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Japs
Land on the Island ...
To make matters worse, fifth columnists had supplied the
Japanese with the location of every pill-box, mortar pit,
machine-gun nest, and fox-hole in the defensive array, and even
led the Japanese to them. There is no doubt the Japanese knew
the defensive setup and had planned every movement down to the
finest detail, and when they landed on the northeastern beaches,
behind the lines, they hit the defenders in the weakest spot.
The Attack: Wednesday, December 18 ...
The attack came in three waves. At 17:30 hrs swimmers were sent
to cut through anti-invasion nets, and remove mines from the sea
route. At 19:30 hrs a number of 'scouts' were sent to link up
with fifth-columnists and to mark the way to vital defense
positions for the main assault troops.
At 22:30 hrs, the night of December 18th, the Japanese main
attack on the island came in the darkness. They attacked over
the water in assault boats, landing craft and small boats, some
towed by steam ferries. They used anything that could be bailed
out fast enough to stay afloat. Some of them even swam, towing
their equipment behind them. How many drowned is not known.
They attacked, not from the sea, but from the mainland. They
attacked in thick fog and a heavy pall of smoke from burning
fuel and rubber. They were not 5,000 night-blind, sea-sick,
poorly-equipped Japanese caricatures of soldiers, as painted by
British Intelligence. They were 7,500 strong, were carrying
backpacks that weighed as much as 75 lbs., and there were 52,500
more troops behind them, just waiting to cross to the island.
As the Japanese Imperial Army was sloshing ashore in their
rubber boots and knee-high leggings, looking very unsoldierly,
screaming like demons from hell, a Rifleman, by the name of John
Payne called Brigade Headquarters to report that the Japanese
had, and were still coming ashore. When informed General
Maltby's response was: "That's impossible. You must be
dreaming." It wasn't a dream...it was a nightmare.
A Military Radio Commentator Announced:
“The Japanese have effected a landing on the island of
'considerable' proportions, heavy fighting is in progress and
the British position is serious. Details of the situation are
scant and I am unable to comment on the jubilant Japanese
Headquarters' claim that, in a combined land sea and air attack,
they have effected a landing at three points."
A B.U.P. Dispatch of Wednesday, December 18
reported from London:
"A British military spokesman said today that the latest advices
from Hong Kong indicated that the British Garrison still is
resisting 'in the area under their control'. The spokesman did
not indicate how large an area of the island of Hong Kong is
held by the Imperial attacking force, but it was admitted that
the Japanese have landed substantial forces and that desperate
battles are taking place."
Rifleman Sydney Skelton wrote in his diary:
"Now we got our first clear look at the enemy. Swarms of small
shrieking men in khaki jackets, breaches and puttees, helmets
bearing the single star, long bayonets, automatic weapons. They
poured out of the landing barges. Some of them threw themselves
on the barbed wire while others streamed over the human bridges.
We were on the high ground and we really peppered them. My Bren
was hot. But they kept coming. I thought 'Jesus, there's no end
to them.' Then the planes came in, strafing and bombing, and we
fell back."
W.G. Lyttle of the Winnipeg Grenadiers:
"I was with 'A' Company down by the Aberdeen Reservoir. Someone
came out and said about 300 Japanese had landed on the island
and that we had to go over and clean them out, and that would be
ok because we would be back before breakfast." Lyttle never made
it back for breakfast. He spent the next few days clambering
around mountains. "We didn't eat for three days. Finally we
caught a pig and tried to cook it. It was mostly raw, but we ate
it."
Neither London, England nor Ottawa, Canada had any reliable
information as to what was happening thousands of miles away.
The Colonial Office said: "Japanese reports that Hong Kong is in
Japanese hands could not be confirmed or denied, since no
communication from the Colony had been received in London since
very early this morning."
Cold Reality:
The total allied defense force on Hong Kong Island had been
under constant bombing and artillery barrage since December 8th.
There were fires everywhere and smoke burned the eyes and stung
the lungs. The rubble of bombed out buildings littered the
streets. Now, on December 18th, the Island of Hong Kong was
being invaded. Japanese troops were on the ground, and the
defenders were quickly being divided and surrounded in a classic
pincer movement with a center spearhead, executed by
superbly-trained, well-equipped, well-disciplined,
battle-hardened troops.
 On that day, Lt. General Sakai, Commander of the Japanese
Imperial Army, issued his second demand that the defenders lay
down their weapons and surrender. This second demand was
rejected by Governor Young, as was the first demand of December
13th. The battle resumed and increased in intensity. The
Japanese attack had been launched from Devil's Peak. They hit
the island's South coast beaches like an incoming tide. They
landed on a three-kilometer front, charging into the Rajputs who
poured a steady stream of machine-gun and rifle fire into the
onrushing Japanese, but did little to slow their determined
advance. The Rajputs were quickly overrun and suffered heavy
casualties. The gallant Rajputs were effectively wiped out as a
fighting force. They were decimated, losing most of their officers and 65%
of the ranks in the first wave of the attack. They could no
longer fight as a unit. As a result, the East Brigade was
reduced in numbers and seriously weakened. The Royal Rifles of
Canada were the only effective troops available.
Major Maurice A. Parker:
"Somebody left the back door open at
Hong Kong, and six Japanese walked in for every one of us."
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