A.S. Brown (talk | contribs) Brothers-in-arms |
A.S. Brown (talk | contribs) Going down fighting-this is way one should never surrender to the Japs because they have no concept of mercy or decency in their culture-it is all extreme violence and sadism |
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The Canadians were initially positioned on the south side of the Island to counter any amphibious landing. This meant that when the Japanese invaded the island they were the units called upon to counterattack. On 8 December, Japanese aircraft destroyed a nearly empty camp at Sham Shui Po where two men of the Royal Canadian Signals were wounded, the first Canadian casualties in the Pacific theatre, and the first Canadian army casualties in combat. On 11 December, the Winnipeg Grenadiers became the first Canadian Army subunit to fight in battle in the Second World War, with D Company acting as a rearguard during the retreat from Kowloon. Private John Grey was killed during the evacuation. It is unknown how he died but guesses have included mobs, fifth columnists, and being executed by the Japanese. The majority of the men of C Force were strongly patriotic and saw themselves as fighting for the British empire, and in particular believed that by defending Hong Kong that they were defending Australia, seen at the time as a fellow member of the Commonwealth "family".{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=239}} On 18 December 1941, the Japanese landed on Hong Kong island and the first substantial clash occurred on 19 December 1941 at the Wong Nai Chong Gap where the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Scots were stationed.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} After a hard-fought action lasting all of the morning of 19th of December, Major A. B Gresham of the A company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers led a counterattack that pushed the Japanese back, but were in turn encircled at Jardine's Lookout later in the afternoon.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} Company Sergeant Major Osborn was killed during the fighting and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in battle in the British empire, becoming the first Canadian to be so honored in World War Two.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} During the fighting, the commander of C Force, Brigadier Lawson was killed in action.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} After three days of fighting, the Japanese finally took the Wong Nai Chong Gap.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} |
The Canadians were initially positioned on the south side of the Island to counter any amphibious landing. This meant that when the Japanese invaded the island they were the units called upon to counterattack. On 8 December, Japanese aircraft destroyed a nearly empty camp at Sham Shui Po where two men of the Royal Canadian Signals were wounded, the first Canadian casualties in the Pacific theatre, and the first Canadian army casualties in combat. On 11 December, the Winnipeg Grenadiers became the first Canadian Army subunit to fight in battle in the Second World War, with D Company acting as a rearguard during the retreat from Kowloon. Private John Grey was killed during the evacuation. It is unknown how he died but guesses have included mobs, fifth columnists, and being executed by the Japanese. The majority of the men of C Force were strongly patriotic and saw themselves as fighting for the British empire, and in particular believed that by defending Hong Kong that they were defending Australia, seen at the time as a fellow member of the Commonwealth "family".{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=239}} On 18 December 1941, the Japanese landed on Hong Kong island and the first substantial clash occurred on 19 December 1941 at the Wong Nai Chong Gap where the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Scots were stationed.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} After a hard-fought action lasting all of the morning of 19th of December, Major A. B Gresham of the A company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers led a counterattack that pushed the Japanese back, but were in turn encircled at Jardine's Lookout later in the afternoon.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} Company Sergeant Major Osborn was killed during the fighting and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in battle in the British empire, becoming the first Canadian to be so honored in World War Two.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} During the fighting, the commander of C Force, Brigadier Lawson was killed in action.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} After three days of fighting, the Japanese finally took the Wong Nai Chong Gap.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} |
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Major Reynolds Condon of the U.S. Army who attached as military attache to the American consulate in Hong Kong praised the performance of C Force, writing: "The individual courage shown by officers and men was amazing in view of their low morale. The officers especially went forward to their deaths without hesitancy although they had in their hearts no hope of success".{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} A particular tragedy that befell the Winnipeg Grenadiers that there five sets of brothers killed over three days of fighting.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} As the Winnipeg Grenadiers were a close-knit regiment recruited from southern Manitoba, the loss of so many brothers over so short a period of time could have caused morale problems, but it appears not to have so.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} The first brothers to be killed on 19 December were the Kelso brothers, John and Henry.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} Henry Kelso was born in Belfast while his younger brother John had been born in Winnipeg, but the two brothers died within sight of each other.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} |
Major Reynolds Condon of the U.S. Army who attached as military attache to the American consulate in Hong Kong praised the performance of C Force, writing: "The individual courage shown by officers and men was amazing in view of their low morale. The officers especially went forward to their deaths without hesitancy although they had in their hearts no hope of success".{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242}} A particular tragedy that befell the Winnipeg Grenadiers that there five sets of brothers killed over three days of fighting.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} As the Winnipeg Grenadiers were a close-knit regiment recruited from southern Manitoba, the loss of so many brothers over so short a period of time could have caused morale problems, but it appears not to have so.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} The first brothers to be killed on 19 December were the Kelso brothers, John and Henry.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} Henry Kelso was born in Belfast while his younger brother John had been born in Winnipeg, but the two brothers died within sight of each other.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} Gordon and Roy Land were also both killed with Gordon Land being killed while Roy Land was taken prisoner and used by the Japanese for "bayonet practice".{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=242-243}} As his body was repeatedly pierced by bayonets, Roy Land swore so defiantly at his tormentors that a Japanese officer finally shot him in the head to silence him.{{sfn|Macri|2011|p=243}} |
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In the subsequent fight for Hong Kong island, the Canadians lost 290 personnel of which 130 were from the Grenadiers. The commander of West Brigade HQ, Brigadier [[John K. Lawson]], was killed. The remaining Canadian soldiers surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas Day. |
In the subsequent fight for Hong Kong island, the Canadians lost 290 personnel of which 130 were from the Grenadiers. The commander of West Brigade HQ, Brigadier [[John K. Lawson]], was killed. The remaining Canadian soldiers surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas Day. |
Revision as of 04:10, 13 September 2020
"C" Force was the Canadian military contingent involved in the Battle of Hong Kong, in December 1941. Members of the force were the first Canadian soldiers to see action in World War II.
During the course of 1941, Japan's foreign policy assumed an increasingly aggressive posture towards the Western powers. In July 1941 Japan occupied the southern half of French Indochina, leading to the United States, Great Britain and the Dutch government in exile which controlled the oil-rich Netherlands East Indies (modern Indonesia) to impose an oil embargo on Japan. As Japan possessed no oil, the embargo threatened to shut down the Japanese economy once its oil reserves were exhausted. Talks were opened to find a solution to the crisis, but it was understood that there was a very real possibility that Japan might try to seize the Netherlands East Indies together with the British colonies of Sarawak, Sabah, Malaya and Burma to provide itself with oil. The British response was a policy of "deterrence diplomacy" of building up British forces in Asia in order to deter the Japanese from choosing war and to encourage Tokyo with continue with seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis.[1] A major problem with the British "deterrence diplomacy" was in 1941 Britain was fully engaged in war with Germany and Italy, and it was not possible to build up the level of forces in Asia that could truly deter the Japanese. In a memo, Major-General A. E. Grasett argued that increasing the size of the Hong Kong garrison would have "a strong psychological stimulus" and a "salutary effect on the Japanese".[2] As the British Army was fully involved in the campaigns in North Africa together with the Horn of Africa a request made on 19 September 1941 to have Canada provide two battalions to Hong Kong.[3] Largely for domestic political reasons, the Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King accepted the request on 29 September 1941.[4]
In Autumn 1941, the British government accepted the Canadian Government's offer, mediated by a former General Officer Commanding in Hong Kong and Canadian, Major-General A. E. Grasett to send two infantry battalions (1,975 personnel) to reinforce the Hong Kong garrison. All of the men of C Force were volunteers.[5] The force departed North America on 27 October and arrived 16 November. They did not have their full equipment: a ship carrying all their vehicles was diverted to Manila when war began. The soldiers were still undergoing training and acclimatisation. The majority of the men liked Hong Kong, seen as an exotic "Eastern" city full of Western comforts.[5] One soldier from Oshawa, Jeff Marston, wrote home to his mother on 23 November 1941 talking enthusiastically about Hong Kong was a "beautiful city" full of of the "loveliest looking Chinese girls I have ever seen".[6] The same letter mentioned that the Canadians loved to spent their free time at the "Roller-Dome" for roller-skating and a luxurious dance hall called the Dreamland where the latest American pop music was played.[6] Marston stated that the Hong Kong Chinese 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)".[7] 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".[8] Through Canadians had previously served in Asia when a Canadian garrison occupied the Russian city of Vladivostok ("the star of the east") during the Russian Civil War, members of the C Force believed that they were the first Canadian military force to serve in Asia, which was seen as a great honor.[8]
The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hong Kong were:
In addition to this the Canadians provided a Brigade HQ. The major issue facing Major-General Christopher Maltby in charge of the defense of Hong Kong was there were not enough troops to man the Gin Drinkers Line that divided the New Territories of Hong Kong while still keeping a reserve to hold Hong Kong island.[8] C Force was attached to the reserve holding Hong Kong island and as such did not see action when the Japanese attacked the Gin Drinkers Line on 7 December 1941.[9] To defend Hong Kong island was the West Brigade under Brigadier-General Cedric Wallis which included the Royal Rifles of Canada battalion and the East Brigade under Brigadier-General John K. Lawson which included the Winnipeg Grenadiers.[9]
The Canadians were initially positioned on the south side of the Island to counter any amphibious landing. This meant that when the Japanese invaded the island they were the units called upon to counterattack. On 8 December, Japanese aircraft destroyed a nearly empty camp at Sham Shui Po where two men of the Royal Canadian Signals were wounded, the first Canadian casualties in the Pacific theatre, and the first Canadian army casualties in combat. On 11 December, the Winnipeg Grenadiers became the first Canadian Army subunit to fight in battle in the Second World War, with D Company acting as a rearguard during the retreat from Kowloon. Private John Grey was killed during the evacuation. It is unknown how he died but guesses have included mobs, fifth columnists, and being executed by the Japanese. The majority of the men of C Force were strongly patriotic and saw themselves as fighting for the British empire, and in particular believed that by defending Hong Kong that they were defending Australia, seen at the time as a fellow member of the Commonwealth "family".[5] On 18 December 1941, the Japanese landed on Hong Kong island and the first substantial clash occurred on 19 December 1941 at the Wong Nai Chong Gap where the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Scots were stationed.[9] After a hard-fought action lasting all of the morning of 19th of December, Major A. B Gresham of the A company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers led a counterattack that pushed the Japanese back, but were in turn encircled at Jardine's Lookout later in the afternoon.[9] Company Sergeant Major Osborn was killed during the fighting and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in battle in the British empire, becoming the first Canadian to be so honored in World War Two.[9] During the fighting, the commander of C Force, Brigadier Lawson was killed in action.[9] After three days of fighting, the Japanese finally took the Wong Nai Chong Gap.[9]
Major Reynolds Condon of the U.S. Army who attached as military attache to the American consulate in Hong Kong praised the performance of C Force, writing: "The individual courage shown by officers and men was amazing in view of their low morale. The officers especially went forward to their deaths without hesitancy although they had in their hearts no hope of success".[9] A particular tragedy that befell the Winnipeg Grenadiers that there five sets of brothers killed over three days of fighting.[10] As the Winnipeg Grenadiers were a close-knit regiment recruited from southern Manitoba, the loss of so many brothers over so short a period of time could have caused morale problems, but it appears not to have so.[10] The first brothers to be killed on 19 December were the Kelso brothers, John and Henry.[10] Henry Kelso was born in Belfast while his younger brother John had been born in Winnipeg, but the two brothers died within sight of each other.[10] Gordon and Roy Land were also both killed with Gordon Land being killed while Roy Land was taken prisoner and used by the Japanese for "bayonet practice".[11] As his body was repeatedly pierced by bayonets, Roy Land swore so defiantly at his tormentors that a Japanese officer finally shot him in the head to silence him.[10]
In the subsequent fight for Hong Kong island, the Canadians lost 290 personnel of which 130 were from the Grenadiers. The commander of West Brigade HQ, Brigadier John K. Lawson, was killed. The remaining Canadian soldiers surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas Day.
Awards
Soldiers of 'C' Force were awarded a total of 100 decorations. The following table shows the unit, the decoration and the number awarded.
Regiment | Decoration/ Award |
No. |
---|---|---|
Canadian Auxiliary Service | MBE | 1 |
Canadian Auxiliary Service | MiD | 1 |
Canadian Chaplains Service | MC | 1 |
Canadian Chaplains Service | MiD | 1 |
Royal Canadian Dental Corps | MiD | 1 |
Royal Canadian Postal Corps | DCM | 1 |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps | MBE | 3 |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps | ARRC | 2 |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps | MiD | 1 |
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | DCM | 1 |
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | MM | 1 |
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | BEM | 1 |
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | MiD | 2 |
Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps | MM | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | DSO | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | OBE | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | MBE | 2 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | MC | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | DCM | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | MM | 6 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | DM | 1 |
The Royal Rifles of Canada | MiD | 28 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | VC | 1 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | DSO | 1 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | MC | 3 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | DCM | 1 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | MM | 5 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | BEM | 2 |
The Winnipeg Grenadiers | MiD | 26 |
Decoration/award descriptions
In order of precedence descriptions are as follows:
VC - Victoria Cross
DSO - Distinguished Service Order
OBE - Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire status
MBE - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire status
MC - Military Cross
ARRC - Associate of the Royal Red Cross
DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal
MM - Military Medal
BEM - British Empire Medal
DM - Dickin Medal
MiD - Mentioned in Despatches
References for the above awards
Canada Gazette, 44 10 January, No. 10, Vol. 78, p2404
Canada Gazette, 46 8 April, No. 14, Vol. 80, p2066
Canada Gazette, 46 15 June, No. 24, Vol. 80, p2404
London Gazette, 48 20 February, No. 38212, p1175
Legacy
Surviving Canadian servicemen from this battle formed the Hong Kong Veterans Association. In December 1991 they planted two maple trees in Sham Shui Po Park in memory of their comrades. The deployment of C Force has been the object of immense controversy with a number of British historians such as Oliver Lindsay, Tim Carew, Philip Snow, and Andrew Whitfield portraying C Force as cowardly and undisciplined with the implication that Hong Kong could have held out longer if only C Force had fought better.[12] Such criticism had its origins in a report in 1948 produced by Christopher Maltby which blamed C Force for the defeat.[13] In Canada, such criticism has been echoed by historians such as Carl Vincent and by the McKenna brothers who produced a documentary in 1992 The Valor and the Horror that portrayed C Force in an unflattering light.[14] By contrast, historians such as Terry Copp, Tony Banham and Oliver Lindsay in the second edition of his book have largely defended the performance of C Force..[15]
The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association dedicated the Hong Kong Memorial Wall on Sussex Drive at King Edward Avenue in Ottawa, Ontario on 15 August 2009 to the 1,977 Canadians who sailed to Hong Kong in 1941 to assist the British in defending the colony against the Japanese invasion. The names of 961 members of the Royal Rifles are etched on one side of the wall and the names of 911 Grenadiers are on the other side of a six-metre concrete wall covered in granite, with the upper part shaped as a mountain landscape. The 106 members of the Brigade Headquarters, including doctors, dentists and chaplains are listed on either end of the memorial.[16] The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada erected a memorial rock with plaque near the Hong Kong Memorial Wall on 15 August 2009, which describes the Canadian role in the defence of Hong Kong. "In late 1941, 1,975 Canadians arrived in Hong Kong to reinforce the garrison. They fought with courage and determination against overwhelming odds after the Japanese attacked on December 8. Many distinguished themselves under fire, including Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, who won Canada's first Victoria Cross of the Second World War, During the seventeen-day battle, 290 men died. After the surrender, 267 more perished during long years of harsh captivity. The Canadians` role in the defence of Hong Kong stands as an eloquent expression of their lasting honour."[17]
Books and articles
- Macri, Franco David (2011). "Canadians under Fire: C Force and the Battle of Hong Kong, December 1941". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong. 51: 233–251.
- Kwong, Chi Man; Tsoi, Yiu Lun (2014). Eastern Fortress: A Military History of Hong Kong, 1840–1970. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 9888208705.
References
- ^ Kwong & Tsoi 2014, p. 134-136.
- ^ Kwong & Tsoi 2014, p. 134-137.
- ^ Kwong & Tsoi 2014, p. 138.
- ^ Kwong & Tsoi 2014, p. 139.
- ^ a b c Macri 2011, p. 239.
- ^ a b Macri 2011, p. 239-240.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. 240.
- ^ a b c Macri 2011, p. 241.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Macri 2011, p. 242.
- ^ a b c d e Macri 2011, p. 243.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. 242-243.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. 237-238.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. -238.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. 238.
- ^ Macri 2011, p. 237.
- ^ "Hong Kong Memorial Wall: Memorial 35059-053 Ottawa, ON". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ "Hong Kong Memorial Wall plaque: Memorial 35059-076 Ottawa, ON". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
Further reading
- Stacey, C. P. (1956) [1955]. Six Years of War: The Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific (PDF). Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Vol. I (2nd rev. online ed.). Ottawa, ON: Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery. OCLC 917731527. Retrieved 6 September 2016.