| Unit # | Winnipeg Cameron Highlanders, Winnipeg Grenadiers |
Born in Sweden, Joseph cane to Canada in 1927 at the age of 16 years. . He worked in Manitoba as a blacksmith and Saskatchewan before moving to Chatham where he was living at 96 Adelaide St. North with his wife and two children Walter, 10 and Arlene, 12 who were attending Central School.
Enlisting in 1941 at the age of 39 with the Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg he was transferred to the Winnipeg Grenadiers. He would go to Hong Kong with that unit, the Battle for Hong Kong would begin on December 8th and he and the surviving garrison became prisoners of war Christmas Day 1941 when the garrison surrendered to the Japanese Army. His last letter to his wife, written just his arrival in the colony described the ocean voyage and their landing in the Orient. Reported to be one of the 494 Hong Kong POW’s returning to Canada. CDN 14/09/45. CDN 22/10/42.
His last letter to his wife, written just his arrival in the colony described the ocean voyage and their landing in the Orient.
The CDN 15/09/43(P) reported that his wife received her first letter from her husband, the first indication that he was alive. A letter signed “Joe” had arrived in his wifes mail box. The letter, which was censored by both the Japanese and British. He is “feeling fine being treated well” – yet has received no mail from home. Mrs. Winberg is uncertain as the letter was written 12 June, 1942 over a year ago. Mrs. Winberg took up residence in Chatham shortly after her husband arrived overseas.
Reported to be one of the 494 Hong Kong POW’s returning to Canada. CDN 14/09/45. CDN 22/10/42.
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