Cowichan River, Arkan Park
 

Cowichan River, British Columbia

 

Constructed on August 15, 1996, in memory of Major Charles F. Hoey, VC, MC. He was killed in the battle of Aralem on Feb. 16, 1944, and is buried in Rangoon.

In 1945, the Governor-General set aside District Lot 11, Cowichan Lake Land District, as a "Public Park" and named it Arakan Park. This designation was followed by the installation of a bronze plaque placed in the Park in 1996. It explains the heroic actions of Charles F. Hoey and other fallen comrades who fought in Burma's Arakan region. It also placed recognition of August 15, 1945, V-J Day, when Japanese Imperial forces surrendered.

 

Arakan Burma was the scene of a battle in World War II where there was a gallant charge made by the allied forces under heavy machine-gun fire. Major Charles F. Hoey personally led his company under heavy resistance to capture a vital enemy position in February 1944. He accomplished this mission in spite of being wounded three times. He was fatally wounded after leading this successful offensive and received the Victoria Cross for valour for his efforts.

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