H-6269
Private
Budvar Peter Olafson
1918/01/01 - Born Manitoba, Canada
Son of John and Olive Olaffson
Winnipeg Grenadiers
1st Battalion
‘B’ Company
Service
1939/09/01 - The regiment was mobilised. The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF
1940/05 - Disembarked Vancouver for service in Jamaica and Bermuda.
 
1940/11/07 - The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF, was redesigned as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, CASF.
1941 - In the Autumn the British government accepted the Canadian Government's offer, to send two infantry battalions (1,975 personnel) to reinforce the Hong Kong garrison.
‘C’ Force was formed comprising of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers
1941 - Members of 'C' Force from the East travelled across Canada by Canadian National Railways picking up reinforcements enroute. Stops included Valcartier, Montreal, Ottawa, Armstrong ON, Capreol ON, Winnipeg, Melville SK, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Vancouver.
1941/10/27 - Arrived Vancouver at 0800 hrs.
1941/10/27 - ‘C’ Force did not have their full equipment as the freighter ‘Don Jose’, was carrying all their vehicles and was diverted to Manila when war began. , sailed from Vancouver aboard the Awatea accompanied by Prince Robert. Awatea was a New Zealand Liner and the Prince Robert was a converted cruiser.
1942/11/16 - Arrived Hong Kong where all of ‘C’ Force was quartered at Nanking Barracks, Sham Shui Po Camp, in Kowloon.
When the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, ‘C’ Force fought with heavy losses in the Battle for Hong Kong.
1941/12/25 - Hong Kong Surrendered
Japanese PoW
1941/12/25 - Wounded and Captured
1941/12/25 - HK-WMH, Hospital
1942/01/22 - Transferred to HK-BMH, Hospital
Manryu Maru - 1920 ship named Huftero, renamed Dageid. 1929 renamed Bordvik. Scuttled Java before surrender. 1942/07/11 Japanese salvaged ship and renamed Manryu Maru
1943/08/15 - Transported Manryu Maru to Japan
Fourth Draft with 473 PoWs
Via Taipei, Taiwan
1943/09/01 - Arrived Osaka, Japan
1943/10/03 - Arrive Niigata-shi, Nuttari
Camp Named - Tokyo POW Camp 5B - Niigata
Work involved - Stevedore labour at port of Niigata (Marutsu), primarily foodstuffs; mining coal (Rinko Coal ) and labour at a foundry (Shintetsu)
Died
Age 26
1944/01/01
Cause of death Multiple Injuries when Barracks roof collapsed at 2:00 am from thick snow overloading roof, crushing those sleeping below.
Seven other PoWs died due to this incident
Loved Ones
Son of John and Olive Olafson, of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Memorial
Cdn. Sec. A.D. 16.
YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated
Olafson Lake, North Knife Lake, Manitoba, northeast of Manitoba
Information
Lillian Roesch
Tony Banham - http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/hkwdhome.html
Hong Kong Commemorative Association
http://www.combinedfleet.com/Manryu_t.htm
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/tokyo/niigata-5-b/niigata-5-b-main.htm
KEW:- WO 361/1320,
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