Special mention must be made of
Gander, a Newfoundland dog, a huge,
gentle, lovable animal, a favourite of all
the men. We had adopted Gander as a
mascot when we were stationed at
Gander. The story has oft been told.
Gander's bravery was duly recognized
with the awarding of the Dicken Medal
in the autumn of 2000 in Ottawa by Sir
Roland Guy of the People's Dispensary
for Sick Animals in England. A moving
ceremony took place at the residence
of the British High Command, Sir
Andrew Burns. As a footnote, Fred
Kelly, now gone, who had been in
charge of Gander in happier times,
received the medal on behalf of the
Royal Rifles of Canada and handed it
over to the Canadian Military Museum,
where it is now on display.
Gander, a Newfoundland dog, a huge,
gentle, lovable animal, a favourite of all
the men. We had adopted Gander as a
mascot when we were stationed at
Gander. The story has oft been told.
Gander's bravery was duly recognized
with the awarding of the Dicken Medal
in the autumn of 2000 in Ottawa by Sir
Roland Guy of the People's Dispensary
for Sick Animals in England. A moving
ceremony took place at the residence
of the British High Command, Sir
Andrew Burns. As a footnote, Fred
Kelly, now gone, who had been in
charge of Gander in happier times,
received the medal on behalf of the
Royal Rifles of Canada and handed it
over to the Canadian Military Museum,
where it is now on display.
Day Two of the Fighting on the Island
The next morning we left the shelters at Obelisk Hill and moved across
Tye Tam Reservoir to Mount Butler. Here I must digress and describe the
system of water collection in Hong Kong. The terrain of the Island, being
so hilly, and so densely populated, provides no possibility of obtaining
water except for collecting what falls as rain. To make the most advantage
of the steep hills in every part of the Island, deep concrete drains have
been built around the hills. These drains, known as catchments, are some
four feet wide and about the same depth. They wind around the hills and
lead to the reservoirs where the water is collected and treated before
being fed into the water mains of the city. The reason for my digression
will soon become clear.
Tye Tam Reservoir to Mount Butler. Here I must digress and describe the
system of water collection in Hong Kong. The terrain of the Island, being
so hilly, and so densely populated, provides no possibility of obtaining
water except for collecting what falls as rain. To make the most advantage
of the steep hills in every part of the Island, deep concrete drains have
been built around the hills. These drains, known as catchments, are some
four feet wide and about the same depth. They wind around the hills and
lead to the reservoirs where the water is collected and treated before
being fed into the water mains of the city. The reason for my digression
will soon become clear.
Here my thoughts are a bit hazy, but I recollect that I was with Colonel,
then Major Price, who was second in command of the Regiment, on a
road near the reservoir. We were under fire from the invading Japanese,
and I thought my chances , at that point, would be better on the far side of
the road. I dashed across followed by a spray of machine gun fire
reminiscent of Rambo movies out of Hollywood. Major Price yelled, "Get
down you damned fool. That bullet had your name on it." In my youthful
bravado, and not realizing the danger I was in said, this is no lie,
although I am not proud of my response, "Yeah, but it didn't have
E/29986 on it." My service number. Now ... I think that was stupid.
then Major Price, who was second in command of the Regiment, on a
road near the reservoir. We were under fire from the invading Japanese,
and I thought my chances , at that point, would be better on the far side of
the road. I dashed across followed by a spray of machine gun fire
reminiscent of Rambo movies out of Hollywood. Major Price yelled, "Get
down you damned fool. That bullet had your name on it." In my youthful
bravado, and not realizing the danger I was in said, this is no lie,
although I am not proud of my response, "Yeah, but it didn't have
E/29986 on it." My service number. Now ... I think that was stupid.
Gander,then called "Pal",with
some of the kids of the family
who had him before we
adopted him. Picture was
taken at Gander
Newfoundland.
some of the kids of the family
who had him before we
adopted him. Picture was
taken at Gander
Newfoundland.
Rescue From The Water Catchment
All water for human consumption in Hong Kong is collected from the rain
in giant concrete ditches called "water catchments", described above.
in giant concrete ditches called "water catchments", described above.
During a heavy rain these ditches
fill to overflowing.
On December 20, we were
ordered to evacuate our pill
boxes on Obelisk Hill and move
across Tai Tam to positions on
the other side of the reservoir.
The Japs had moved rapidly
from their landing at Lye Mun
and had occupied a superior
position at Tai Tam Reservoir.
We were ordered to the top of
the hill, Mont Butler, overlooking
the reservoir from the north, and
by walking up the catchment
soon reached our objective.
fill to overflowing.
On December 20, we were
ordered to evacuate our pill
boxes on Obelisk Hill and move
across Tai Tam to positions on
the other side of the reservoir.
The Japs had moved rapidly
from their landing at Lye Mun
and had occupied a superior
position at Tai Tam Reservoir.
We were ordered to the top of
the hill, Mont Butler, overlooking
the reservoir from the north, and
by walking up the catchment
soon reached our objective.
There were Japanese in plain view in the plain below us, with mules, field
pieces, and an armoured car moving across the bridge over the reservoir.
We opened fire as soon as we saw them and sent mules and men cart
wheeling, and the armoured car came to a halt half way across the
reservoir.
pieces, and an armoured car moving across the bridge over the reservoir.
We opened fire as soon as we saw them and sent mules and men cart
wheeling, and the armoured car came to a halt half way across the
reservoir.
The Japs had a six inch mortars, and they were deadly accurate. They had
us in view and launched mortar bombs at point blank range. Bullets
whistled by my head, clipping the grass beside me. It was Winston
Churchill who said, "Nothing is so exhilarating as to be shot at and
missed." He was right.
us in view and launched mortar bombs at point blank range. Bullets
whistled by my head, clipping the grass beside me. It was Winston
Churchill who said, "Nothing is so exhilarating as to be shot at and
missed." He was right.
The fire was so intense that we were ordered to withdraw, but not before
we had suffered some casualties with several of our company killed, and
several others wounded. Among them was Jim Durrah, our Company
Quartermaster Storeman. He received a bullet in the leg, just below the
knee, which shattered the bone.
Here we were, a mile or so up the mountain. Night was approaching and
it started to rain heavily. We had no medical supplies except "first field
dressings" that everyone carried. Someone bound up Jim's leg and we
carried him on a stretcher made up of two rifles and a blanket that
somehow had found it's way to the top of the hill. The Japs now had the
high ground and were sniping at us in the water catchment. We had to
keep our heads down below the edge of the ditch. We were in trouble.
we had suffered some casualties with several of our company killed, and
several others wounded. Among them was Jim Durrah, our Company
Quartermaster Storeman. He received a bullet in the leg, just below the
knee, which shattered the bone.
Here we were, a mile or so up the mountain. Night was approaching and
it started to rain heavily. We had no medical supplies except "first field
dressings" that everyone carried. Someone bound up Jim's leg and we
carried him on a stretcher made up of two rifles and a blanket that
somehow had found it's way to the top of the hill. The Japs now had the
high ground and were sniping at us in the water catchment. We had to
keep our heads down below the edge of the ditch. We were in trouble.
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Yam