In March, 1945, a group of Chinese men travelled to London, England. It was the penultimate stop on their way to Poona, India. They had enlisted in the top-secret South East Asia Command (SEAC), known in India as "Force 136," and had completed basic training at Shilo, Manitoba. From Manitoba they boarded trains for the eastern… Continue reading Force 136 goes to London and takes some holiday snaps – a pictorial story of WWII
Tag: WWII
My fave Facebook groups for genealogy
In this post I'll share with you my secret weapon: my collection of 26 genealogy groups on Facebook. #1 - Simple Facebook searches Are you looking for a long lost cousin? Facebook is like the modern equivalent to the phone directory. #2 - Facebook groups Got a genealogy puzzle? There's a Facebook group out there… Continue reading My fave Facebook groups for genealogy
My TV guest spot: talking about the power of a good family story on Lit Happens
I go on TV to talk about life as a genealogy blogger
The James Bonds of Chinatown: meet Force 136
My uncle's secret identity as a super spy
The story behind the story “Genealogy – a Detective Story”
This is a story about a wild idea that led to a whole summer of genealogical discovery, meeting new people, and publishing my first magazine article. The idea behind "Genealogy - a Detective Story" Have you ever wondered what you could do with a brand new tree and a few clues to get you started?… Continue reading The story behind the story “Genealogy – a Detective Story”
A summer flood of connection
Gathering family stories with the summer fruits
97 years of history in 6 minutes
Everything you were afraid to ask about the federal laws concerning voting and immigration for the Chinese in Canada, in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
Equal rights for all: An uncertain homecoming, Part III
After WWII, the Chinese gained the franchise, but waited two decades to be reunited with their families. Why?
An uncertain homecoming, Part II: Fight the enemy overseas, then fight the government at home – 1945-47
Chinese Canadians enlist in WWII, hoping to prove themselves worthy of civil rights, but find not much has changed after the war. This is Part II of An uncertain homecoming.
An uncertain homecoming, Part I: WWII, the Chinese, and the fight for civil rights 1939-1967
Introduction Like all (Chinese) Canadians, I have been given a gift of priceless value: the gift of civil rights. I have not worked for this gift. I doubt I’ve earned it. Worst of all, I haven’t known who to thank for it, nor how much it cost. I’ve just taken it all for granted – […]