One chap pulled the pin out of a grenade and, in his excitement, shoved it
into his pocket. The blast blew the front of his pants off. Seconds later he
was mowed down by machine gun fire.
into his pocket. The blast blew the front of his pants off. Seconds later he
was mowed down by machine gun fire.
A Jap grenade landed at Gordon Murray's feet. He kicked it and it
exploded, but fortunately, the worst effect was that he got both his legs
peppered with small fragments. Bad enough, but it could have been
worse. He was lucky.
exploded, but fortunately, the worst effect was that he got both his legs
peppered with small fragments. Bad enough, but it could have been
worse. He was lucky.
According to Lance Ross, Big Ed Bujold stood there pulling the pins out
of grenades and hurling them like baseballs through the windows of the
bungalow at the graveyard.
of grenades and hurling them like baseballs through the windows of the
bungalow at the graveyard.
By this time Major Parker, Byron Willett, his batman, and I had reached
shelter behind the wall of Stanley Prison, the walls of which were some 15
feet high. Japanese shells were coming over and landing inside the walls of
the prison. On the ground, just outside the wall, and directly in line with
the shelling, was a stack of boxes about 8 feet high. Major Parker said,
"Byron, what is marked on those boxes?" Byron said, "T.N.T." We left
there in a hurry.
shelter behind the wall of Stanley Prison, the walls of which were some 15
feet high. Japanese shells were coming over and landing inside the walls of
the prison. On the ground, just outside the wall, and directly in line with
the shelling, was a stack of boxes about 8 feet high. Major Parker said,
"Byron, what is marked on those boxes?" Byron said, "T.N.T." We left
there in a hurry.
Ursel Kaine's ankle was broken by a Jap bullet, but he managed to
hobble to safety and was rescued. Morris Delaney was shot in the head,
just over the left ear, a sort of glancing blow. He staggered past me and I
spoke to him. He said he was going to the dressing station. I was
surprised to learn later that he died soon after. It was said that he was a
victim of what in now called "friendly fire". Who needs enemies?
hobble to safety and was rescued. Morris Delaney was shot in the head,
just over the left ear, a sort of glancing blow. He staggered past me and I
spoke to him. He said he was going to the dressing station. I was
surprised to learn later that he died soon after. It was said that he was a
victim of what in now called "friendly fire". Who needs enemies?
Sgt. Major Frank Edben stopped a bullet right on the point of his chin,
which broke his jaw and ripped out eight teeth. Frank survived and
returned to Canada where he lived until the early 90's. Frank had been a
bugler in WW1. After returning to Canada in 1945, he continued to play
the bugle in spite of the disfigurement of his lower jaw. He performed at all
our cenotaph ceremonies.
which broke his jaw and ripped out eight teeth. Frank survived and
returned to Canada where he lived until the early 90's. Frank had been a
bugler in WW1. After returning to Canada in 1945, he continued to play
the bugle in spite of the disfigurement of his lower jaw. He performed at all
our cenotaph ceremonies.
Forced
Withdrawal
Withdrawal
Because our losses were so heavy, and the
continuing pressure of the overwhelming
hordes of Japanese troops, we were
forced, once again, to withdraw. Major
Parker turned and counted the ragged
remnants of "D" Company, the Royal Rifles
of Canada. Of the 120 men who had gone
into action in Stanley Village that Christmas
Day, 1941, only 45 went back up the hill.
Major Parker's eyes streamed with tears as
he counted us.
continuing pressure of the overwhelming
hordes of Japanese troops, we were
forced, once again, to withdraw. Major
Parker turned and counted the ragged
remnants of "D" Company, the Royal Rifles
of Canada. Of the 120 men who had gone
into action in Stanley Village that Christmas
Day, 1941, only 45 went back up the hill.
Major Parker's eyes streamed with tears as
he counted us.
Major Maurice A. Parker
I remember the feeling of utter despair as we faced certain death, because
we were being forced into a dead end zone at the fort. The possibility of
swimming to Llama Island some distance away entered my head. It's just
as well I didn't attempt it. I would never had made the island, and even if I
had what would have happened to me then? Llama Island, as far as I
knew, had nothing but a few Chinese inhabitants and, for their own safety,
they would probably have had to be unfriendly, if not hostile. I figured it
really wasn't the place for a bedraggled refugee from the Battle of Hong
Kong.
we were being forced into a dead end zone at the fort. The possibility of
swimming to Llama Island some distance away entered my head. It's just
as well I didn't attempt it. I would never had made the island, and even if I
had what would have happened to me then? Llama Island, as far as I
knew, had nothing but a few Chinese inhabitants and, for their own safety,
they would probably have had to be unfriendly, if not hostile. I figured it
really wasn't the place for a bedraggled refugee from the Battle of Hong
Kong.
In addition such an action would have been regarded by the Canadian
Army as desertion in the face of enemy fire. In the worst case scenario I
could have been put up against a wall, blindfolded, and shot, or I might
still be in prison.
Army as desertion in the face of enemy fire. In the worst case scenario I
could have been put up against a wall, blindfolded, and shot, or I might
still be in prison.
Another possibility entered my head. Suppose the British Navy could
affect an evacuation like the one that had happened at Dunkirk? But, by
that time the Japanese Navy had sunk the two British Battleships, The
Repulse, and the Prince of Wales, as they made there way north in the
Chine Sea.
affect an evacuation like the one that had happened at Dunkirk? But, by
that time the Japanese Navy had sunk the two British Battleships, The
Repulse, and the Prince of Wales, as they made there way north in the
Chine Sea.
H.M.S Repulse
H.M.S. Prince of Wales