World War II: The Battle for Hong Kong

(photo credit: wikipedia)

Most people when they hear the words: “World War II”, they'll think about Hitler, Mussolini (The leader of Italy, not the pasta), D-day and all that stuff in Europe, Africa and in the Middle East. But what if I tell you, that somewhere in Asia, there was a bloody conflict that lasted for about more than 4 years? 

The battle for Hong Kong: 

The Japanese invasion of Hong Kong happened on December 18, 1941. The Japanese attacked the British crown colony with approximately: 

Japanese forces:	And…	The forces defending Hong Kong:
29,700 troops 47 planes 1 cruiser 3 destroyers 4 torpedo boats 3 gunboats	MTBs (“Motor Torpedo Boats.)	14,564 troops 1 destroyer 4 gunboats 1 minelayer 8 MTBs

Now, to explain how the invasion played out… 

The Japanese invasion of Hong Kong happened on 8 December 1941 (Hong Kong Time), four hours after the attack happened at Pearl Harbor. Commanded by General Christopher Maltby, British, Canadian, Indian, as well as the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, held up against the Japanese attack by 3 Japanese regiments. While being outnumbered nearly four to one (Japanese, 50,000 Allied, 14,000) and with the Japanese being more experienced and disciplined. 

On the 8th of December, the Japanese bombed Tai Kak Airport with 12 bombers destroying two of the three Vildebeest aircrafts and the two Walruses at the airfield. The attack also destroyed all but two aircrafts used by the Local Defense Volunteer Corps. As for the naval force defending Hong Kong, they all had been pulled out and sent to Singapore. There were now only 1 destroyer and three MTB’s left in Hong Kong. 

The Commonwealth forces decided not to protect the Sham Chun River but decided to fall back and established battalions along the Gin Drinkers line. The Japanese's 38th infantry division quickly crossed the river using temporary bridges. The three battalions defended the Gin Drinkers line heavily but the line was breached at high ground of the Shing Mun Redoubt by the Japanese. D Company of the Winnipeg grenadiers were sent to reinforce the mainland defense, but the line could not be held. By the 11th of December, Commander Maltby started to evacuate the mainland and started to retreat to Hong Kong island. With only one Rajput detachment as a rear guard. 

(photo credit: South China Morning Post)

Rajputs were soldiers from India. At that time, India was a British crown colony and they sent around 1839 troops. 

With the Japanese demanding surrender and only getting raspberries. General Maltby organized the defense of the island, splitting it into an east brigade and a west brigade. The west brigade consisted of mainly the troops that had evacuated from mainland Hong Kong and the Winnipeg grenadiers. The east brigade was composed of the royal rifles of Canada and two companies of the Rajput regiments. With the British first battalion and the Hong Kong Local defense corps as reinforcements in case of a possible breach in the lines. On the 18th of December, the Japanese army crossed Victoria Harbour and launched an offensive against general Maltby’s forces. The attack happened between North Point and Aldrich Bay. At North Point, the Rajput defenders were eliminated but fought to the end. While this was happening, the east brigade moved to Stanley peninsula to prepare for their own offensive against the Japanese. (Unfortunately they were shelled to pieces by Japanese artillery) The next day the Japanese breached the Wong Nai Chung Gap decimating the west brigade. 

After the Japanese captured several key hospitals and water reserves, the defending forces finally fell. On 25th of December 1941, the British surrendered. This day is now known as Black Christmas.