183 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca SMITH, Reginald WWII Reginald joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers on September 23, 1939, along with Herbert Mabb. As there was no barracks available at that time, they were allotted living out allowance and had to find their own board and room. For the first month or so they boarded in a rooming house. There were approximately twelve soldiers boarding there at $16.00 per month. They had to catch a bus, in the morning, to get to Minto Armories where they received their training. However, Herbert and Reginald were not satisfied with the conditions at the boarding house, so they moved to a private house. It was just like home but cost them more money. It even exceeded their allowance, but it was worth it. They also were within walking distance of Minto Armories. Either the end of November or first part of December they were all put into Fort Osborne Barracks, and remained there until May 1940, at which time they were drafted to Bermuda and Jamaica. He spent three months in Bermuda. His company which was “A” Coy was dropped off there on the way to Jamaica but at the end of three months, they were moved to Jamaica to make room for a couple of hundred “Royal Scots” (survivors of Dunkirk). They were brought to Bermuda to convalesce. Reginald spent approximately fourteen months in Jamaica. Most of his tour there was spent attached to H.Q. CO. as a driver mechanic. In October 1941, they returned to Canada, then after two weeks leave, they were transported west by train to Vancouver where they boarded the ship “The Awatea” and their destination at that time was unknown. They were not aware of their destination, until after they left Singapore. They were then told they were going to Hong Kong. This journey took 21 days. Their main meat diet in those 21 days was mutton. Everything went well in Hong Kong, until December 8, 1941. That was the day the Japanese declared war. After fighting a losing battle, the governor of the island, was forced to surrender on December 25, 1941. They were all taken Prisoners of War. Reginald’s first internment was at North Point Camp on the island of Hong Kong but, after a few months, they were all taken over to their original barracks at Kowloon which was on the mainland of China. On arriving in Kowloon, Reginald was much rejoiced, for there he was reunited with Herb Mabb. They had been separated during the conflict and after the surrender were taken to different camps. But, unfortunately, about a year or so later, Herb was stricken with diphtheria and passed away. Altogether, Reginald spent two years in Hong Kong. In Kowloon Prison Camp, he worked as an orderly in the hospital for most of those two years. After the two years in Hong Kong, he was transferred to Japan to a place called Oyama. There they worked in a surface mine. He spent one year and nine months at that camp. Then, in August 1945, the war with Japan was over. In the three years and nine months of their imprisonment, their main diet was mostly rice with potato top soup - no meat and no other vegetables. At war’s end, Reginald weighed 107 pounds. It was thirty days, from the time he left Japan, until he arrived in Winnipeg. He had at that time gained 60 pounds. Reginald weighed 167 pounds. Altogether he spent 1,347 days as a Prisoner of War. After returning home they were given six months leave. He arrived home in October 1945, and was discharged, in March 1946. (All dates are approximate). Reginald resided in Courtenay with his wife Mickey (Hendrickson).
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