Battle of Hong Kong
In 1940, Britain initially decided that their crown colony of Hong Kong was expendable in the event of war with Japan and decided against reinforcing it, but they sent additional reinforcements in September 1941. Canada agreed to send the Royal Rifles of Canada, a bilingual unit from Quebec, and the Winnipeg Grenadiers which represented both Eastern and Western Canada. However, they were not considered fit for action. The Royal Rifles had only served in Newfoundland and Saint John, and the Winnipeg Grenadiers had only been posted to Jamaica - both received minimal training, and would not fare as well as others in combat. Military officials did not expect the Canadian troops to have to engage in combat with the Japanese, but 22 days after the Canadians arrived in Hong Kong, the Japanese attacked.
On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. Less than 8 hours later, on the morning of December 8, 1941, the Japanese launched an attack on Hong Kong. Hong Kong had no significant air defence or naval defence and much of what they did have was destroyed. Kai Tak airport was bombed. The Canadian military officials knew they had virtually no chance of victory, but they refused to surrender until the enemy overtook them. On December 25, 1941, Japanese soldiers entered a makeshift hospital and tortured and killed a lot of people – injured soldiers, nurses, and doctors. By the afternoon of Christmas Day, British colonial officials and the Governer of Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese. December 25 is now known as “Black Christmas” in Hong Kong.
The Battle of Hong Kong was the first battle Canadian soldiers fought in, in the Second World War. Of the 1975 soldiers sent to battle, approximately 290 were killed in battle and 264 died as POWs, resulting in a total of 554 deaths. Any of the Canadians who survived the battle spent three and a half hard years as prisoners of war, starved and tortured by the Japanese. Additionally, approximately 500 Canadians were wounded. All in all, more than 1050 were either killed or wounded – just a little over 50% of the contingent.
This battle displayed the bravery of all the young men in the contingent as they continued to fight their best against overwhelming odds. It has been said that the Battle of Hong Kong was one of the highest casualty rates of any Canadian combat in the Second World War.
On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. Less than 8 hours later, on the morning of December 8, 1941, the Japanese launched an attack on Hong Kong. Hong Kong had no significant air defence or naval defence and much of what they did have was destroyed. Kai Tak airport was bombed. The Canadian military officials knew they had virtually no chance of victory, but they refused to surrender until the enemy overtook them. On December 25, 1941, Japanese soldiers entered a makeshift hospital and tortured and killed a lot of people – injured soldiers, nurses, and doctors. By the afternoon of Christmas Day, British colonial officials and the Governer of Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese. December 25 is now known as “Black Christmas” in Hong Kong.
The Battle of Hong Kong was the first battle Canadian soldiers fought in, in the Second World War. Of the 1975 soldiers sent to battle, approximately 290 were killed in battle and 264 died as POWs, resulting in a total of 554 deaths. Any of the Canadians who survived the battle spent three and a half hard years as prisoners of war, starved and tortured by the Japanese. Additionally, approximately 500 Canadians were wounded. All in all, more than 1050 were either killed or wounded – just a little over 50% of the contingent.
This battle displayed the bravery of all the young men in the contingent as they continued to fight their best against overwhelming odds. It has been said that the Battle of Hong Kong was one of the highest casualty rates of any Canadian combat in the Second World War.