USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181) off San Francisco, CA, 11 August 1955. (courtesy the collections of the US Naval Historical Center via Wikimedia Commons)
#OTD in 1945, a second group of 16 #Force136 Chinese Canadians arrived by ship in Brisbane, Australia, from San Francisco. Since the #SOE Hong Kong #Oblivion mission had been canceled, they trained for deployment to Sarawak on the island of Borneo instead, including learning to speak Malay.
Dunrobin’s Bay on Lake Okanagan in 1944, location of the temporary #SOE training camp for the 13 Chinese Canadians recruited for Operation Oblivion. Today, it is an historic site known as Commando Bay. (courtesy Rick Wong)
Wing Wong, John Ko Bong, Norman Mon Low, and Tom Lock pose with pistols drawn at the #SOE Commando Bay paramilitary training camp on Lake Okanagan in British Columbia. (courtesy Keith Lock)
#OTD in 1944, British Security Co-ordination opened a temporary Special Operations Executive training camp at Dunrobin’s Bay on Lake Okanagan. Here, the first 13 #Force136 volunteers for Operation #Oblivion undertook paramilitary training. Today, the site is known as Commando Bay.
#WWII Some anti-colonial movements in Asia sided with the #Japanese, while some local guerrilla groups co-operated with #Force136 against them; only many were pro-independence and would turn against their colonizers at the end of the war.
At war's end, one role for #Force136 was assisting with the liberation of #POWs before their potential massacre by the #Japanese. Five Chinese #Canadians on Operation Hippo in Borneo were tasked with freeing prisoners at Batu Lintang Camp in #Kuching.
History can be a politically-charged battleground over the question of what really happened. Now with AI, the potential for dis/misinformation is much greater. This AI-generated video about #Force136 is problematic for its inaccuracies, especially the visuals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O41....
Book cover of "1945: The Reckoning" by Phil Craig.
"1945: The Reckoning" by @philmcraig.bsky.social speaks to the global context of #Force136 and the making of modern Canada. The effort to achieve respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, happened at both national & international levels. See Phil on #WW2TV at www.youtube.com/live/OIvLXg6...
The introduction of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator to #SEAC in late 1944 was important for supplying #Force136 teams in #Malaya. The only other aircraft capable of the 3,200km roundtrip flight from India was the Consolidated PBY Catalina, but it lacked in payload and overall airlift capacity.
Concerning the #Force136 story, the day's key event was Mike Kendall's escape from #Hongkong with top military & civilian personnel, including Chiang Kai-shek’s political & military representative, Admiral Chan Chak. With assistance from local guerillas, they were to reach Huizhou in Free China...
Thank you for sharing!
Did you know there will be a #force136 commemorative stamp in 2026?
The colourful book cover for "Endgame: The Secret Force 136", written by Catherine Little and illustrated by Sean Huang.
An illustration from pages 6 & 7 of the children's book, "Endgame: The Secret Force 136", showing ancient Chinese warfare from the Chin Dynasty.
Illustrations from pages 8 & 9 of the children's book, "Endgame: The Secret Force 136", explaining the game of Chinese chess, called Xiangqi (象棋 xiàngqí), which directly translates as "elephant chess".
Graphics from pages 18 & 19 of the children's book, "Endgame: The Secret Force 136", that illustrate the skills that the main character's grandfather had to train for in Force 136.
Looking for a thoughtful children's #Christmas gift? Endgame: The Secret #Force136, written by @catherinelittle.bsky.social and vividly illustrated by Sean Huang, teaches on many levels. Read this review for details thebcreview.ca/2025/09/21/2....
#histbookchat #BookSky #KidsBook #HistoryForKids
For personal recollections of the first day of the Battle for Hong Kong, Gwulo: Old Hong Kong offers a selection of diary entries for 8 December 1941 at gwulo.com/diary-pages?.... Of particular note to the story of #OperationOblivion and #Force136 , see Colin McEwan's diary entry...
Nice to see the Vernon Morning Start cover Linda Yip's talk about Commando Bay and the Chinese Canadians of Force 136.
- vernonmorningstar.com/2025/11/12/k...
#CanadaRemembers #RemembranceDay #canadianhistory #WWII #SOE #Force136
#LestWeForget🍁 In September 1939, Chinese Canadians volunteered for military service. Their country rejected them because of their race. In 1944, #SOE gave them a second chance. Learn about #Force136 and the making of modern Canada at www.youtube.com/live/dEebnwD....
#WWII #CanadianHistory
Portrait of Raymond Young Lowe in uniform. (courtesy Winnipeg Free Press)
#LestWeForget🍁 Raymond Young Lowe (1913–2005), “The Voice,” was a Victoria-born businessman and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 ...
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Wing Lee Wong holds a Japanese flag and sword at the Liverpool Rest Camp in Moorebank, Australia. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Wing Lee Wong (1901–1992) was one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136. At 43, he was the oldest of the group and the only one not born in Canada.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
#LestWeForget🍁 Norman Donald Wong (1916–2008), “Sarge,” was born in London, Ontario. He and his cousin, Hank Wong, were recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 …
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
At the Liverpool Rest Camp in Moorebank, Australia, (left to right) Hank Wong, Eddie Chow, and Tom Lock display a Japanese flag and sword. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Wreath for Chinese Canadians to be Laid at University of Toronto Soldiers’ Tower
Join Keith Lock (son of Sgt. Tom Lock) & Rick Wong (son of Sgt. Hank Wong) for the University of Toronto's November 11 2025 Service of Remembrance: alumni.utoronto.ca/community/so....
#SOE #Force136
Eddie Chow standing on the steps of his hut at the Liverpool Rest Camp in Moorebank, Australia. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Edward “Eddie” Chow (1919–1999), “The Entertainer,” was a Vancouver-born performer and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 …
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
C.I. 45 registration certificate of George Thomas Sing Wah Lock, issued in Ottawa on 20 June 1924, that clearly states he had no legal status in Canada. (courtesy University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections)
#LestWeForget🍁 George Thomas Sing Wah Lock (1916–2003), “The Extractor,” was a Toronto-born pharmacist and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 …
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Hank Wong wearing tropical kit without insignia. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Henry Albert “Hank” Wong (1919–2019), “The Trigger,” was a London, Ontario-born union auditor. He was one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 ….
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Douglas Jung in his military dress uniform. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Douglas Hin Wah Jung (1924–2002), “The Insider,” was a prominent Victoria-born lawyer and Member of Parliament. He was one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Portrait of Norman Mon Low in the uniform of the Canadian Armoured Corps. (courtesy of Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Norman Mon Low (1923–1960), “The Wire,” was a Vancouver-born radio operator and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136 …
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Portrait of James Shiu. (courtesy Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 James “Jimmy” Shiu (1921– ?), “The Brain,” was a Saskatoon-born engineer and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Portrait of Louey King taken at the Yucho Chow Studio in Vancouver. (courtesy of Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Louey King (1923–1989), “The Kid,” was the youngest of the 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
John Ko Bong in uniform in Vernon on 7 February 1942 while serving with the 16th Canadian Scottish (Reserve). (courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada)
#LestWeForget🍁 John Ko Bong (1912–2008), “The Handyman,” was a Victoria-born shopkeeper and one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Portrait of Roy Sin Twe Chan in Canadian Army battledress before going on loan to Special Operations Executive in Force 136.
#LestWeForget🍁 Roy Sin Twe Chan (1916–1998), “The Liberator,” was a Victoria-born musician who became one of 13 Chinese Canadians recruited by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert #SOE mission in southern China under #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
Roger Kee Cheng standing in uniform in a garden in India, 1944. (Courtesy of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
#LestWeForget🍁 Roger Kee Cheng (1915–1990) was the first Chinese-Canadian officer in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — and the first recruit chosen by Mike Kendall for Operation Oblivion, a covert mission under Britain’s #SOE, known in Asia as #Force136.
Portrait of Francis Woodley "Mike" Kendall from his Special Operations Executive personnel file.
Mike Kendall and instructor, Andy McClure (seated), pose with 12 of the Chinese-Canadian Operation Oblivion volunteers on the dock at the Commando Bay training camp on Lake Okanagan in 1944.
#LestWeForget🍁 Mike Kendall (1907–1976) was a Canadian mining engineer & intelligence agent whose wartime plan, Operation Oblivion, led to the recruitment & training of 13 Chinese Canadians for covert service with Britain’s #SOE, known in Asia as #Force136.
#WWII #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay
I haven't found one, Jeffrey. I've started my own lists on #Force136 and #SOE for non-Asian accounts. I could begin assembling a Starter Pack for writers & historians. Include fiction writers? ICYMI, accounts in starter packs can be auto-added to personal lists.
Poster for the Linda Yip lecture, Commando Bay & the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Okanagan Changed the World on November 10, 2025, in Kelowna.
#LestWeForget In Kelowna on Nov. 10, learn about the little-known history of Commando Bay and its role in the making of modern Canada. Details at www.eventbrite.ca/e/commando-b....
#Force136 #SOE #CanadianHistory
