Gerry GerrardB次元官网网址檚 Esquimalt townhome is filled with family photographs.
There are photos of his children and grandchildren, many are of his late wife Evelyn, one sits on the table near his recliner, only an armB次元官网网址檚 length away. The display also includes plaques, photographs and mementoes of GerrardB次元官网网址檚 time as a Hong Kong veteran.
GerrardB次元官网网址檚 first name is actually Horace, although no one has called him that in years. B次元官网网址淢y wife, I donB次元官网网址檛 think she ever called me Horace. She always called me Gerry,B次元官网网址� a nickname he earned as a soldier, he said, his strong voice breaking slightly.
Evelyn died last year after 64 years of marriage. Evelyn waited for Gerry after he went overseas to fight in the Second World War. She waited for more than four years, not knowing where he was or if he would ever come home.
B次元官网网址淲hen I came back, she was waiting on the dock,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址淲e got married six weeks later.B次元官网网址�
Gerrard began his career as a soldier signing up with the reserve army in Red Deer, Alta., at the age of 16.
He was later sent to Victoria where he worked as a wireless operator. For two years he helped protect the West Coast, then he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. Gerrard and his fellow soldiers were soon on a ship headed to China.
After 18 days at sea, they arrived in Hong Kong. Three weeks later, 20-year-old Gerrard was a prisoner of war.
Gerrard was one of hundreds of Allied soldiers that surrendered in the Battle of Hong Kong on Christmas Day in 1941.
B次元官网网址淚t was a hopeless situation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e had been fighting 24 hours a day for a couple of weeks.B次元官网网址�
Gerrard thinks about that Christmas in 1941 each year. He remembers his days as a prisoner of war more often. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always in your mind. Every day you think of something that happened over there.B次元官网网址�
During 17-and-a-half days of fighting, 290 Canadians were killed and 493 were wounded trying to defend Hong Kong. On Christmas Day 1941, unable to fight any longer, the Allies had no choice but to surrender.
In his recliner in front of the fireplace, Gerrard recalled the day.
He was near Wong Nei Chong Gap when the Japanese landed.
B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 even remember where I slept the whole time. I know it wasnB次元官网网址檛 in a bed. I guess it just happened to be anywhere I was. You catnapped quite a bit, and when you did, before you opened your eyes you just lay and listen to see if you heard strange voices B次元官网网址� Japanese language,B次元官网网址� he said.
He was with two other signalmen when they heard of the surrender on Christmas.
B次元官网网址淲e always set up a little ways away from headquarters because of the bombing and shelling that went on whenever we went on the air,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭hen it got quiet so we sent a messenger back to headquarters and he saw the Japanese walking in. That left us a bit behind the lines and we made our way out and didnB次元官网网址檛 find any troops.B次元官网网址�
They turned toward the main headquarters and found others hoping to make a last stand. B次元官网网址淭hen the order came through to surrender.B次元官网网址�
The Japanese took them back to their own camp. B次元官网网址淭hey took us right back to Sham Shui Po barracks, where we had been. Of course it had been stripped clean by the Chinese, all the wood frames, the wood doors, anything wood they took because they had a shortage of fuel for cooking. So we just had open buildings made of tile and stucco.B次元官网网址�
He was held there for a year. He was then transferred to the mainland and later to a camp in northern Japan.
He took the experience one day at a time.
B次元官网网址�(We were) wondering what was the future going to be. What they were going to do to you, from then on you just live from day to day. The food was bad, there was no medical supplies, then they started working us. You had to be on the parade square at daylight and you were getting back just as it was getting dark.B次元官网网址�
Gerrard and the other prisoners were beaten, starved and forced to work in mines, shipyards and foundries. Many suffered disabilities and many died prematurely.
B次元官网网址淲hen we first went to the camp in Kawasaki in Japan, the commander of the camp gave us a speech and told us that we would probably never see Canada again. That they would be taking over Canada,B次元官网网址� Gerrard said.
B次元官网网址淗e said we would probably end up dying in the camp. So I was just determined that wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to happen. Whenever I got down, I would think of this and it would help me. I was just determined they werenB次元官网网址檛 going to get the better of me.B次元官网网址�
He credits a strong genetic makeup for his survival. B次元官网网址淔ortunately, I guess my genes were pretty good. If you got some disease or something in your weakened condition, if you got one thing, youB次元官网网址檇 get another.B次元官网网址�
After four Christmases away, Gerrard and the other servicemen were freed.
B次元官网网址淲e went back to camp that night and things were still the same. The next morning we got up to go to work and the guards had all disappeared B次元官网网址� that was the start of our freedom.B次元官网网址�
Many years later, he is recounting his story because the Japanese government formally apologized to Canadian prisoners of war for their suffering.
For Gerrard, itB次元官网网址檚 a case of too little, too late. B次元官网网址淭here was an odd feeling about it. We were told we had to keep it a secret from the media (until after the Dec. 8 event in Japan).B次元官网网址�
There was no media coverage in Japan and Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney was not in attendance during the apology, Gerrard said.
B次元官网网址淭here was a few in our organization (Hong Kong Veterans Association) that thought they ought to apologize. But it didnB次元官网网址檛 matter to me. I had let it go,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭his important gesture is a crucial step in ongoing reconciliation and a significant milestone in the lives of all prisoners of war. It acknowledges their suffering while honouring their sacrifices and courage,B次元官网网址� Blaney said in a press release.
The man giving the apology, Toshiyuki Kato, JapanB次元官网网址檚 parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs, was sincere, Gerrard said.
B次元官网网址淗e seemed genuine, but I wondered if it was done on behalf of the embassy or if the government of Japan was behind it. I thought that should have been better represented than it was. They didnB次元官网网址檛 even take a picture.B次元官网网址�
But photos arenB次元官网网址檛 something Gerrard needs to remember.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always something reminding you of it, I think all the fellows have that problem. At times like this when you bring it all up again, I lose a lot of sleep over it.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to keep putting it behind you, to drop it, to think of something else. ItB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a struggle sometimes, but as you get older it gets easier, the old memory is failing.B次元官网网址�
