Iwakichi Kojima
Born in Tochigi Ken, Japan, on March 1, 1878, Private Iwakichi Kojima immigrated to Canada and resided at the Japanese Association in Calgary, Alberta when the First World War broke out.
By enlisting in September of 1916, he became one of the 200 Japanese Canadians who volunteered to fight in the Great War. Ninety-two were wounded and another 54 never returned home.
Within the next few months, Kojima successfully completed his medical examination at Camp Sarcee, set sail aboard SS Empress of Britain and arrived in France in December. Kojima was temporarily assigned to the 192nd Battalion prior to being redirected to the 10th Battalion which acquired the reputation of being relentless and resilient in light of the arduous fighting it endured during the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of the Somme.
Iwakichi Kojima dons his Canadian Expeditionary Force uniform, c. 1916. (Credit: Nikkei National Museum, 1992.23.1.2.20.a-b)
By the time spring rolled around in 1917, all four Canadian divisions slowly congregated in the sector of Vimy Ridge as part of the plans devised to capture the ridge, a position that had firmly remained in German hands since near the beginning of the war. Kojima and the 10th Battalion were among the men who bravely and famously attacked Vimy Ridge on that Easter Monday. Sadly, the assault cost the 39-year-old his life. He was reported killed in action on April 9, 1917, meaning he did not live to witness the Canadians’ final triumph at Vimy Ridge three days later.
Canadian soldiers make their way through the barbed wire laid by Germans at Vimy Ridge. (Credit: Library and Archives Canada)
Once the war was over, Kojima’s body was exhumed just over a mile southeast of the town of Neuville-St. Vaast and was later reinterred in the Nine Elms Military Cemetery situated 5 km from the Vimy Ridge Memorial. 378 Canadian Vimy Ridge victims also repose in this cemetery. In 1920, two years after the Armistice, the Canadian Japanese Association unveiled a meant to honour all the Japanese Canadians who served under the Canadian flag, both the fallen and the survivors. Cherry blossom trees now adorn the memorial where Kojima’s name is forever engraved.
The Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Langley, B.C. (Credit: Canadian Virtual War Memorial, photo courtesy of Marika Pirie)
Read our article on Matsumi Mitsui to discover the story of another Japanese Canadian who served in WW1.
To find out more about Japanese Canadians’ contribution in the World Wars, see Warrior Spirit 1916 and this article published in Nikkei Voice.
Main photo: The Nine Elms Military Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais, France where Kojima is buried. (Credit: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)
Sources:
“IWAKICHI KOJIMA.” Library and Archives Canada, Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918, RG 150, Box 5245-67, 507746.
The Calgary Highlanders, 10th Battalion, C.E.F. “History of the 10th Battalion 1914-19.” Accessed on May 11, 2021. 10th Battalion 1914-19 – The Calgary Highlanders.
Veterans Affairs Canada. “Canadian Virtual War Memorial, In memory of: Private Iwakichi Kojima.” Last modified on April 7, 2021. Iwakichi Kojima – The Canadian Virtual War Memorial – Veterans Affairs Canada.
Veterans Affairs Canada. “Nine Elms Military Cemetery.” Last modified on February 2, 2019. Nine Elms Military Cemetery – Memorials In France – First World War Memorials Overseas – Memorials Overseas – Memorials – Remembrance – Veterans Affairs Canada.
Warrior Spirit 1916. “The Fighting Tenth Battalion.” Fighting Tenth – Warrior Spirit 1916.