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Three Saskatchewan men survived one of the darkest chapters of the Second World War, and more than 80 years later their community is making sure their stories aren’t forgotten.
A commemorative plaque honouring Fred Malbeuf, his brother Ernie Malbeuf and Peter Riesdorf was unveiled on Oct. 24 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 114 in Indian Head.
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The three men were among nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers sent to defend Hong Kong in 1941. After the territory fell to Japanese forces, they spent more than three years as prisoners of war before returning home in 1945.
For Ken Turpin, vice-president of the Indian Head Legion and president of the Indian Head Museum, discovering that three men with connections to the area had survived such an ordeal was remarkable.
“Just the military history in this town is amazing to start with, and then to have stories like this come out, it blows my mind,” Turpin said.
Turpin, who spent 24 years serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, moved to Indian Head about five years ago and has since taken a particular interest in preserving the community’s military history.
He first learned about the commemorative plaque program through the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association while working with the museum.
What started as an effort to bring a piece of Canadian military history to the community soon became something much more personal.
During the process, Turpin discovered that three veterans from the surrounding area had served in C Force, the Canadian contingent sent to Hong Kong.
The commemorative plaque honouring Fred Malbeuf, his brother Ernie Malbeuf and Peter Riesdorf unveiled on Oct. 24, 2026 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 114 in Indian Head. (Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association website)
Fred and Ernie Malbeuf were Métis brothers from the Ituna area, while Peter Riesdorf was from Indian Head.
“Two of our three veterans were brothers,” Turpin said, explaining that the Malbeufs were from the Red River Nation.
For Turpin, the connection was especially striking given the relatively small number of Canadians who served in Hong Kong.
“Just the fact that it was such a small contingent of men, 1,975 of them, and to have three of them from a town of about 2,000 people,” he said, reflecting on how remarkable the discovery was.
The Battle of Hong Kong began on Dec. 8, 1941, local time, just hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Canadian troops fought alongside other Allied forces for 17 days before Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day.
Hundreds of Canadians were killed during the fighting, while those taken prisoner faced years of forced labour, malnutrition, disease and mistreatment.
Turpin said descendants of the veterans still live in the area, including the daughter of one of the men, whom he interviewed for several hours while preparing for the ceremony.
The conversation left a lasting impression.
“I gotta … bear with me here. It gets a little bit emotional,” Turpin said while recalling those discussions. “I mean, like I said, I’m a veteran, so I have nothing but respect for these people.”
Turpin said speaking with the families helped bring a human connection to events that happened more than eight decades ago.
The plaque, provided through the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, includes photographs and information about the battle and the experiences of Canadian soldiers.
Family members and descendants were expected to attend Saturday’s dedication ceremony.
For Turpin, the unveiling is about more than recognizing three veterans. It’s about making sure future generations understand what they endured and why their sacrifices matter.
“These stories, they’re disappearing, and as a historian, you know, we need to preserve these,” he said.
The plaque will serve as a permanent reminder of the three men and their place in Saskatchewan’s military history.
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