In 1941, upon declaration of war against Japan, the Canadian government began vigorously recruiting Chinese Canadians for the war effort. These members of Canadian society had previously been rejected by the army based on their race, and, at the time, they were not even afforded the right to vote. As the war continued on, a select few Chinese Canadian recruits were specially selected for service in Force 136.
According to the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, Force 136 was created in 1944 by the Special Operations Executive (British Intelligence) to partake in Operation Oblivion. Their mission was to infiltrate behind Japanese lines and support and train local resistance movements to disrupt Japanese supply lines and equipment. Similar missions had been successful within the European Theater, but the Pacific Theater had the specific need for troops of Asian descent to minimize detection.
According to Valour Canada, training was carried out at Okanagan Lake (now Commando Bay), and involved subjects that included silent killing, wireless operation, demolition, stalking, rolling out of moving vehicles, and swimming in silence while carrying a 50lb ruck. Prior to training, most of the recruits could not swim, as the Chinese community was banned from public pools at the time.
The training was rigorously difficult, and only the toughest and smartest recruits succeed and were prepared to deploy overseas on Operation Oblivion. The operation never went forward, however, as the Americans took control of the Pacific Theater and the Canadian troops were redirected to other theatres of operation. Members of Force 136 went on to be involved in training of future recruits in Australia, some were stationed in India, and some of them saw action in Burma, Borneo, Malay, and Singapore.
As chronicled by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, Sergeant (Sgt) Louis (Louey) King was a member of Force 136 who saw action in Burneo. His task was to provide support and training to a local Sarawak headhunting tribe. In an interview, Sgt King said that the jungle was a hostile environment, with extreme heat and humidity. Upon getting shot in the leg, Sgt King recalled telling his friend “It’s just a flesh wound,” explaining that “I was so hot and sticky I didn’t notice it.” After the war, Sgt King, along with other Force 136 veterans, went on to fight against discriminatory anti-Chinese legislation in Canada, saying that “Our war record was the only weapon we could use to make the government listen.”
The service members of Force 136 not only defended Canada abroad but continued to fight for their nation after the war, in their efforts against discrimination at home. This Asian Heritage Month 5th Canadian Division Support Group commemorates the selfless service and sacrifice of Force 136 in the face of adversity and discrimination and all Asian Canadians who have served within the Canadian Armed Forces with dignity and zeal. Lest we Forget.
