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Prisoners of War | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At that time we also got the rumour that the Germans had been turned back in their invasion of Russia. With our efforts in the defence of Hong Kong at an end it seemed there was a little bit of hope that we would live to fight again another day. I remember the mixed feelings I had on receiving the news of the surrender. My life had been spared, a cause for rejoicing. But, as a soldier, I was a defeated man, A prisoner of war. Not a glorious way to end a military career. I still think of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Disclaimer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Questions Remain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I Join the Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There are many reasons to ask why so many bungles were made in the defence of Hong Kong. One may ask why a small force of 120 men were sent out to chase out, what was reported to be, "15 Japs in the village"? If we had intelligence of the numbers of Japanese occupying the village why were more troops not sent to carry out the mission? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| According to an informed report, over 2000 men were marched put of Stanley Village several days later under Japanese guards. Where were they on Christmas Day when "D" Company, the Royal Rifles of Canada, were being cut to pieces in the cemetery in Stanley Village? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| It is not hard to deduce where they were. I distinctly remember that a vigourous game of soccer was in progress on the Square in Fort Stanley that fateful Christmas morning, 1941. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Total Surrender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The next morning we stacked our rifles, the last act before total surrender, and the equivalent of presenting the sword to the victor. That was the last I saw of my Enfield, number 1-59544. I had carried it from Valcartier in July, 1940. We had always been admonished to respect the rifle, "the best friend a soldier ever had". I had taken to heart the advice that had been given to me. The rifle had become a part of me. To this day the feel of a Lee Enfield against my shoulder is like an extension of my body, almost like a third arm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Visiting the Past | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| In My Memory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1994 Arnold Ross, Roger Cyr, and I were part of a pilgrimage that visited the battle sites and cemeteries in Hong.Kong. We are pictured here on a slope overlooking Stanley Military Cemetery, at a spot where Roger told is that it is the place where he last saw Bill Fallow. Bill Fallow was killed at at St. Stephen's Hospital on Christmas Day, during the Japanese rampage in the Hospital. |
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| Photo Gallery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click Here To Go To Part One Home |
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Click Here To Go To Part Two Home |
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| Left to right, Phil Doddridge, Arnold Ross, Roger Cyr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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