Field of Crosses

2 days ago

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐀 𝐌
Age: 51 – Sgt GL
Date of Death: 09/08/1945

William Archibald Marsh Hallett was born on July 24, 1897, in Southampton, England, the son of Thomas and Julia Hallett. He had two brothers and four sisters. After completing Grade XII, he worked as a clerk in a jewellery store. William came to Canada in 1913 and served during both World War I and World War II. He married Lillian Florence Hallett of Calgary on March 5, 1919, and they had two children. William was self employed as he worked their family farm in Mirror, Alberta. He was very active in the community as a Chairman of the School Board for several years, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Legion in the town of Alix, Alberta.

During the First World War, William served from November 11, 1915, through to February 20, 1920, as a Private in the 7th Battalion, 1st British Columbia Regiment CEF as a machine gunner, serving overseas on the Western Front. His service number was 183137.

During the Second World War, William re-enlisted on March 20, 1941, with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, service number M/50263 and was placed on the Canadian Army General List for the 13 District Deport. Serving in Edmonton for 2 years as an instructor, promoted to Sergeant on 22 December 1942. Later assigned to Calgary, stationed at Mewata Armory as an instructor, and during this time, was an instructor for 2 years to the Red Cross.

On August 9, 1945, while in active service, William died of natural causes, a coronary heart attack at the age of 51. He was awarded the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal without Clasp.

Sergeant William A M Hallett is buried in the Field of Honour, Calgary Burnsland Cemetery.

Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance in Calgary, Alberta, the Field of Crosses commemorates Sargeant William A M Hallett.

www.fieldofcrosses.com/

#FieldofCrosses #Canada #History #WW1 #WW2 #CanadianArmedForces ... See MoreSee Less

Field of Crosses

3 weeks ago

Victory over Japan, VJ-Day

On the 6 and 9 of August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The surrender of the Empire of Japan was announced by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945, concluding hostilities in the Pacific Theater. The official document signing of Japan’s surrender occurred on September 2, 1945, thus ending World War II.

With this surrender, prisoners of war could be released and return home. Canadian service personnel endured three and a half years of captivity. The Battle of Hong Kong was fought between December 8 and 25, 1941, when they defended the Hong Kong Garrison against the advancing Japanese army. Approximately 1,689 Canadians from the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were captured when the Governor of Hong Kong ordered their surrender. Notably, over 1,400 prisoners survived the ordeal.

Eight thousand Canadians served in Southeast Asia, India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Many were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), frequently assigned to British units. The RCAF’s 435 and 436 Squadrons transported equipment and personnel in India and Burma (now Myanmar), while 413 Squadron patrolled the Indian Ocean, searching for Japanese ships and submarines.

Below, children, family members, and soldiers reading The Globe and Mail declaring “Peace at Last” on the front page.

#FieldofCrosses #VJDay #History #WW2 #Veterans #Canada #USA #RCAF ... See MoreSee Less

Field of Crosses

3 weeks ago

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐇 VC DSC
Age: 24 – Lt RCNVR
Date of Death: 12/03/1945

Robert Hampton Gray was born in Trail, British Columbia on 2 November 1917, the son of John Balfour and Wilhelmina Gray of Nelson, BC. Robert was the brother of Phyllis Gray-Gautschi and brother to Flight Sergeant John (Jack) Balfour Gray who was killed in action on 27 February 1942 while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Robert was educated at Nelson BC, graduating from High School in June 1936. In the fall, he entered University of Alberta completing one year, then transferred to the University of British Columbia, intending to obtain a medical degree. Undertaking four years of university studies, he abruptly left university to enlist in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) on 18 July 1940 at HMCS Tecumseh, in Calgary, service number V13438. Originally sent to England for Able Seaman training, he decided to join the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm to become a naval aviator.

Robert was trained to fly the American-built Corsair, designed specifically for aircraft carrier operations. The Vought F4U Corsair is the iconic American fighter aircraft known for its distinctive gull-wing design.

Robert’s service took him around the world, serving in Britain, South Africa, East Africa and later in the Pacific. His leadership was noticed, he was promoted to Lieutenant and given command of four Corsair pilots. On 14 August 1944, Robert began serving with the 1841 Naval Air Squadron aboard the His Majesty’s Ship Formidable.

In April 1945, HMS Formidable joined the Pacific Fleet to support operations against Okinawa. By July the aircrews began to attack the Japanese main islands. Robert led attacks on enemy airfields, ships, merchant ships and seaplane bases. On July 28 he bombed an enemy destroyer which later sank. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

On August 9, 1945, Robert led an attack on the Japanese destroyer escort, the ‘Amakusa,’ in Onagawa Wan, Japan. Tragically, he was killed in action when his aircraft was hit by enemy fire, he was able to release his bomb load before crashing into the sea.

Lieutenant Robert H Gray was awarded the Victoria Cross.

His Victoria Cross Citation reads:

"For great valour in leading an attack on a Japanese destroyer in Onagawa Wan, on 9 August 1945.
“In the face of fire from shore batteries and a heavy concentration of fire from some five warships Lieutenant Gray pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success, and, although he was hit and his aircraft was in flames, he obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. Lieutenant Gray has consistently shown a brilliant fighting spirit and most inspiring leadership.”

Lieutenant Robert H Gray was lost at sea, he is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia.

Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance in Calgary, Alberta, the Field of Crosses commemorates Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray.

www.fieldofcrosses.com/

#FieldofCrosses #History #Canada #CanadianArmedForces ... See MoreSee Less

Field of Crosses

4 weeks ago

𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝
Age: 24 – L/Cpl RCCS
Date of Death: 12/03/1945

Diamond Quon was born on 1 October 1920 in Calgary, Alberta, was the son of Liang Quon and Ng Shee Quon, he had a brother and three sisters.

As a student at Western Canada High School in Calgary, Diamond pursued a trade in motor mechanics. He was also an active sports enthusiast in various activities, skating, tennis, bowling and team sports. He played as a wing in basketball, a quarterback in rugby and a third baseman in softball.

Diamond had prior military experience in the militia with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC). On 8 September 1939 he enlisted in Calgary with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Line of Communications, service number M/9074. After training in Canada, he was stationed in the United Kingdom from 5 September 1940 until he was sent to France on 16 September 1944.

Tragically, on 10 March 1945, while crossing a road between two transport trucks at the standstill in convoy, one of the vehicles backed up and crushed Diamond against the vehicle immediately behind, he succumbed to his injuries on 12 March 1945 at the age of 24.

Lance Corporal Diamond Quon is buried at Nederweert War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands, his memory is honoured on the Roll of Honour at The Chinese Canadian Military Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance in Calgary, Alberta, the Field of Crosses commemorates Lance Corporal Diamond Quon.

www.fieldofcrosses.com/

#FieldofCrosses #Alberta #History #Canada #CanadianArmedForces ... See MoreSee Less

Field of Crosses

1 month ago

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟓

Although the war in the European Theater ended on 8 May 1945 (V-E Day), with Germany’s surrender, Canada began shifting its military focus to the Pacific. While most troops returned home, ships and supplies were redirected to support operations against Japan. Halifax, long established as a key naval hub, remained fully engaged in this transition. Atlantic warships were recalled to port and refitted for tropical service, a process that involved removing all ammunition. These munitions were transported to the Canadian Naval Ammunition Storage Depot at Bedford Basin, approximately 7 kilometers from downtown Halifax— a facility that had been expanded during the war to handle increased volume and the complexities of a global conflict.

It was here, that Halifax faced yet another disastrous explosion. On the night of 18 July 1945, a fire broke out aboard a barge docked at the Bedford Magazine. The fire ignited tons of stored ammunition, triggering a series of powerful explosions that echoed across Halifax and Dartmouth into the next morning. Though the destruction was not on the same scale as the 1917 Halifax Explosion, the blasts shattered thousands of windows, damaged homes and businesses, and gouged deep craters in the ground. Once again, the port city was reminded of the risks it bore as Canada’s principal wartime gateway to the Atlantic — and now, the Pacific.

Miraculously, only one person was killed and few were injured, thanks in part to emergency measures inspired by the earlier 1917 disaster. Over 25,000 people evacuated their homes, many spending the night outdoors. Naval personnel volunteered as firefighters, containing the blaze and preventing an even greater tragedy. Still, the damage was significant: buildings were destroyed, craters formed, and unexploded ordnance scattered across the harbour and shoreline. The 1945 explosion underscored the ongoing risks of Halifax’s role as a military logistics hub.

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

The 1917 explosion led to important reforms in maritime safety and emergency response, lessons which helped mitigate the human cost in 1945. Still, both events remain etched in collective memory, symbolizing the heavy price Halifax paid for its strategic role.

Today, Halifax honors these pivotal moments through memorials, museums, and community events. The scars of the past have shaped a city committed to resilience and remembrance. The lessons learned have influenced Canadian military and civil safety policies and stand as reminders of the delicate balance between strategic necessity and civilian risk. Halifax’s story is not only one of destruction but also of enduring strength and the vital contribution of a community at the frontline of two world wars.

#FieldofCrosses #Halifax #Canada #History #WW2 #CanadianArmedForces ... See MoreSee Less