Person

Cheng, Roger K.

• Cheng, Won Hin Ka
• Cheng, Won Hin

1915-1990

Roger K. Cheng was born CHENG Won Hin (Ka) in Lillooet, B.C. on May 16, 1915.

He was among the second generation in his family born in Lillooet in 1915, the eldest son of H.D. Cheng and WONG Lai Kwai; and one of seven siblings: Kuen, Roger, Patricia, Nina, Fook Cheong, Luna, and Elmer.

Roger’s grandfather, CHENG Won (CHENG Tien Soon) immigrated to Canada in 1881 with his wife Cheng Shun Shee (aka Chin Shee or Shun See). They each paid the $50 head tax.

Cheng Won was a local businessman who owned the Wo Hing General Store in Lillooet, among other enterprises, including a pig farm dubbed “China Ranch” on Hogback Mountain in West Pavillion, B.C., during the Gold Rush and railway construction.

They had two children: Cheng Hing Dien (known as H.D. Cheng), (Cheng Yong Gunn) and Yvonne (Cheng Soon Yee). H.D. Cheng was born in North Bend, B.C. near Lillooet in 1888. H.D also managed Cheng Won’s businesses; and married Roger’s mother, Wong Lai Kwai, in 1914.

Roger and his family moved to New Westminster and Vancouver after the Wo Hing General Store burned down in the 1930s. His parents ran a laundromat and a fish wholesale business, representing some of the few businesses Chinese were allowed to operate.

Roger attended McGill University to study Electrical Engineering and received his degree in 1936. Roger and his friend, Fred Chu, paid their way through university by working as houseboys for a wealthy Montreal family. Sadly, despite getting an Engineering degree, Roger could not obtain work in his field because he was Chinese.

Discrimination inspired Roger to join the military to serve Canada in WWII but Canada did not accept Chinese recruits.

Roger was hand-picked by British Special Operations Executive to lead Force 136, a clandestine mission of 13 Chinese Canadians. He was the first Chinese Canadian officer in Canada, as Captain of Force 136, and specialist in wireless operations. Force 136 soldiers were trained and organized by British SOE to operate in Japanese-occupied territories of Southeast Asia.

Roger's first mission was named Operation Oblivion. Roger led a small team of four Force 136 commandos into Japanese-occupied Borneo. Their mission included: contact and befriend Dyak headhunters; organize tribesmen into local security forces; provide equipment and training; assist with sabotage; defend villagers; locate isolated Japanese units and force surrender; find prisoner of war camps; patrol jungle rivers; and prevent revenge massacres of Japanese troops and suspected collaborators. They fought beyond the official end of WWII and completed their mission. Roger helped repatriate POWs in Australia, then returned home to Vancouver. Roger recommended medals to his four soldiers as commander but he did not receive one.

After WWII, Roger, with other Chinese Canadian veterans and civilians, helped rally the vote for Chinese to become citizens. The vote was gained in 1947, two years after the war ended.

Roger then worked in various jobs including import/export businesses in Vancouver. His father, H.D. Cheng, also worked in import/export at CT Takahashi Ltd, and introduced Roger to the owner. Roger worked at and later bought that business when the owner retired. He employed his sons and later passed on the business to his children. In the 1960s, he was also a partner in Ming’s, a popular Chinese restaurant in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Starting in the late 1960s, Capt. Roger K. Cheng served as an Honourable Aide de Camp for at least two B.C. Lieutenant Governors: Lt Gov. John Robert Nicholson & Lt Gov. Walter Stewart Owen. He was the first Chinese Canadian to serve in this honour.

Roger married Hazel Lam in 1950. They had five children: Stephen, Michael, Allan, Brett and Madeline.

Roger passed away June 4, 1990 in Vancouver.

Description supplied by collector/curator