Showing 14 results

Collector/curator's description reads: “1927, Vancouver. Photo of Harden Lee (son of Kempert Lee) posing on a tricycle. Harden joined Force 136 and served in WWII.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1944, Vancouver. Keen Family photo. Front row from left to right: Kay Keen, Mon Ho (Lui) Keen, Donna Wong (the baby), Chew Keen and Beatrice (Keen) Wong. Back row from left to right: Harry Keen, Charlie Keen and Billy Keen.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1940, Vancouver. Photo of Tommy CG Wong with his mother, Mah Hang and his sister May Wong. This is one of the only photos of Tommy with his mother. His parents separated when he was only six. With his mother returning to China, and his father working in the logging camps, Tommy lived in a tiny boarding-house room with his younger brother. They were alone and had to fend for themselves. On weekends, his father would visit, prepare a meal, and cut it into enough pieces to last the boys for a week. This photo was taken when Tommy's mother finally returned to Canada with his sister.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “August 24, 1950, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Douglas Jung in uniform. One two photos from the same session. Douglas Jung served with Force 136 during the Second World War. He would train as a lawyer and become the Chinese Canadian elected to be a member of parliament.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “August 24, 1950, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Douglas Jung in uniform. One two photos from the same session. Douglas Jung served with Force 136 during the Second World War. He would train as a lawyer and become the Chinese Canadian elected to be a member of parliament.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Mid-1940s, Vancouver. Portrait of Louie Y. King, member of Force 136.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1944, Vancouver. Photo of the Ko Bong children (from Victoria) with their father. Left to right: Mary Ko Bong; Peter Ko Bong; Andrew Ko Bong and John Ko Bong. Seated: George Bong Simon.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1944, Vancouver. Photo of Herb Lim in his Army uniform. Herb was recruited to join Force 136, the clandestine group of soldiers who were trained by the British and were destined to be dropped in behind Japanese lines in Southeast Asia. After the war, Herb became a businessman and owned a gas station as well as other businesses in and around Chinatown.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1945, Vancouver. Hand painted head and shoulders studio portrait of Richard K. Mar. (1917-1969) in uniform with beret. Richard was the first Chinese Canadian to serve in the First Canadian Parachute Battalion during WWII. He served two years in Europe and was parachuted into Germany as the Allies crossed the Rhine. Years later, Richard recounted what it was like to parachute. He said the first two jumps were exhilarating and fun. But the third jump was frightening as it was real and could mean life and death. After the war, Richard opened up a jewelry store, Richard Mar Jewelry - on East Pender (between Columbia and Main).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1943, Vancouver. Black and white head and shoulders studio portrait of Richard K. Mar. (1917-1969) dressed in uniform. On the cardboard frame, in handwriting, is ‘To Mrs. Buchanan. Very Sincerely Yours, Richard. 1st Can. Para. Bn.’ Richard was the first Chinese Canadian to serve in the First Canadian Parachute Battalion during WWII. He served two years in Europe and was parachuted into Germany as the Allies crossed the Rhine. Years later, Richard recounted what it was like to parachute. He said the first two jumps were exhilarating and fun. But the third jump was frightening as it was real and could mean life and death. After the war, Richard opened up a jewelry store, Richard Mar Jewelry - on East Pender (between Columbia and Main).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa: 1943, Vancouver. Portrait of WWII soldier, Richard Mar. He was the first Chinese Canadian paratrooper with the First Canadian Battalion. Hand painted colourized head and shoulder studio portrait of Richard K. Mar. (1917-1969) dressed in uniform. On the cardboard frame, in handwriting, is ‘To Lincoln and Jennie. Brother Dick 1st Can. Para. Bn.’ Richard was the first Chinese Canadian to serve in the First Canadian Parachute Battalion during WWII. He served two years in Europe and was parachuted into Germany as the Allies crossed the Rhine. Years later, Richard recounted what it was like to parachute. He said the first two jumps were exhilarating and fun. But the third jump was frightening as it was real and could mean life and death. After the war, Richard opened up a jewelry store, Richard Mar Jewelry - on East Pender (between Columbia and Main).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1944/45, Vancouver. Photo of Daniel Wong (also known as Kwok Him Wong) was from Vancouver. He joined the Army in 1944 and started basic training in Maple Creek Saskatchewan. He was assigned the service number K.5554. Daniel was later trained as wireless operator and was slated to join Force 136 in India. When the war in Europe ended in May 1945, the Allies now turned all their attention to bringing an end to the war in the Pacific. They started to plan for an all-out assault on the home islands of Japan. They needed men to volunteer for what could be a suicide mission: the Japanese were expected to defend their homeland to the last man. The invasion was planned for November 1945. And, despite their fears, Daniel and Bing decided to put their names forward: they became members of the Canadian Army Pacific Force, sometimes referred to as the Tiger Force. Fortunately for Daniel, in August of 1945, the U.S. detonated two atomic bombs over Japan, which led to the surrender of the island nation. Back in Vancouver he worked in restaurants and then as a taxi driver and later a produce delivery-truck driver. While making a delivery to an IGA in Surrey just before Christmas, he died suddenly from a massive heart attack. He left behind 3 children and a wife.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1943, Vancouver. Photo of a Leonard Chow wearing an Air Force costume and eating a cookie. Leonard was the first male grandchild of photographer Yucho Chow.”