Forces With History #224--The Battle of Hong Kong
No presents under the tree for the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada
Forces With History #223 was a Christmas greeting to you, my readers. #222, entitled “December 8th, 1941,” briefly summarized the Battle of Hong Kong. Here are a few more details:
British forces, mainly the Royal Scots and Indian troops, with a minor assist from the Royal Rifles of Canada, were driven off the mainland (Kowloon and the Northern Territories) in five days. That was discouraging, no doubt, given that the plan for the defence of the colony called for the Japanese to be held up for at least two weeks before the defenders would retire to the Island of Hong Kong.
A second indicator of things to come was the rapid retreat from the heights of Devil’s Peak, which overlooks the island’s northeast corner. By summarily abandoning the Peak, the British made it possible for the Japanese to immediately pound the Island’s defenders with artillery.
As if all that were not bad enough, the Japanese enjoyed immediate air superiority. They bombed and strafed Allied forces at will, subject at most to small-arms fire.
Given superior numbers as well as the above, the defeat of Hong Kong’s Allied forces was inevitable—and in fact was predicted. Three times the Japanese offered to accept a British surrender; the third time, it was accepted. On December 25th British and Canadian forces—at least those personnel who survived the battle—marched to their fate as prisoners of war.
According to Tony Banham, author of “Not the Slightest Chance,” the Grenadiers and Royal Rifles lost a total of 258 killed in the battle, out of approximately 1,871. But total casualties (wounded or killed in action or while POWs) were close to 50%.
The bravery and sacrifice of Canadians and their allies in Hong Kong, while not attracting the same level of attention accorded other battles, is still noticed. Here’s one example. It’s a Facebook post by Ted Hawthorne, Regimental Secretary of the British Columbia Regiment (DCO):
“FROM THE DESK OF THE REGIMENTAL SECRETARY
REMEMBRANCE OF THE 83RD ANNIVERSARY OF
THE BATTLE OF HONG KONG
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, UNIT 119
PORT MOODY, B.C.
25 DECEMBER 2024
“The service and sacrifice of our Canadian soldiers, members of The Royal Rifles of Canada (Quebec City) and The Winnipeg Grenadiers, who fought valiantly in the Defence of Hong Kong, eighty-three years ago (8-25 December 1941), were remembered at the Memorial of The Royal Canadian Legion, Unit 119, in Port Moody, on a rainy Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th (marking the Anniversary of the Fall of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941) by Regimental Secretary, Ted Hawthorne. A Regimental Wreath and a Candle of Remembrance were placed at the Memorial on behalf of the Regimental Family.
We will remember them!”