The rain was falling hard and before long
the water began to rise in the catchment.
Although we were taking turns carrying
Jim, who kept imploring us to leave him
behind, the struggle was enormous.
the water began to rise in the catchment.
Although we were taking turns carrying
Jim, who kept imploring us to leave him
behind, the struggle was enormous.
Soon the ditch was full to the brim, and the
water flowed quickly. We had to carry our
burden high so that he wouldn't drown and
at the same time we had to keep our heads
down or risk getting shot.
water flowed quickly. We had to carry our
burden high so that he wouldn't drown and
at the same time we had to keep our heads
down or risk getting shot.
Jim was a big man, about six feet tall and weighing about two hundred
pounds. Our discomfort must have been insignificant compared to his, but
he complained little. The makeshift stretcher on which we carried him was
about half his length. His head and shoulders hung over one end, and his
wounded leg hung over the other.
pounds. Our discomfort must have been insignificant compared to his, but
he complained little. The makeshift stretcher on which we carried him was
about half his length. His head and shoulders hung over one end, and his
wounded leg hung over the other.
We finally reached the bottom of the hill in
the pitch dark, and someone found an
empty warehouse. On a hard cement
floor, in soaking wet clothes, tired and
hungry, in close proximity to the enemy, I
had the best and deepest sleep of my life.
Jim is still with us, thank God, although,
recently, he had to have the wounded leg
amputated.
the pitch dark, and someone found an
empty warehouse. On a hard cement
floor, in soaking wet clothes, tired and
hungry, in close proximity to the enemy, I
had the best and deepest sleep of my life.
Jim is still with us, thank God, although,
recently, he had to have the wounded leg
amputated.
A post-script to this tale might be worth a mention. On the way down the
hill, to ease my load while helping to carry Jim, I shucked off my small
pack. In the pack, among other things, I had were some cigarettes and a
copy of The New Testament that my Mother had given me when I was
home on embarkation leave.
hill, to ease my load while helping to carry Jim, I shucked off my small
pack. In the pack, among other things, I had were some cigarettes and a
copy of The New Testament that my Mother had given me when I was
home on embarkation leave.
A Narrow Escape
He worked for the New Brunswick
Forest Service until his retirement just a
few short years ago. He lives with his wife,
Mary, in Centerville, New Brunswick.
Forest Service until his retirement just a
few short years ago. He lives with his wife,
Mary, in Centerville, New Brunswick.
On waking the next morning in the warehouse someone, I forget who,
handed me my pack. In the pack was my New Testament,which I still
have, dog-eared from the soaking it got in the water-catchment, and my
frequent reference to it in the prison camp later.
What happened the next day has fled my memory, but on the second day
after the action near Tai Tam I was with Lieutenant Ian Brakey in an
exchange of fire with some Japanese troops at a place called Palm Villa.
They withdrew and left a machine gun on the edge of the
water-catchment. We spent the night waiting for them to come and
reclaim it so we could get a shot at them,but they didn't come.
handed me my pack. In the pack was my New Testament,which I still
have, dog-eared from the soaking it got in the water-catchment, and my
frequent reference to it in the prison camp later.
What happened the next day has fled my memory, but on the second day
after the action near Tai Tam I was with Lieutenant Ian Brakey in an
exchange of fire with some Japanese troops at a place called Palm Villa.
They withdrew and left a machine gun on the edge of the
water-catchment. We spent the night waiting for them to come and
reclaim it so we could get a shot at them,but they didn't come.
Repulse Bay Hotel ... Lots of Rooms, But Not
A Place You'd Want to Stay
A Place You'd Want to Stay
One afternoon, probably about December 22, Major Parker sent me to
look for Lieutenant Simons. I started off on foot up the road toward
Repulse Bay. I was soon overtaken by Cpl. Roblee driving a three-ton
civilian truck that he had commandeered somewhere. He had several
bottles of brandy with him and a pair of pistols strapped to his waist like
General Patton.
look for Lieutenant Simons. I started off on foot up the road toward
Repulse Bay. I was soon overtaken by Cpl. Roblee driving a three-ton
civilian truck that he had commandeered somewhere. He had several
bottles of brandy with him and a pair of pistols strapped to his waist like
General Patton.
We stopped at the Repulse Bay Hotel, and after ascertaining that
Lieutenant Simons was not there, we started back. The road then, as
now, is quite narrow and winding, with stone walls along the way ... where
the road overhangs the cliff. When rounding a bend a little too quickly, no
doubt with the senses being a little dulled by the brandy, we struck the
stone wall and wrecked the truck.
Lieutenant Simons was not there, we started back. The road then, as
now, is quite narrow and winding, with stone walls along the way ... where
the road overhangs the cliff. When rounding a bend a little too quickly, no
doubt with the senses being a little dulled by the brandy, we struck the
stone wall and wrecked the truck.
I was sitting in the passenger's
seat on the left side, and I was
thrown up against the windshield.
My head contacted the bar
dividing the windshield and it was
only my steel helmet that saved
me from a bad head wound. As it
was I got cut on my right temple
and have the scar to this day.
seat on the left side, and I was
thrown up against the windshield.
My head contacted the bar
dividing the windshield and it was
only my steel helmet that saved
me from a bad head wound. As it
was I got cut on my right temple
and have the scar to this day.
Roblee helped me back to the Hotel, where a pretty nurse patched me up,
and insisted I stay in the safety of the hotel. I resisted, and started
back,walking, to report to Major Parker that I had been unable to find
Lieutenant Simons. How fortunate I was. The next day the Japanese
attacked the hotel where "A" Company of the Royal Rifles of Canada
were positioned. "A" Company had a hard time defending the hotel and
took many casualties. The civilians billeted there wanted the troops to
surrender to appease the Japanese. An adverse report on the conduct of
the defenders reached the ears of General Maltby, Commander in Chief
of the Defence Forces in the Colony. It is assumed that the complaints of
the civilians influenced the assessment by Maltby of the Canadian troops
efforts in the defence of Hong Kong. Oscar Robertson, a nearby
neighbour, and boyhood friend before the war, was killed at Repulse Bay.
and insisted I stay in the safety of the hotel. I resisted, and started
back,walking, to report to Major Parker that I had been unable to find
Lieutenant Simons. How fortunate I was. The next day the Japanese
attacked the hotel where "A" Company of the Royal Rifles of Canada
were positioned. "A" Company had a hard time defending the hotel and
took many casualties. The civilians billeted there wanted the troops to
surrender to appease the Japanese. An adverse report on the conduct of
the defenders reached the ears of General Maltby, Commander in Chief
of the Defence Forces in the Colony. It is assumed that the complaints of
the civilians influenced the assessment by Maltby of the Canadian troops
efforts in the defence of Hong Kong. Oscar Robertson, a nearby
neighbour, and boyhood friend before the war, was killed at Repulse Bay.
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Yam
