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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
