of rural Manitoba and Quebec enjoyed the "sophisticated nightlife" of Hong Kong. One soldier from Oshawa, Jeff Marston, wrote home to his mother on 23 November 1941, being very enthusiastic about Hong Kong, saying it was a "beautiful city". The same letter mentioned that the Canadians loved to spend their free time at the "Roller-Dome" for roller-skating that was full of the "loveliest looking Chinese girls I have ever seen" and a luxurious dance hall called the Dreamland where the latest "hit" American pop music was played. Marston stated that the Hong Kong Chinese at the Dreamland dance hall were "ever good dancers" and "the way they dress here is simply terrific...the girls wear their dress 'cut' and they reach as far down as their ankles. Although the colors are dazzling (and they all wear sandals)". Marston's letter, which was typical of the letters sent home from Hong Kong, concluded: "I am having a really marvelous time here, the food is excellent. Its marvelous to see the things I have read about in Picture Magazines only to come true before my very eyes". Though Canadians had previously served in Asia when a Canadian garrison occupied the Russian city of Vladivostok ("the star of the east") in Siberia during the Russian Civil War, members of C Force believed that they were the first Canadian military force to serve in Asia, which was seen as a great honor. Another soldier attached to C Force, Company Sergeant Major George McDonell of the Royal Rifles of Canada, stated in an interview in 2006 that being sent to Hong Kong: "...was a great adventure. We just kids. We knew nothing about Hong Kong; nothing about China...we joined the Army to fight whatever we were sent." McDonell also stated it was commonly believed that C Force had been sent to Hong Kong for training and after the training was completed, they would go to Europe. Another veteran of C Force, Private Maurice D'Avignon of Quebec City, in a public letter in 1948 written in slightly broken English stated: "When we volunteered in the Army we were ready to fight anywhere in the British Empire. If destiny have sent us to Hong Kong it was our duty as true Canadian to defend it the best we could". The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hong Kong were the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of