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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 said:
"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 in the first phase of
the battle.
The Rajputs 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."
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 said:
"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 in the first phase of
the battle.
The Rajputs 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."
