09/11/2025
The last Chinese Canadian veteran of the Second World War has died. Gordon Quan was 99 years old.
Leaving Victoria, BC for the jungles of India, he was trained to enter enemy territory and sabotage train tracks or fuel depots.
Gordon told me during our interview, “You just sneak in, you know, like a su***de situation.”
He fortunately never had to carry out those missions, but other Chinese Canadians did, as part of Force 136, a top-secret commando unit working behind Japanese lines.
While ready to risk his life, Gordon had fewer rights than the average Canadian soldier. He could not vote, attend certain schools, or work in professions like law or medicine.
“At that time, we were not even allowed to have a proper education… The only thing the Chinese can do is restaurant business and laundry business. In those days you live in Chinatown. You don't live anywhere else."
During that era, restrictions and neighbourhood opposition often kept non-white families from purchasing homes in certain areas.
Despite this, more than 600 Chinese Canadians volunteered to serve. I was fortunate to interview five of them: Bing Wong, Tommy Wong, Thomas Wong, Hank Wong, and Gordon Quan.
From the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada: “Approximately 490 Chinese Canadians joined the Canadian Army, 115 served with the RCAF, and 8 with the RCN. Of those in the Army, 134 were recruited for special duties as part of the Special Operations Executive’s Force 136.”
From this impressive group, there are now no Chinese Canadian veterans of the Second World War still living.
Gordon was their last voice, a soft-spoken advocate who carried their story and their fight for equality. He is now gone, but we will remember.
As we approach November 11th, I’ll be thinking of Gordon. Who will you be thinking of?