Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2007 editon

Bitterness tinges reunion of Canadian-Chinese vets

Friday, October 1998
By Patrick Murphy

They fought for a country that denied them citizenship and even pool privileges and were decorated for bravery, proportionately, more than any other Canadian military unit of the Second World War.

This week, the few hundred survivors of the Canadian-Chinese Veterans Association held what could be their last reunion in Victoria.

More than 600 Canadians of Chinese ancestry served in the war when finally allowed into the forces. Today fewer than 400 are alive, with half those in Vancouver and just 16 survivors in the Victoria branch.

At the official dinner, Victoria-born Doug Jung, Canada's first MP of Chinese origin, told the 200 people that the veterans are disappointed and bitter about their treatment by Canada and fear the success today of people of Chinese ancestry is again bringing about an envy and exclusion by other Canadians.

"We were bitter because our country was ready to let us sacrifice our lives, but were not ready to give us our rights.

"We laid our lives on the line without recognition. There is still no official Canadian military history that recognizes us."

In the early part of this century, a $500 head tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants to keep them out and in 1923, the Exclusion Act stopped all Chinese immigration.

Those born here were British citizens, but denied Canadian citizenship. At the outbreak of war, they were denied entry into the forces. B.C. premier Duff Pattullo wrote prime minister Mackenzie King that B.C. residents were opposed to letting them in the forces because of the fear that would mean they would be given the vote.

It was only after Japan entered the war that the British started recruiting the Canadian-Chinese to infiltrate China. They were in the Canadian Army, but attached to British Special Operations Executive.

Eventually, they served and died in all theatres of war and for the 600 out of a total population of Canadian-Chinese of 41.000, were the largest ethnic group to serve.

But Canadians of three, even four generations who were descendants of immigrants were not given Canadian citizenship nor allowed to vote until 1947. They were segregated from whites in theatres and movie houses and banned from swimming pools.

Victor Wong, president of the association's Victoria chapter, said the Canadian Chinese were not allowed to swim at the Crystal Garden because the whites feared they would dirty the water.

"We felt very disappointed at not having Canadian citizenship," said Wong.

"We could have been Zombies (soldiers drafted, but who refused overseas service), but every one of us went into general service."

Jung served in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War, retiring as captain.

Vets: Awareness of sacrifice would cilence critics.

His brother Art was an RCAF pilot and another brother Ross was a captain in the medical corps who participated in the D-Day landings in France. Jung showed a battle-order book he said is still restricted as top secret by the British SOE.

The plan was called Operation Oblivion and mounted in August 1944 with 13 Canadians, including Jung, volunteering.

"There was so little chance of success that we were told if we were captured the British and Canadian governments would say they didn't know us.

"We did not have the right to be Canadian citizens and we volunteered against hostile recognition because the whites did not think we had the stamina, intelligence or courage to serve."

Operation Oblivion committed the 13 Canadians to going behind Japanese lines into China to raise and lead an army of 300,000 Chinese against the Japanese. They were to use weapons captured from the German Afrika Corps, but had to know their governments would disavow them if captured. That meant they could be executed.

The operation was called off at the last moment by U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who claimed China as an American war zone.

The Canadians were transferred to operations in Burma. There, four of the 13 - Islanders Roy Chan, Norman Low, Louie King and James Shiu - were awarded the military medal for bravery.

Several others of SOE Force 136 were also highly decorated.

Jung said the veterans have not spoken up to tell their story.

"If we had, there would not be as much criticism of the Chinese community in Canada now," he said.