Memories Uninvited
Philip Doddridge
Even though the Battle of Hong Kong was fought more than 60 years ago
vivid memories creep uninvited into the minds of many Hong Kong
Veterans who fought that bloody battle. On December 8th., 1941,
(December 7th. in Canada), more than 50,000 battle hardened Japanese
troops attacked the collection of Regular British Army, Indian Army,
barely trained Canadian troops and the HKVDC, basically a group of
weekend warriors. The 14,000 defenders had no chance of winning but
stunned the Japanese by holding out for 17 days. Here is the most vivid
recollection of the Battle of Hong Kong from the perspective of Rifleman
Phil Doddridge, "D" Company, Royal Rifles of Canada
vivid memories creep uninvited into the minds of many Hong Kong
Veterans who fought that bloody battle. On December 8th., 1941,
(December 7th. in Canada), more than 50,000 battle hardened Japanese
troops attacked the collection of Regular British Army, Indian Army,
barely trained Canadian troops and the HKVDC, basically a group of
weekend warriors. The 14,000 defenders had no chance of winning but
stunned the Japanese by holding out for 17 days. Here is the most vivid
recollection of the Battle of Hong Kong from the perspective of Rifleman
Phil Doddridge, "D" Company, Royal Rifles of Canada
Philip Doddridge was born on April 2, 1922, to Hugh and Emma
Doddridge of New Richmond, Quebec. He was just 18 years old when
he joined the Royal Rifles of Canada July 29, 1940, weighing in at 120
pounds soaking wet, and standing 5´ 10" tall in his army boots. He and
several other young men from the area thought that joining the army was
as good a way as any to become gainfully employed and get a taste of
adventure at the same time. It was also the patriotic thing to do with the
Canadian Army looking for healthy young men who wanted to serve their
country.
In Phil´s own words
I wish I could recall all the "bons mots" and salty expressions that come to
mind as I lie in bed at three in the morning. I really should get up and go to
my desk and set these ideas to print. My lazy habits have followed me into
retirement. I guess I won"t´t change now.
I am trying to get a summary of my experiences put together in book form.
It has taken a long while because of many interruptions. It seems that each
time I get down to work something happens to distract me. So if I get a
book completed it will give an account of my army life from enlistment on
July 29, 1940 to discharge on January 26, 1946.
I want my readers to understand that I make no claim to literary prowess,
if I'm not being too presumptuous in thinking that others besides my wife
Edwina, and my daughter, Nancy, will bother to read this. My sole object
is to put down in print my recollections of my army career, if readers will
permit me to grace my army experience wish such lofty terms. That I want
to do before the Grim Reaper comes to collect his due, decides that my
four score years allotment is enough, and decides to finish the job I
cheated him out of over sixty years ago.
The book is not deathless prose, but my main purpose in writing it is to get
down on paper what my life was like during those years. Since my
discharge in January, 1946, well, that is another story.
I joined the Army on July, 1940 at the age of 18. Nothing much was
doing in the small village of New Richmond in 1940. The depression had
us in a hammerlock as with the rest of the western world. It was probably
worse in New Richmond, a no- industry town in those days. At the age of
18, I had quit school the year before and had drifted rather aimlessly,
doing odd jobs and living with my parents.
On a summer evening I was strolling down the main thoroughfare of New
Richmond when I saw in the window of one of the two "hotels", a
recruiting sign in the window. I went in, and soon had signed on the
dotted line. That was the beginning of my illustrious career as a soldier of
the King.
On to Quebec City, then Valcartier, Sussex, Botwood, Gander and St.
John"s Newfoundland, and finally, in the fall of 1941, off to the Far East
There were fifty-three of us youngsters from New Richmond, Grand
Cascapedia St. Jules, and Maria, who joined the Royal Rifles and went to
Hong Kong.
Doddridge of New Richmond, Quebec. He was just 18 years old when
he joined the Royal Rifles of Canada July 29, 1940, weighing in at 120
pounds soaking wet, and standing 5´ 10" tall in his army boots. He and
several other young men from the area thought that joining the army was
as good a way as any to become gainfully employed and get a taste of
adventure at the same time. It was also the patriotic thing to do with the
Canadian Army looking for healthy young men who wanted to serve their
country.
In Phil´s own words
I wish I could recall all the "bons mots" and salty expressions that come to
mind as I lie in bed at three in the morning. I really should get up and go to
my desk and set these ideas to print. My lazy habits have followed me into
retirement. I guess I won"t´t change now.
I am trying to get a summary of my experiences put together in book form.
It has taken a long while because of many interruptions. It seems that each
time I get down to work something happens to distract me. So if I get a
book completed it will give an account of my army life from enlistment on
July 29, 1940 to discharge on January 26, 1946.
I want my readers to understand that I make no claim to literary prowess,
if I'm not being too presumptuous in thinking that others besides my wife
Edwina, and my daughter, Nancy, will bother to read this. My sole object
is to put down in print my recollections of my army career, if readers will
permit me to grace my army experience wish such lofty terms. That I want
to do before the Grim Reaper comes to collect his due, decides that my
four score years allotment is enough, and decides to finish the job I
cheated him out of over sixty years ago.
The book is not deathless prose, but my main purpose in writing it is to get
down on paper what my life was like during those years. Since my
discharge in January, 1946, well, that is another story.
I joined the Army on July, 1940 at the age of 18. Nothing much was
doing in the small village of New Richmond in 1940. The depression had
us in a hammerlock as with the rest of the western world. It was probably
worse in New Richmond, a no- industry town in those days. At the age of
18, I had quit school the year before and had drifted rather aimlessly,
doing odd jobs and living with my parents.
On a summer evening I was strolling down the main thoroughfare of New
Richmond when I saw in the window of one of the two "hotels", a
recruiting sign in the window. I went in, and soon had signed on the
dotted line. That was the beginning of my illustrious career as a soldier of
the King.
On to Quebec City, then Valcartier, Sussex, Botwood, Gander and St.
John"s Newfoundland, and finally, in the fall of 1941, off to the Far East
There were fifty-three of us youngsters from New Richmond, Grand
Cascapedia St. Jules, and Maria, who joined the Royal Rifles and went to
Hong Kong.
My name is Phil
Doddridge. I am a
retired school teacher
and a Hong Kong
Veteran. This is the
story of my life in the
army in 1941.
Doddridge. I am a
retired school teacher
and a Hong Kong
Veteran. This is the
story of my life in the
army in 1941.
