Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Heroes Remembered, Ronald John Routledge

Mr. Routledge was born September 1, 1920. His father, a decorator by trade, was a member of the Regina Rifles and served in the First World War. Mr. Routledge came from a family of four children. He had three sisters, one older and two younger. His father encouraged him to join the Regina Rifles Regiment cadet program when he was 14. After completing high school, shortly before Canada declared war on Germany, he enlisted with the Regina Rifles. He enlisted with the artillery but soon switched to the Canadian Corps of Signals and trained as a wireless operator. In October, 1941, he and 32 other members of the Signals Corp were told they were headed overseas. They boarded a vessel in Vancouver, not knowing until they were near the Philippines that they were heading for Hong Kong. They eventually arrived in Hong Kong and were assigned to barracks at Shamshuipo. Mr. Routledge was wounded when the Japanese made their first attack on Shamshuipo in December, 1942. After spending time in hospital, he returned to continue his service as a wireless operator. He was taken POW on Boxing Day after the commanding officer of the troops on the Stanley Peninsula surrendered to the Japanese. Following his release at the end of the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), the second highest award for bravery in the British Empire. Mr. Routledge remained in the army as a career soldier

Link Read more.

1: The Japanese Attack Shamshuipo
2: Hong Kong Falls
3: The Nightmare Begins
4: Tough Japanese Guards
5: Life At Shamshuipo
6: Caught And Tortured
7: The Torture Continued
8: Moved To Stanley Prison
9: Charges of Espionage - Court Martial Pending
10: Hell At Stanley Prison
11: Canton Prison - Worse
12: Little Food Results in Rapid, Large Weight Loss
13: It’s Finally Over!
14: The Return To Allied Care
15: Reunion With The Family
16: Dealing With The Experience
17: His Thoughts About The People Of Japan
18: His Thoughts About The Government of Canada That Sent Them

No comments:

Post a Comment