Battle of Hong Kong
“Never in the field of human conflict has so
much been owed by so many to so few” - Winston Churchill.
On November 11th, we commemorated the actions of all our soldiers, including those who fought in WW1 and WW2. Having never been to war, one could never fully understand nor appreciate the sacrifice that was made for us by these veterans. It was absolutely amazing to have some insight into a battle that was fought long ago and against overwhelming odds.
In late 1941, war with Japan was not yet considered imminent. Winston Churchill had said earlier in the day that year…
“Japan will think twice before declaring war on the British Empire, and whether there are two or six battalions at Hong Kong will make no difference. I wish we had fewer troops there, but to move any would be noticeable and dangerous.” The battle was devastating for Canadians. 290 soldiers were killed in the battle and 493 soldiers wounded. This was not the end of it though. The soldiers that were captured by the Japanese endured a lot of cruelty. The Japanese killed nurses at a hospital, and wounded Canadian soldiers were bayoneted in their beds. As prisoners of war, the soldiers were kept in horrible conditions, were starved, and had to work long hours in the mines. About 264 died as prisoners of war. This means that the casualty rate was more than 50%.
The British colony of Hong Kong consisted of the mainland areas of Kowloon and the New Territories. It is an area of about 1060 km and is covered in mountains. Britain realised that if Japan attacked Hong Kong, there would be no way of holding Hong Kong. In January of 1941 they decided to send more troops to the colony, but in September 1941 they decided to designate Hong Kong as an outpost.
much been owed by so many to so few” - Winston Churchill.
On November 11th, we commemorated the actions of all our soldiers, including those who fought in WW1 and WW2. Having never been to war, one could never fully understand nor appreciate the sacrifice that was made for us by these veterans. It was absolutely amazing to have some insight into a battle that was fought long ago and against overwhelming odds.
In late 1941, war with Japan was not yet considered imminent. Winston Churchill had said earlier in the day that year…
“Japan will think twice before declaring war on the British Empire, and whether there are two or six battalions at Hong Kong will make no difference. I wish we had fewer troops there, but to move any would be noticeable and dangerous.” The battle was devastating for Canadians. 290 soldiers were killed in the battle and 493 soldiers wounded. This was not the end of it though. The soldiers that were captured by the Japanese endured a lot of cruelty. The Japanese killed nurses at a hospital, and wounded Canadian soldiers were bayoneted in their beds. As prisoners of war, the soldiers were kept in horrible conditions, were starved, and had to work long hours in the mines. About 264 died as prisoners of war. This means that the casualty rate was more than 50%.
The British colony of Hong Kong consisted of the mainland areas of Kowloon and the New Territories. It is an area of about 1060 km and is covered in mountains. Britain realised that if Japan attacked Hong Kong, there would be no way of holding Hong Kong. In January of 1941 they decided to send more troops to the colony, but in September 1941 they decided to designate Hong Kong as an outpost.
There were a few additional problems that arose when the Canadian troops were shipped from Vancouver. The 212 vehicles that were assigned to them were shipped on board a freighter that never reached Hong Kong. In total there were about 14,000 troops stationed in Hong Kong. The colony had only 5 airplanes serviced by 7 different officers and 108 airmen and the nearest RAF base was 2,250 km away. The only naval defence available was one destroyer, a few gunboats and motor torpedo boats.
On December 8th, at Kai Tak airport, the Allies were attacked and the Royal Air force was now without any planes that could fly. Unfortunately the Japanese were not taken too seriously. Reports of Japanese soldiers in the area was seen as exaggerated, but when the Japanese attacked all the Hong Kong defence forces were in position.
This battle was devastating for the British and even more so for the Canadians. Even though the battle only lasted from 8-25 December, 1941, the bravery of the soldiers in this dire situation is gripping. They fought valiantly for their country and for freedom. War seems to be highly overrated, but it is true that we are sometimes forced into a situation that requires us to defend ourselves. If I could choose people to fight for me, it would be these brave soldiers who just kept on going and going, even in the face of defeat.
On December 8th, at Kai Tak airport, the Allies were attacked and the Royal Air force was now without any planes that could fly. Unfortunately the Japanese were not taken too seriously. Reports of Japanese soldiers in the area was seen as exaggerated, but when the Japanese attacked all the Hong Kong defence forces were in position.
This battle was devastating for the British and even more so for the Canadians. Even though the battle only lasted from 8-25 December, 1941, the bravery of the soldiers in this dire situation is gripping. They fought valiantly for their country and for freedom. War seems to be highly overrated, but it is true that we are sometimes forced into a situation that requires us to defend ourselves. If I could choose people to fight for me, it would be these brave soldiers who just kept on going and going, even in the face of defeat.
Battle of Hong Kong Veteran, George MacDonell
George MacDonnell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1922. He was of Scottish descent, and both parents took actively part in World War 1. His mother as a nurse behind the front lines in France, and his father was a Major in the army.
MacDonell ran away from home to join the army at age 17. He was trained as an infantry soldier, and had a special interest in light machine guns. Shortly after his 19th birthday, in December 1941 Sergeant MacDonell and 2000 other soldiers went to help defend Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony. On Dec. 8th, 1941 MacDonell was outside a training camp when the Japanese started bombing. Japanese troops landed at night, outnumbering the British, Canadian, Indian and Hong Kong forces about eight to one. For 17 days the Canadians fought back, even though it was hopeless. Losses were heavy and they couldn’t be evacuated, reinforced or supplied. On Christmas Day, 1941, the the Governor of Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese force. Sergeant MacDonell was one of the Canadians that was captured as a prisoner of war. He was kept at Japanese Ohashi Prison Camp in Camaica, Japan, where he endured terrible conditions. The United States' Marines rescued Canadian prisoners from this camp on September 15, 1945.
MacDonell later became the CEO of General Electric Canada, and in 1982 the Deputy Minister of Ontario in charge of trade and technology. Since retiring, MacDonell has published four books, One Soldier's Story, A Dog Named Gander, They Never Surrendered, and The Life and Times of George S. MacDonell.
MacDonell ran away from home to join the army at age 17. He was trained as an infantry soldier, and had a special interest in light machine guns. Shortly after his 19th birthday, in December 1941 Sergeant MacDonell and 2000 other soldiers went to help defend Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony. On Dec. 8th, 1941 MacDonell was outside a training camp when the Japanese started bombing. Japanese troops landed at night, outnumbering the British, Canadian, Indian and Hong Kong forces about eight to one. For 17 days the Canadians fought back, even though it was hopeless. Losses were heavy and they couldn’t be evacuated, reinforced or supplied. On Christmas Day, 1941, the the Governor of Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese force. Sergeant MacDonell was one of the Canadians that was captured as a prisoner of war. He was kept at Japanese Ohashi Prison Camp in Camaica, Japan, where he endured terrible conditions. The United States' Marines rescued Canadian prisoners from this camp on September 15, 1945.
MacDonell later became the CEO of General Electric Canada, and in 1982 the Deputy Minister of Ontario in charge of trade and technology. Since retiring, MacDonell has published four books, One Soldier's Story, A Dog Named Gander, They Never Surrendered, and The Life and Times of George S. MacDonell.
Hong Kong Work Cited:
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George MacDonnell Work Cited:
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