27 Dec 2005, Sai Wan War Cemetery 西灣國殤墳場 -- fotop.net photo sharing network

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+ Sai Wan War Cemetery +

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

Sai Wan War Cemetery is situated in Chai Wan, on the east of Hong Kong Island.

At the entrance to the cemetery there is a memorial in memory of all those who died in Hong Kong and have no known grave. On the War Memorial are the names of 2,000 servicemen who either died in the battle on Hong Kong in December 1941 or subsequently, due to years of captivity as prisoners of war through barbaric acts carried out by the Japanese, starvation and general ill treatment.

The cemetery has 1,561 graves, of which 1,010 are British and of these 285 have no known grave. There are also 283 Canadian graves, some not being named. Servicemen who died as prisoners on the island of Formosa (now known as Taiwan) were removed and re-buried in Sai Wan War Cemetery in 1946.

The graves are marked with white upright head stones depicting the regiment's insignia and the cemetery is enclosed within a boundary of flowering shrubs and bushes. An Altar of Remembrance, bearing the words from Ecclesiaticus: "Their Name Liveth For Everfore" marks the top of the flight of stone steps leading down a centre aisle towards the Cross of Sacrifice. Both the cemetery and memorial were designed by Colin St. Clair Oakes.

For more information, please click,

http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2000320&mode=1

For the Roll of Honour, please click,

http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Cemeteries/Sai_Wan_War_Cemetery/roll_1939-1945.htm

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"Gortoz a ran" (I'm Waiting) in Breton, performed by Denez Prigent and Lisa Gerrard

Breton

Gortozet 'm eus, gortozet pell
E skeud teñval tourioù gell
E skeud teñval tourioù gell

E skeud teñval an tourioù glav
C'hwi am gwelo 'c'hortoz atav
C'hwi am gwelo 'c'hortoz atav

Un deiz a vo 'teuio en-dro
Dreist ar maezioù, dreist ar morioù

'Teuio en-dro an avel c'hlas
Da analañ va c'halon c'hloaz't

Kaset e vin diouzh e anal
Pell gant ar red, hervez 'deus c'hoant
Hervez 'deus c'hoant pell eus ar bed
Etre ar mor hag ar stered

English Translation

I was waiting, waiting for a long time
In the dark shadow of grey towers
In the dark shadow of grey towers

In the dark shadow of rain towers
You will see me waiting forever
You will see me waiting forever

One day it will come back
Over the lands, over the seas

I was waiting, waiting for a long time
Will come back the blue wind

To breathe my wounded heart, I will be pulled away by its breath
Far away by its stream, wherever it wants
Wherever it wants, far away from this world
Between the sea and the stars

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THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

CROSS OF SACRIFICE

WE CHERISH HIS MEMORY IN OUR HEART:

WE COMMEND HIS SPIRIT TO GOD WHO GAVE IT

Brigadier John K. Lawson, of the Royal Canadian Regiment, who was the commanding officer of The West Brigade of the Commonwealth Forces, consisting of the Royal Scots, the Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers, and the Indian Punjabis, was highest ranking officer killed in the Battle of Hong Kong. He was killed at point-blank range outside his headquarter bunker after transmitting his last communique of "Fight it out!" to his commander.

A group of Canadian veterans visited the Cemetery a few days before in memory of the Fall of Hong Kong on the Christmas Day 1941. They left the little Canadian flags in front of each headstone of Canadian fallen comrade.

A wreath was laid in front of the Cross of Sacrifice by a veteran group.

Sai Wan War Cemetery, circa 1950s.

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