This issue of Forces With History is coming to you a day or two early, so I can tell you about an event coming up tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4th, that I’m very excited about. Andrew Boden and I will be reading from and chatting about our respective historical fiction: When We Were Ashes in Andrew’s case, and The Forgotten: A Novel of the Korean War in mine.
Also on the program will be some wonderful cello magic at the hands of Anna Kuchkova.
This all takes place at the Book Warehouse at 4118 Main Street in Vancouver; the doors will open at 6:30 pm and the program is set for 7:00.
We’d love to see you there!
The poster follows below Forces With History #228
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And now on with the Battle of Hong Kong story…
Forces With History #227, published on February 18th, recounted how the Winnipeg Grenadiers, like the Royal Rifles of Canada, were assigned to the defence of the Island of Hong Kong by the British command.
The Island’s city, Victoria, was on the north coast facing across the harbour at Kowloon on the mainland. South of Victoria was the Wong Nai Chung Gap, a narrow corridor that ran north-south, dividing the island into east and west portions that featured high, rocky hills with many steep inclines and enclosed lakes and reservoirs.
The Grenadiers were part of the defence force to the west, and the Royal Rifles joined the battle on the east. Commanding the West Brigade was Canadian Brigadier John Lawson; English Brigadier Cedric Wallis commanded the forces of East Brigade.
After their initial attack on the mainland on December 8th, the Japanese lost little time rolling the defensive forces south and bottling them up on the island. Already in complete control of the air, the attackers had gained high ground on the mainland and battered the defenders with artillery to accompany their strafing and bombing runs. On December 18th they crossed the narrowest part of the harbout and pushed south across the island.
One of their first objectives was Wong Nai Chung Gap, and on December 19th, in the course of their southward drive, they cornered Brigadier Lawson and members of the force’s band, who were acting as stretcher-bearers. All were annihilated. The East and West Brigades were effectively islotated from one another and unable to give mutual support.
Lawson was the most senior Canadian officer killed in World War II.
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And here’s the poster for Tuesday’s event:
Once you are finished with Hong Kong you should take a hard look at the future of NATO. History seems to be overtaking this alliance with Trump in the White House.