Saturday, November 11, 2006

The Forgotten

Waking up from a jetlagged haze, Sheena looked out the window onto Hong Kong Harbour and thought "Holy crap, I'm really here". Took a few minutes of eye rubbing to remember that it was November 11. 2002. It was a Monday, the officially scheduled decompress and time zone adjustment day before work started on Tuesday.

What to do. Was 9am and it all clicked. Sheena grabbed a map and walked over to the subway. Destination: end of the line. The Chai Wan Stop.

Got out feeling a bit bewildered in the crowds and bustle. Ran to the taxi stand and pointed again at the map. Time was ticking. Driver looked at Sheena as though perhaps she had two heads, and then giddyupped. Out of the traffic, up the hills. Up the winding and ominously named Cape Collision road, hills full of ancient crypts. When we arrived at the destination, Sheena was nervous but pleased. It was still before 11am.

The destination was the Sai Wan War Cemetary. Resting place of the Canadian and British soldiers slaughtered on Christmas Day 1941. Outnumbered 10-1 by the Japanese, these rag-tag lads, including Winnipeg Grenadiers, fought an unwinnable battle - undermanned, undersupplied, under prepared. Hung out to dry by King and King, the less deferential of us might speculate.

Sheena wondered what dignitaries might be there, what kind of pictures she could get of this exotic pomp and circumstance. Would there be media coverage of the Remembrance Day ceremonies? Would she get on Hong Kong TV?

Tried to open the door to the cemetary information centre. Locked. Went to the gate and looked in. A breathtaking view:



A breathtaking view of an empty abandoned graveyard. Built into a high hill sloping down towards the azure blue harbour. A rolling mountainside of limestone slabs poking through the lush greenery. And I was the only person there. No ceremony at 11am. No dignitaries. No veterans with brave faces and crumpled berets. Just a 30-something redhead wearing inappropriate shoes climbing up the hill feeling a little lost and lonely.

A profoundly sad realization that these prairie boy teens and 20-something countrymen had been completely forgotten on their very own day of Rememberance. When the shock and tears passed, I strolled down the hill. Looking at the names, smelling some astoundingly beautiful orchids. Sat and rested, accompanied only by a stray dog who wandered cautiously a few rows behind me.

Took a picture of my signature as the only name in the unattended yellowing guest book on November 11, 2002. It's packed away in a box somewhere. Probably go look for it later today. So they don't get forgotten yet again on November 11.

18 Comments:

At 10:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Sheena. You have reminded me again the meaning of today.
A friend of mine went cross border shopping as a day trip yesterday - November 10th & was returning home in the evening when she couldn't figure out what the funny glow & commotion was at the border. It was about 300+ cars heading IN to the states. A long weekend of shopping. Car loads of kids, parents & the only thought of today will be "what kind of sales can we find at Target"? I still remember the solemn day in Winnipeg when you could only buy necessities @ 7-11 - nothing more than bread or milk. Everything else was closed.
I think we need to revert back to these days.

 
At 12:11 PM, Blogger Tarkwell Robotico said...

Sheena,

that was beautiful.

 
At 12:20 PM, Blogger Jacques Beau Vert said...

I haven't been able to think of anything worthwhile to express today, Sheena. I'm so glad you wrote this - I can at least read something wonderful.

You make me wonder how appropriate it might be for Canada to dig up all those graves, and stones, and transport them home to a Canadian resting place.

Your story really struck me. I couldn't make it to the ceremony today (babysitting) and I missed having some sort of commemoration - this was just right. It really touched me.

 
At 1:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sigh.

A poignant story, Sheena. Thanks.

Rob

 
At 3:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sheena i'm really impressed that you took the time and care to go there. what a shame the ex-pats don't honour the fallen there.

at the risk of placing my own belief system down, i'm sure the bodies of light who fell fully felt and appreciated your being there and your feelings.

today i got to lay a wreath on behalf of the squamish nation in our small community. the drum hoop covered with cedar, sweetgrass lining the hoop, a smudge stick on the bottom and eagle feather hanging is in tribute to the indigenous people who volunteered for the war (while natives are not subject to the draft many volunteered and many were drafted illegally....all to come home to find the government had stolen more of their land).

my tears flowed freely as i stood amongst community members of all stripes, as we put aside our differences to honour the fallen.

a beutifully written piece, sheena, with good imagery. i felt like i was there with you. thanks.

 
At 4:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lovely Sheena.

My Gram's half brother, my great uncle Johnny Kitt was with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Hong Kong when the Japanese invaded.

He survived 4 years in Japanese labour camps.

Died in the late 70's.

Here is a link to descriptions of the camps...

"And I think one of the things that disturbed me mostly was that a, the one thing, they always took all your jewellery and they took all your wallet and papers and that out, but it was really difficult to accept when they would take the pictures of your wife or your family out and either urinate on them and or cut them up and you know, just really try to draw you into a response."

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/hrp/regiment®iment_id=20

 
At 6:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"a beautifully written piece, sheena, with good imagery. i felt like i was there with you. thanks"

--I felt the same, pretty powerful stuff you wrote sheena.

 
At 8:41 PM, Blogger Jacques Beau Vert said...

Marshall McClueless... that's brilliant. I wish I'd thought of that one...

 
At 9:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lovely, Sheena. Beautifully written...

 
At 9:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

scout

just checked out you blog

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check it out people

 
At 11:58 PM, Blogger CheekierMeSly said...

Sheena, this is THE stuff. You had me there. My relatives fought in other battles in other times, but losses abound nonetheless. Distance, time, and alienation can set you back, but the power of language and feeling connect you to the world. Thanks for connecting us (and yerself).

 
At 11:59 PM, Blogger CheekierMeSly said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 2:01 AM, Blogger saran said...

I'm proud of you, Sheena.

 
At 5:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you, Sheena.

I think you've just earned every good thing that happens for you.

 
At 1:02 PM, Blogger Mark Turuk said...

Well written, well done.

 
At 2:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey jacobin, thanks....you've got a good thing going over at your site (great name!!!!). keep it up, the more the merrier. hleping people read beteen the lines and seeing the big picture is an awsesome thing to do.

wow sheena, look at all these great comments! you've got the way with the pen, go girl!!!

 
At 9:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very moving, Sheena. Good for you for making the trek to the cemetary. Perhaps they have a different veterans' day over there. My old HK boyfriend told me about the atrocities committed by Japanese on Chinese during the war. I never learned about that in school. Also, I am excited that you went to HK. I have always wanted to visit there for candies and electronics and clothes shopping!

 
At 1:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

gee, sheena - i'm gonna look at it like these fallen heroes have been boycotting a bastardized remembrance day all these years.

 

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