see more

This photo taken on December 2, 2016 shows wreaths laid in front of a memorial at the Stanley Military Cemetery dedicated to French civilians who died fighting with the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps against the 1941 Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. Seventy-five years ago, a handful of idealistic 'Free French' took up arms to defend the British colony of Hong Kong in a futile battle against Japanese invaders. But their sacrifice, though largely unknown in their homeland, is not forgotten in Asia. There are six names on the worn stele that pays tribute to them in a corner of the British military cemetery in Stanley, on a hill in the south of Hong Kong island. / AFP / Isaac LAWRENCE / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: 'HONGKONG-JAPAN-FRANCE-HISTORY-WWII' Feature by JACQUES CLEMENT (Photo credit should read ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/Getty Images)

This photo taken on December 2, 2016 shows wreaths laid in front of a memorial at the Stanley Military Cemetery dedicated to French civilians who died fighting with the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps against the 1941 Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. Seventy-five years ago, a handful of idealistic 'Free French' took up arms to defend the British colony of Hong Kong in a futile battle against Japanese invaders. But their sacrifice, though largely unknown in their homeland, is not forgotten in Asia. There are six names on the worn stele that pays tribute to them in a corner of the British military cemetery in Stanley, on a hill in the south of Hong Kong island. / AFP / Isaac LAWRENCE / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: 'HONGKONG-JAPAN-FRANCE-HISTORY-WWII' Feature by JACQUES CLEMENT (Photo credit should read ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/Getty Images)
Getty Images

AFP ISAAC LAWRENCE