Wee Tan Louie
Wee Tan Louie (1889–1970) was one of 300 Chinese Canadians to serve in the First World War.[1][2]
Born in Shuswap Country, Louie was denied permission to enlist in Kamloops due to his race: officials felt that if Chinese Canadians were allowed to enlist, "their demands to be treated fairly could not be ignored as easily".[3] He took a three-month journey by horse over the Rocky Mountains to Calgary, where he successfully enlisted and shipped out to England.[1] He was wounded in action as a runner and received the Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service.[1] After the war he worked as a taxi driver.[2] He and his wife Lillian, whom he married in 1931, had four children.[4]
His brother Wee Hong Louie also served in the First World War.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Wee Tan Louie". Chinese Canadian Military Museum. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ a b "The Louie Brothers". Valour Canada. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Carolyn Heiman, ed. (2017). Celebration: Chinese Canadian Legacies in British Columbia. Province of British Columbia. p. 72.
- ^ "B.C.'s Louie brothers were among 300 Chinese-Canadians who fought in the First World War". The Great War. Postmedia. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016.
Further reading[edit]
- "Brothers fought enemies and racism". Edmonton Journal. 16 August 2014. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.