Wong, Victor: my Force 136 experiences (March 25, 2016)
An interview/narrative of Victor Wong's experiences during World War II. Wong served with Force 136 in Burma. Interview took place on March 25, 2016.
ABSTRACT: Military Oral History Project Interview Summary Narrator: Wong, Victor. 1926 - Title: "We were dead once we flew into Burma.": Chinese Canadians in Force 136 Interviewer: Interviewed by Trevor Gallagher. Extent 2 sound recordings (MP3) 1. Length 00:22:03, file size 30.2MB 2. Length 00:37:18, file size 51.2MB Interview Date and Location 25 March 2016, Victoria BC. Synopsis: This interview does cover its topics in strict chronological order, but takes the form of a conversation in which Victor Wong brings up reminiscences and reflections on history. Mr. Wong is a third-generation Canadian who grew up in Victoria. His family was one of relatively few Chinese-Canadian families to live outside Chinatown. He joined the army right after graduating from high school and was recruited into Force 136 immediately after competing basic training. He was sent to India for training, but the war ended before he was sent on his first mission. Like Gordon Quan and Ronald Lee, he is primarily interested in discussing the post-war campaign for full citizenship for Chinese Canadians, and the contribution that Chinese Canadians' military service made to the campaign. He draws a direct link between their service and the granting of the franchise after the war. Recording 1 00:00- 10:45- Growing up in Victoria in the 1920s and '30s outside of Chinatown. Discussion of his family. Some discussion of post-war campaign for franchise. 10:45-22:23- Joining the Army and recruitment into Force 136. Force 136 training. Origins of Special Operations Executive in Europe and Asia. Methods of infiltration. Relations between Chinese- and Japanese-Canadians. Recording 2 00:00-07:55- Joining the Army. Discussion of Pattullo's request to King that Chinese and Japanese not be called up, for fear of having to grant them the franchise. Decision to join in order to gain the franchise. Family's reaction. 07:55 - 29:09- Recruitment into Force 136 and training in India. 29:09- 37:18- Return to Canada and post-war campaign for civil rights. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 15:53 - 18:12 (Recording 1): Discussion of relations between Chinese-Canadians and Japanese-Canadians during Sino-Japanese war. 02:15 - 03:17 (Recording 2): Recollection of Chinese Canadian town hall meetings and his decision to volunteer for general service as a means to gain the franchise. Subject Key Words Civil Rights, Chinese Canadians, Force 136, Racism, Second World War, Southeast Asia Command, Special Operations Executive, Victoria Chinatown, Voting Rights
Interviewee: Wong, Victor, 1926-
Interviewer: Gallagher, Trevor
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- WV_840
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 25, 2016
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2016. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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