Re: Hong Kong
Pt 4
The defending forces were reorganized into and East and West Brigade. The West Brigade consisted of the Royal Scots, Winnipeg Grenadiers, the 2/14 Punjab, and the Canadian signallers. The East Brigade, under Brigadier Wallis, was comprised of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the 5/7 Rajput. The Middlesex were directly under Fortress Headquarters.
To reduce the defenders means of resistance, the Japanese directed heavy artillery bombardment at the island, mounted destructive air raids, and systematically shelled the pillboxes along the north shore.
On December 17, the Japanese again demanded surrender. One again it was refused, although the eventual fall of the Colony was expected. With the sinking of two British capital ships off Malaya and the crippling of the American fleet at Pearl Harbour, there was no hope of relief. The Chinese armies were in no position to give immediate aid.
The invasion came with the darkness on December 18. The Japanese began crossing the strait at its narrowest part, Lye Mun Passage, in assault boats, landing craft, an small boats towed by ferry streamers. The large number of invaders came ashore on a front of approximately three kilometres in the face of machine-gun fire from the 5/7 Rajput who manned the pillboxes.
After coming ashore, the Japanese forces fanned out east and west and proceeded to high ground. The Royal Rifles were the first Canadian troops to go into action against the invasion force. “C” Company, in reserve in an area adjacent to the landing, counter-attacked through the night. It inflicted and suffered heavy casualties. Other platoons of the Royal Rifles went into action on the west side of Mount Parker and suffered many casualties from the already entrenched enemy.
By the morning of the 19th, the Japanese had reached the Wong Nei Chong and Ti Tam Gaps, Brigadier Lawson’ and Brigadier Wallis’ headquarters. With the enemy well established on the high hills from Mount Parker to Jardine’s Lookout, General Maltby ordered the East Brigade to withdraw southward towards Stanley Peninsula. By nightfall on the 19th, a new line was established running through the vicinity of Stanley Mound. Some valuable mobile artillery was destroyed during the withdrawal. When the Japanese reached the sea at Repulse Bay, it separated the East and West Brigades. (continued below)
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