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Major
Parker Recounts:
"With me, "D" Company officers studied a map of the area and
we formulated our
plans. Major Browing, a white Indian officer, assisted us with
much information we could not have had otherwise. Satisfied, we
went out to do the job. Prior to the opening attack, owing to
officer casualties, Sgt. George S. MacDonnell had been placed in
charge of Nš 18 platoon. His platoon was to attack an
objective in St.
Stephen's.
Sergeant MacDonnell reports: "Our orders were to attack the
left flank of the
village and occupy a group of houses which were on the high
ground and
commanded an excellent field of fire across the whole left flank
of the village. Two
of my three section leaders had been killed in action , prior to
this, and I appointed
temporary replacements to lead Nos. 7 and 8 sections.
"The attack commenced at about noon. We filed down the west side
of the
fortress, crouched low and in single file. The sun was hot and
it was a bright clear
day. The enemy opened up with machine-guns and small caliber
artillery. By
running and by crawling from rock to rock, we managed to reach
an assembly
area in the fold of dead-ground, just below and slightly to the
southwest of our
first objective.
"Casualties up to this point were light as our approach route
had been well chosen
for us... At the assembly point, I spread my platoon out to the
left, below and in
front of the graveyard which lay south and slightly west of the
houses that were to
be our first objective. Heavy firing commenced to my right and I
ordered my men
to commence firing on the enemy who I could see running to take
up positions with
light weapons in the graveyard in front of us.
"Either at a prearranged signal or upon orders delivered by
runner, I ordered the
attack. Since the enemy had a much superior position on the
higher ground above
us and since they had good cover among the gravestones, I
decided we must close
quickly or suffer heavy casualties and would quite probably be
pinned down; thus
exposing the left flank of the Company.
"Accordingly, I ordered the men to fix bayonet and charge, which
they did with
fearful war whoops. Within seconds we were upon the enemy in the
grave-yard,
with bayonets, submachine guns and Brens fired from the hip.
"This maneuver apparently took the enemy by surprise. Our entry
into the
graveyard led to a confused melee of hand-to-hand fighting
which lasted no more
than 3 or 4 minutes at the most. The Japanese were overrun and
the graveyard
was cleared.
"We then carried on and, driving remnants of the enemy before
us, entered into the
houses on the high ground. Another close scrape took place as
the Japanese
stubbornly refused to be evicted. Passing through these houses,
we continued on
until we ran into a platoon of Japanese who were bunched
together and running up
to the houses we had just taken. For a second, both groups
stopped in surprise
but we fired first and literally wiped out the enemy platoon as
it stood. This was
the deepest point of our penetration in the center of the
village.
"The ground was so littered with dead, mostly Japanese.
Heavy fire was directed upon us and casualties began to mount:
we therefore returned to the house to regroup and get some
cover. Someone having informed me that Lt. Powers of Nš
17 Platoon was killed, I assumed command of whatever of his
platoon was with
me at the time.
"We took up position in and around and began to repel the Jap
counterattack
which now developed in some strength. L/Sgt. Lance Ross, with a
Lewis gun and
Bren, killed at least 20 or 30 of the enemy himself. There was a
lull as the
Japanese regrouped and then we came under small caliber
artillery fire.
"Shells began to explode through the roofs and walls of the
houses being literally
shot to pieces around us. We were in danger of being cut off. I
sent the men back
in small parties with the corporals, while Lance Ross and I kept
on firing until we
made a run for the protective wall of Stanley Prison." Major
Parker writes: "With
my group, I advanced across open ground between the Prison and
the ridge, the
better to see what success we were having, and met several
severely wounded
men walking out from both platoons on the left...I saw figures
advancing up the
slope toward the ridge and thought all was well.
"Suddenly the tide turned and there was a great din of fire from
the waiting Japs.
The walking wounded became a flood, both upon the left and upon
the right. The
men were falling back."
Sergeant MacDonnell states: "I then reported to the Company
Commander for
further orders. He told me that we had been ordered back to the
Fortress and
himself led the way back. I was proud to be a member of "D"
Company."
Major Parker summarizes: "Records show that the Company lost
16 killed and 78
wounded in this attack. I gathered up all the men I could find
and regrouped...then
with 44 sound men and the walking wounded we made our way back
to Stanley
Barracks. After the surrender, I went forward with a working
party and buried our
dead. The Japs had built a pier and were cremating theirs. There
seemed to be
many of them. This was Christmas Day."
Sergeant George MacDonnell was mentioned in dispatches. This
citation, written
by Major Parker reads: "He led the attack in the face of
heavy enemy fire with
conspicuous gallantry, being without supporting artillery or
machine-gun fire, and
showed outstanding qualities of initiative, dash, coolness and
leadership under very
difficult conditions."
At 15.15 hrs., Gen. Maltby had advised the Governor, Sir
Christopher Young,
that further resistance was futile and the white flag was
hoisted. The attack by "D"
Company, which was ordered and launched at noon, lasted until
about 19.00 hrs,
4 hours after this surrender.
Rfm. John Beebe, Royal Rifles of Canada, concludes:
"At 5 o'clock on the 25th, the Japs called on the Canadians
to surrender but our
men fought on, outside. Then two hours later, word came through
from Brigade
Headquarters to cease fighting and the boys turned in their
equipment in good
order. The Jap Colonel who accepted the surrender told our
officers that he had
never known men could fight so hard."
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