OF THE HONG KONG PRISON CAMP WAS CONVICTED

OF JOHN PAYNE'S MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES.

COLONEL ISAWA TAKANAGA WAS SENTENCED TO HANG,

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COLONEL ISAWA TAKANAGA WAS SENTENCED TO HANG,

BUT THAT WAS COMMUTED

TO 20 YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

AT ST. STEPHEN'S, A NURSE WHO SURVIVED THE ATROCITY

TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO IDENTIFY JAPANESE SOLDIERS RESPONSIBLE

FOR SOME OF THE MURDERS AND RAPES.

THE JAPANESE ARMY COMMANDER IN HONG KONG WAS CONVICTED

OF MURDER FOR ORDERING THE EXECUTION OF PRISONERS.

MAJOR GENERAL TANAKA WAS SENTENCED TO HANG,

BUT THE SENTENCE WAS EVENTUALLY COMMUTED.

KANAYO INOUYE WAS FOUND GUILTY

OF BEATING CANADIAN SOLDIERS TO DEATH.

AT FIRST HIS CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED ON THE GROUNDS

CANADA COULDN'T TRY A CANADIAN CITIZEN FOR WAR CRIMES.

THEN HE WAS TRIED AND CONVICTED OF TREASON, AND IN 1947,

HE WAS HANGED IN HONG KONG.

WHILE SOME CANADIANS FOCUSED

THEIR ANGER AGAINST THE JAPANESE,

MEN LIKE ROGER CYR BLAME THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

FOR SENDING THEM ON THE HOPELESS MISSION TO BEGIN WITH.

AS A SOLDIER,

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH BEING SENT TO WAR.

DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

WHAT FRIGHTENS THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME...

THE THOUGHT THAT MY GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE NOT ONLY WILLINGLY,

BUT VERY ACTIVELY, PLACED ITSELF IN A SITUATION

WHERE IT WOULD KNOWINGLY OFFER A COUPLE OF THOUSAND

OF ITS YOUNG MEN AS LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER...

IN ORDER TO MEET SOME SORT OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

[ NARRATOR ]: IN 1941, THESE CANADIAN SOLDIERS

OFFERED THEIR LIVES TO THEIR COUNTRY

AND ENTRUSTED THEIR FATE TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THAT TRUST WAS BETRAYED.

IN THE YEARS AFTER THE WAR, AS THEY STRUGGLED WITH THE PHYSICAL

AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTERMATH OF THEIR IMPRISONMENT,

THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT MADE THEM PLEAD

FOR EACH SMALL INCREASE IN MEDICAL BENEFITS

AND WAR PENSIONS.

THE CANADIAN PRISON CAMP SURVIVORS MADE A CLAIM

FOR REPARATIONS FROM JAPAN, BUT IN 1952,

WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

LEGALLY ABSOLVED JAPAN OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

AT THE SAI WAN BAY CEMETERY IN HONG KONG,

THE CANADIAN VETERANS ARE HONOURED VISITORS.

ON MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES OF THE BATTLE,

THE CANADIAN SACRIFICE IS REMEMBERED

WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS.

THE BUGLE IS PLAYED,

UNIFORMS ARE WORN,

AND GUNS ARE FIRED IN SALUTE OVER THE CANADIAN GRAVES.

IN THE HODOGAYA CEMETERY IN JAPAN, THE GUNS ARE FORBIDDEN

AND THE CANADIAN EMBASSY HAS TOLD THE VETERANS

IF THEY INSIST ON BRINGING A BUGLE,

IT MUST BE HIDDEN IN A PAPER BAG.

ALL FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING THE JAPANESE.

IN 1991, THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER INFORMALLY APOLOGIZED

TO THE CANADIAN WAR VETERANS, BUT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

AND CORPORATIONS STILL REFUSE TO PAY ANY COMPENSATION.

AND THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO OPPOSE

THE VETERANS RIGHT TO HAVE IT.

THE COMMONWEALTH MILITARY CEMETERY AT STANLEY

IS NEAR ST. STEPHEN'S HOSPITAL,

WHERE CANADIAN SOLDIERS WERE MASSACRED IN HONG KONG.

...AND THEY ALL GOT SOMETHING FROM THEIR FAMILY ON THE BOTTOM.

THERE ARE 19 CANADIANS IN THIS SMALL CEMETERY,

NOT COUNTING THE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS OFTEN BURIED

MORE THAN ONE TO A GRAVE.

THERE'S 12 OF THEM HERE, ROBERT.

UH-HMM.

WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM THE WAR, SOME OF THE SURVIVORS

WERE OUTRAGED WHEN THEY HEARD OF PRINTED ACCUSATIONS IN BRITAIN

THAT CANADIANS BROKE AND RAN IN THE HONG KONG BATTLE,

THAT CANADIANS WERE TO BLAME FOR THE FALL OF THE COLONY.

THEY KNEW IT WAS A LIE,

AND YET MANY HAD TROUBLE BRINGING THEMSELVES

TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

TO THE FAMILIES OF THEIR DEAD COMRADES.

WHAT YOU TRY TO DO, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING

WITH THE RELATIVES, UH, GIVE THE BETTER SIDE OF THE PICTURE

RATHER THAN THE HORRORS OF THE ACTUAL FIGHTING

OR THE PRISON CAMP, UH, SITUATION.

I DIDN'T EVEN TELL MY OWN MOTHER EVERYTHING.

I NEVER TOLD HER ANYTHING ABOUT THE BAD TIMES

OR HOW BAD IT WAS IN CAMP, OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I HAD, UH...

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I HAD, UH...

WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

EVEN LIEUTENANT SCOTT THAT SAVED MY LIFE.

I'M SORRY TO SAY I DIDN'T WRITE HIS WIFE AND TELL HER

WHAT I THOUGHT OF HIM TILL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

WHY IS THAT?

I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO FORGET IT, THAT'S ALL.

SO WE TRIED TO, UH...

PROVIDE A REASONABLE

EXPLANATION AS TO, UM...

I DON'T WHY-- CUT IT OUT, BOB--

I DON'T KNOW WHY BOB AND I GOT PICKED TO COME HERE.

ANY OF THE FELLOWS COULD HAVE CAME HERE.

A COUPLE OF EPISODES WE'VE HAD SOME FUN,

LAUGHED DOWN ON THE STREETS.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT HAS BEEN NO LAUGH.

I'VE BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD TO SERVE WITH THIS BRIGADE,

BOTH IN THE FIGHTING... AND IN PRISON CAMP.

AND I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THEM, WHEREVER YOU ARE,

AND WHEREVER YOU GO,

YOU CAN SAY, "I'M A HONG KONG VETERAN,"

AND HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH.

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