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

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  1. ^ a b c d "Wee Tan Louie". Chinese Canadian Military Museum. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "The Louie Brothers". Valour Canada. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. ^ Carolyn Heiman, ed. (2017). Celebration: Chinese Canadian Legacies in British Columbia. Province of British Columbia. p. 72.
  4. ^ "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

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