By Adam Donnelly

Finding Freddy Lee: search continues for Chinese-Canadian WW1 veteran from Kamloops

Jul 24, 2018 | 5:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Throughout World War 1, Canadians suffered over 149 000 casualties, with over 56 000 men killed or missing in combat. One of those men killed, but whose remains were never found was Kamloops’ own Frederick Lee, a Chinese-Canadian machine gunner in the Rocky Mountain Rangers who participated in Canada’s victory at Vimy Ridge.

On Tuesday, a group of citizens who have made it their mission to find Freddy Lee’s remains was in Kamloops looking for more information on Private Lee, as well as update their efforts to ensure the local soldier is remembered.

It’s been nearly 101 years since Freddy Lee died in combat in World War 1. Like so many of his fellow soldiers, he died far too young; unlike other Canadian troops who fought in World War 1, Lee was born to Chinese parents, in a time when racism against the Chinese was rampant.

“How’s a Chinese kid going to enlist? Because in Vancouver they weren’t allowed,” Jack Gin said. Gin has taken the lead in the search for answers about Lee’s service and death in France.

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Freddy Lee was one of over 1000 young men from BC who joined the Rocky Mountain Rangers during the Great War; once those soldiers travelled to Europe, they were split up amongst other military units who had lost men in combat, according to retired Rocky Mountain Rangers Commanding Officer, Lt Col. Dave Hannah.

“As you know, particularly in the First World War, casualties were extremely high,” Hannah explained. “It was a case of we went over, and they’d just… say the Princess Pat’s are short 300 people, they’d take the 300 [from the ranks of the Rangers].”

Throughout Gin’s search, he’s uncovered a great deal of information, thanks to Hannah’s help, as well as assistance from Elise Cheung and the Kamloops Chinese Freemasons, who managed to find Freddy’s nephew, Dick Lee. Dick says throughout this process he’s been learning a great deal about his family’s past.

“I’m finding out an awful lot of family history that I knew nothing of,” Dick, who is in his mid-80’s told CFJC Today. “That makes it a heck of a lot more interesting.”

Through their research, the group discovered Fred’s mom – Dick’s Grandmother – emigrated back to China with several younger siblings. For Gin, finding that branch of Freddy’s family tree is an important part of this process.

For Dick Lee, learning about his family has given him a whole new perspective on his ancestors.

“[We knew] very little, other than that he had been in the service, and died in the service,” Lee said. “My father, he passed away in 1940, and I happened to be 7 at the time. When you’re that young, you’re more interested in what’s going on on the playground than family history.”

The group plans to continue their quest for information about Frederick Lee, as well as search for his relatives in China in the hopes they may one day reunite the Lee family in France at the site where they plan to build a memorial for Freddy, as well as the other Canadians who were killed during the battle of Hill 70.

“He volunteered as a Canadian, he fought as a Canadian, and he died a Canadian,” Gin said. “That’s the story of Fred Lee. I want his long-lost descendants in China to know that story.”