It was an unhappy new year for hundreds of Canadian troops in January 1942, after they became prisoners of war following a month-long battle against the Imperial Japanese Army in Hong Kong.
A contingent of 1,975 Canadian soldiers had been sent to the British colony in November 1941 to join 14,000 other British and Indian troops expecting guard duty. However, that “guard duty” was shattered when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7 and kicked off the Second World War in the Pacific.
From Dec. 8 to 25, the Canadian soldiers fought bravely against the overwhelming power of the invading Japanese force. When the British colony surrendered on Christmas Day following the destruction of the island’s water supply, 290 Canadians had been killed and another 264 would die during the next four years amid the inhumane conditions in prisoner-of-war (POW) camps.
According to an article in the Dec. 27, 1941 issue of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, eight men were from Saskatchewan, including Lt. Richard Maze from Assiniboia, Pte. Harry Gyselman from Moose Jaw, Cpl. William Albert Hall from Expanse, Sask., near Mossbank, Pte. Leo W. Miller from Moose Jaw, Pte. Wilfred Samuel Moore from Elbow, Pte. Frank Neufield from Rush Lake near Swift Current, Pte. Cornelius Nickel from Herbert near Swift Current, and Pte. Ernest Buck from Gravelbourg.
Buck, Nickel, Neufield, Miller, Hall, Gyselman, and Maze all survived; Moore died of diphtheria in October 1942 and is buried in the Sai Wan War Cemetery.
Troops receive ‘warm reception’
The two million-strong Chinese population of Hong Kong was surprised to see the 1,975 Canadian soldiers sail into that city’s harbour on Nov. 17, 1941, but greeted the men jubilantly as news of the landing spread, an article said.
“We are ready for anything that might occur,” commanding officer Brig. J.K. Lawson told the Canadian Press. Some troops had been overseas once before during the war, but — aside from some First World War vets who had served in Vladivostok, Russia — this was the first time Canadians had been in Asia.
Hong Kong was considered the second-most important British naval base in the Far East, after Singapore.
In announcing the arrival of the Canadians at Hong Kong, Prime Minister Mackenzie King said, “Defence against aggression, actual or threatened, in any part of the world is today a part of the defence of every country which still enjoys freedom.”
Defence plan holds up
When Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, it was already Dec. 8 in Hong Kong. Japanese planes struck the British colony twice, but anti-air fire brought down one plane and scattered eight others.
“… the defence plan continues to develop satisfactorily … ,” an article said. “In a raid this afternoon a few bombs were dropped but the raiders scattered as soon as they were fired on and damage and casualties were not extensive.”
Invasion attempt
“Canadian troops are in fine fettle,” declared a military communiqué on Dec. 9, as artillery brought to a halt Japanese troops attempting an invasion of “this British citadel of defence.”
A London Daily Express journalist confirmed that “terrific artillery fire” from the British, Indian and Canadian troops had driven off two Japanese thrusts from the north and given dive bombers “a particularly rough time.”
Meanwhile, Canadian and Allied troops using Bren gun carriers ambushed a platoon of Japanese soldiers who were “practically annihilated” on the western coast of the mainland.
“On one occasion … a Japanese scout was observed to be signaling from what he apparently took to be a natural mound,” the communiqué added. “In reality, it was one of our concealed mines, which was immediately touched off. The signaller vanished.”
Heavy fighting
“Fighting Heavy at Hong Kong,” a headline said on Dec. 15.
The Japanese had pounded Hong Kong for two days straight by land and air, which forced the Allies on the Kowloon peninsula — the crown colony’s mainland section — to fall back to defend Hong Kong island, the article said.
A day later, the Times-Herald reported that the fall of Hong Kong loomed and troops might have to be evacuated, while a serious threat to Singapore had developed there.
“British lack of naval superiority has changed the entire situation in northern Malaya,” the article said. “The British land defence was planned on the basis of naval superiority, but both the British and United States fleets have suffered hard blows. Now the naval situation has allowed the Japanese to develop an offensive on a large scale. There definitely is danger … .”
Difficult time for Canadians
Although Canadian troops had suffered few casualties by Dec. 16, the garrison was still facing a strong enemy. All soldiers were encouraged to stay strong on Dec. 18 after the governor of Hong Kong rejected a second surrender request from the Japanese.
“Hold on!” Lord Moyne, the British colonial secretary, wrote to the island governor.
A serious situation
The position in Hong Kong had deteriorated by Dec. 19, after the colonial office lost contact with the colony early that morning.
The only word about the situation was from a BBC broadcast, which said that “Hong Kong and its gallant defenders — British, Canadian and Indian — are now grappling with a resolute invader in the heart of the island … And it is frankly admitted that the position is very serious.”
A Singapore broadcast from Dec. 22 said the defences were still holding, but a Times-Herald article noted that while the weary Canadians, British and Indians were putting up resistance, there was “no hope” that the colony could be saved. Even a broadcast from Tokyo noted the conquest was virtually complete, with resistance now street fighting and guerilla warfare.
Heavy Canadian casualties
The Canadian government acknowledged on Dec. 23 that there were heavy casualties, while it was believed commanding officer Brig. Lawson and his senior staff officer, Col. Patrick Hennesey, had been killed in the fighting.
The British embassy, meanwhile, announced it had spoken with the defenders at mid-day and they were “still fighting valiantly” in surrounding hills. Yet, the battle was basically over.
‘Heroic Battle’ finished
“Heroic Battle Against Great Odds is Ended,” a headline blared on Dec. 27, after island defences had broken under assault by land, sea and air. Without a suitable water source, Allied commanders had surrendered on Dec. 25.
“So ends a great fight against overwhelming odds,” the colonial office declared, after announcing the surrender of the troops.
An editorial in the Times-Herald added that while the news was tragic, there would be “lasting satisfaction” in all Canadian homes that the sons of Canada, alongside their defenders, had “brought honor to their arms.”
