On March 2, 2002 at the Concordia Hospital. Harry Atkinson, aged 80 years, widower of the late Penny Atkinson, who predeceased him in 1989.

Harry was born in Selkirk, Manitoba. He leaves to mourn his passing his two sons Dennis (Rene) of Edmonton, AB, and Bill (Angie) of Winnipeg; his two daughters Lori (Doug) Smith of London, ON, and Pat Atkinson (Garry) of Winnipeg, MB, and daughter-in-law Linda; his grandchildren Christopher (Michael), Jennifer (Paul), Kelly, Michael, Amy and Kyle; his special companion Marge Dwyer and her family; numerous nieces, nephews, other family and a host of friends. Harry was predeceased by his two sisters and one brother.

Harry was employed with Robinson Little Ltd. for many years, retiring as Development Representative in 1979. Harry enjoyed hunting and fishing, bowling and golfing and was a member of Rossmere Golf and Country Club. He was a life long member of the Northwest Travelers Association.

Harry served with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Bermuda, Jamaica and fought in the Battle of Hong Kong, after which he survived as a POW in Hong Kong and Niagata, Japan until the end of the war. Harry represented the Hong Kong Veterans Association as President of the Manitoba Branch and as their last National President, in which position he secured significant gains for its members, after years of negotiating with the Federal Government.

Even at the last moments, Harry displayed strength and determination which had been his hallmark throughout his life. His family will remember him as a caring, devoted father and grandfather who showed his love through the countless things he did for them.

A memorial service will be held for Harry at Sturgeon Creek United Church on Wednesday, March 6, 2002 at 10:00 AM. Reverend Gordon Shields officiating

The family would like to thank the staff at Concordia Hospital N3 East, for their caring, as well as the Oncology Department at the Concordia Hospital. Also their heartfelt thanks to Dale Atkinson for his tributes to Harry.

Harry Atkinson's grandson Kyle had to write an essay about his hero last fall. He wrote about his grandpa Harry, who was a hero to more than just Kyle.

Atkinson, who died last Saturday at age 80 after a battle with lung cancer, was tireless fighter for the rights of Canada's veterans.

As the national president of the Hong Kong Veterans Association, he lobbied the government for 12 years to improve the pensions of his fellow veterans. In 2001, his efforts were finally rewarded by then-Veterans Affairs minister Ron Duhamel, who doubled the pensions of those who fought in Hong Kong.

In 1939, Atkinson, a native of Selkirk, lied about his age (he was only 17) to join the army with his older brother, Ron. Their father, who had died eight years earlier, was a veteran of the First World War, and they wanted to follow in his footsteps.

They were first stationed in the Caribbean and then sent to Hong Kong to fight alongside the British.

Both were eventually taken prisoner and placed in prisoner-of-war camps in Hong Kong, but when Harry was transferred to a camp at Niigata, Japan, Ron was too sick to go. Harry would have to wait two years to find out that his brother died in the camp in Hong Kong.

During is 44 months at Niigata, Atkinson and his fellow prisoners were methodically starved and worked like slaves. He spent his days doing chores like lifting 110-pound bags of rice, which weighed the same as his malnourished and wounded body.

When the war ended in 1945, Atkinson was the first member of the Winnipeg Grenadiers to return to Manitoba.

He married Penny Taylor in 1946 and they raised four children. Penny died in 1989.

Winnipeg Free Press, Wednesday March 6, 2002 by Paul Turrene

Visit the HKVCA Galleries site for photos.