Hong Kong was the first place Canadians fought a land battle in the Second World War.From 8 to 25 December 1941, almost 2,000 troops from Winnipeg and Quebec City — sent to Hong Kong expecting little more than guard duty — fought bravely against the overwhelming power of an invading Japanese force. LAC/3241498. "C" Force was the Canadian military contingent involved in the Battle of Hong Kong, in December 1941.Members of the force were the first Canadian soldiers to see action in World War II.The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hong Kong were the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada.In addition to this the Canadians provided a Brigade HQ. Recent Books. defences of Hong Kong. The Royal Rifles delivered the final attack, but also lost several times. From a national perspective, the choice of battalions was ideal. When Pollock's regiment arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 16, along with the Winnipeg Grenadiers, the nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers joined troops from Britain, India, Singapore and Hong Kong. Of the 1975 soldiers sent to battle, approximately 290 were killed in battle and 264 died as … It didn’t end well. When the British colony surrendered on Christmas Day, 290 … 1,975 Canadian troops were sent to the British colony to bolster its garrison in hopes of deterring a Japanese attack. Canadian troops, mostly Royal Rifles, arriving into Hong Kong on October 27, 1941. Year of Siege: September 1940 - October 1941. In 1941, the 1st Battalion were sent to Hong Kong to defend the land from the invading Japanese. That same day, 6 hours later, at 08:00 hrs, they attacked the British Crown Colony of … 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers. The battalion was placed in active service during World War I. Hong Kong In October 1941, Canada sent nearly 2,000 troops to reinforce the British colony of Hong Kong. Battle of Hong Kong . The battle for Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony, would turn out to be a debacle. Images courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint. Both selected Battalions were placed under the unified command of recently promoted Canadian Brigadier J.K. Lawson of … The Royal Rifles of Canada were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 1 … For one thing, Canada’s military was small and unprepared for war. 80 years ago on Christmas Day, 19-year-old George McDonnell of D Company of Canada’s Royal Rifles and his fellow soldiers fired a bullet in their shirt pockets after losing a battle against the invading Japanese forces on Hong Kong Island. The Canadian forces were sent in as reinforcements. Armed only with his formidable size, an intimidating set of teeth, and a protective instinct, Gander fought alongside his fellow Canadian soldiers. Royal Rifles of Canada and The Winnipeg Grenadiers under command… The tragic fate of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers in the battle for Hong Kong and their horrendous treeatment at the hands of the Japanese following the surrender of the garrison has polarized opinion. Photo: Infantrymen of "C" Company, Royal Rifles of Canada, board HMCS Prince Robert in Vancouver to head for Hong Kong on Oct. 26, 1941. Greenfield, Nathan M. The Damned: The Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong and the POW Experience, 1941–45. The 1,975 Canadian soldiers, mostly from the Quebec City based Royal Rifles of Canada, and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, were the first Canadian troops to see battle in World War II. Despite being relatively numerous, the dispatched troops were mostly men on foot. During the Second World War, Canada sent a force of 1,975,... including two battalions (the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada), to help defend the British Crown Colony. Impact of the battle on the military the Royal Rifles and Winnipeg Grenadiers were sent to Hong Kong weeks before Japan attacked (under trained, under equipped) Canadian troops helped defend Hong Kong until they surrendered when the Canadians arrived, they changed the plans for defense for the colony their main point was to defend Hong Kong used to reassure the Chinese that … The Royal Rifles of Canada are a bilingual battalion from Quebec and the Winnipeg Grenadiers served in Newfoundland and Jamaica and neither of the units that were sent to help protect Hong Kong was trained properly for the situation. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In 1940 the British regarded their crown colony of Hong Kong and its 20 000-man garrison as expendable in the event of war with Japan and decided against reinforcing it. The Royal Rifles of Canada and The Winnipeg Grenadiers sailed from Vancouver toward Hong Kong on October 27, 1941. Sergeant Gander is a fascinating account of the Royal Rifles of Canada's canine mascot, and his devotion to duty demonstrated during the Battle of Hong Kong in the Second World War. Canada sent 1,975 troops, consisting of two battalions of infantry and a brigade headquarters. The Battle of Hong Kong The Royal Rifles of Canada, The Winnipeg Grenadiers. 5 airplanes by Kai Tak Royal Air Force. It was reformed alongside the Les Voltigeurs de Québec in 1920. During World War II, its members served in Newfoundland in the east of Canada on garrison duty before being called to serve in Hong Kong in October 1941. Rather than leave Gander behind, the men promoted him to the rank of “Sergeant” and he joined to soldiers on their mission. He remained a POW until he was liberated in 1945. He was later awarded the Order of the British Empire and, appointed Brigadier of … This web site is in his honour. On December 8, 1941, 52,000 Japanese soldiers invaded Hong Kong’s New Territories. War diary, Hong Kong POW's, battle of hong kong. “Canada and the Battle of Hong Kong“, L’Encyclopédie Canadienne/The Canadian Encyclopedia. The 3rd Battalion was consolidated with the 2nd Battalion in 1996 as part of run down of British forces in Hong Kong . They fought one of the Second World War's most savage battles. In late 1941, the British government accepted an offer by the Canadian Government to send a battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada (from Quebec) and one of the Winnipeg Grenadiers (from Manitoba) and a brigade headquarters (1,975 personnel) to reinforce the Hong Kong Canadian Forces in the Battle of Hong Kong 1941. Battle of Hong Kong: | | | | | | Battle of Hong... World Heritage Encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. WW2: Canadian soldiers defended British Crown Colony of Hong Kong against Japanese attack in December of 1941; Refused to surrender until overrun by enemy; Survivors of battle became POWs; tortured and starved by Japanese captors; October 1941: Royal Rifles of Canada and Winnipeg Grenadiers ordered to prepare to serve in Pacific They had been sent to Hong Kong to help Britain defend its colony against invasion by the Japanese. December 25 is now known as “Black Christmas” in Hong Kong. The Royal Rifles of Canada with their mascot, Gander, en route to Hong Kong (c. October 1941). Information about the weapons and troops: Hong Kong defense was lead by Major-General C.M Maltby with 14,000 British, Canadian and Indian regiments and volunteer Hong Kong defense corps. CANADA'S ROLE IN THE BATTLE: - In October 1914 Canadian troops were sent to Hong Kong to join 12,000 other allied soldiers in what they expected only to be a garrison duty. “D” Company, Royal Rifles of Canada, march past having taken the "stick" that day. 237-256. On 8 December 1941 (7 December in North America), Japan attacked. A battalion from each regiment was sent to Hong Kong in November, 1941, just three weeks before the Japanese invasion. Rifmn Snear Thomas : Rank: Rifleman: The Damned tells the largely unknown saga of Canada’s first land battle of the Second World War—fought in the hills and valleys of Hong Kong in December 1941—and the terrible years the survivors of the battle spent as slave labourers for the Empire of Japan. The 1,975 Canadian soldiers, mostly from the Quebec City based Royal Rifles of Canada, and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, were the first Canadian troops to see battle in World War II. Fred signed up in October 1940 and was placed with Quebec's Royal Rifles of Canada. Battle Information. It is Royal Rifles of Canada. ". The two battalions were recommended by General Chief of Staff, Harry Crear2. Stacey, Six Years of War , 468. The Battle of the Atlantic begins. By then, Hong Kong was surrounded by Japanese forces in Canton, Hainan Island, French Indo-China, and Formosa, and British women and children had been evacuated. Command structure. 37 Oliver Lindsay, Hostage to Fortune , 67. For this battle, Canadians were asked to send two battalions, The Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, to Hong Kong. Infantrymen of ‘C’ Company, Royal Rifles of Canada, and their mascot about to embark for Hong Kong from Vancouver on Oct. 27, 1941. My father, Major M.A. They were separated after the invasion and one was removed under Lawson’s command. The unit was formed in 1862 as the 8th Battalion and renamed the 8th Regiment in 1900. They had been sent to Hong Kong to help Britain defend its colony against invasion by the Japanese. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 2010. Wounded Information Canadian Forces in the Battle of Hong Kong 1941. From the notes of Major Maurice A. Parker, CO "D" Coy Royal Rifles of Canada, regarding mainland defensive plans which were made in the event of war before the Canadians arrival: He believed that the Japanese would attack from the sea and positioned his troops on the island of Hong Kong accordingly. Parker, from Quebec City, Quebec, the Commanding Officer of "D" Company, The Royal Rifles of Canada. The Battle of Hong Kong would forever change the lives of the 1,975 Canadian soldiers who had been sent to help defend the small colony only a month before hostilities began. For a more academic approach, we suggest the following books: Franco David Macri, « Canadians under Fire: C Force and the Battle of Hong Kong, December 1941 », Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, vol. 36 Hong Kong Veterans’ Association, The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong, 1941-1945 (Carp, Baird O’Keefe Publishing Co., 2001): 43. Available on Amazon. They arrived in Hong Kong on November 16, 1941. For this battle, Canadians were asked to send two battalions, The Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, to Hong Kong. 2016 BATTLE OF HONG KONG COIN. the battle of hong kong It was in the defence of Hong Kong in 1941 that Canadian soldiers first committed to battle during the Second World War. Their war began on December 8, 1941, and lasted only 17 days. Japan’s attack on Hong Kong was the first fight of the war for Canadian soldiers. Canada entered the Second World War against Germany in 1939, but the Canadian Army saw little action in the early years of the conflict. They fought to help protect the British Crown colony of Hong Kong in December 1941. Gander, a Newfoundland dog who started out as a mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada, became a hero for saving many lives of his regiment in the defence of Hong Kong Island during… Cannon in Canada, Province by Province: British Columbia. The next day, the first two Canadian casualties in the battle of Hong Kong were in the Royal Canadian Signal. The Battle of Hong Kong commenced on 8 December 1941, and lasted for 17 and a half days. The Battle of Hong Kong was the first battle Canadian soldiers fought in, in the Second World War. On October 27, 1941 the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers combined forces and became "C - Force" and were reassigned to Hong Kong to help the British defend Hong Kong from the Japanese Army. (February 2012) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) The Royal Rifles of Canada was a rifle regiment in the Canadian Army and fought alongside The Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II. In November 1966, it was reduced to nil strength and place on the Supplementary Order of Battle . These Canadian units had not received training as front-line troops. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General or Lieutenant General from the British Army. The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. Two hundred and ninety Canadians were killed in the battle. 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles; formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles. He also served with the First Battalion, Royal Rifles of Canada, during World War II, was appointed Commanding Officer during the Battle of Hong Kong and was a prisoner of war from 1941 to 1945. The Royal Rifles of Canada with their mascot, Gander, en route to Hong Kong (c. October 1941). The Canadian forces were sent in as reinforcements. Infantrymen from the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were selfless in their resolve, knowing that the … - The Canadian contingent was comprised of 1,975 soldiers formed by the Royal Rifles of Canada form Quebec city and the Winnipeg Grenadiers battalions… The Royal Rifles of Canada and The Winnipeg Grenadiers, under the command of Brigadier J.K. Lawson, sailed from Vancouver on October 27, 1941. Battle Honours Hong Kong * South-East Asia, 1941. On December 8th, Japan launched their attack against them and hand-to-hand combat broke out because of Canada's and the Allied countries' lack of air and naval defenses, Seventeen and a half days later, on December 25, they were advised to surrender, and … The POWs endured years of beatings, hard labour and inadequate diets. The Allied forces withdrew to Hong Kong Island. For decades, rifleman Ray Donald Jackson’s family had no mementos to remember him by, not even a picture. When Pollock's regiment arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 16, along with the Winnipeg Grenadiers, the nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers joined troops from Britain, India, Singapore and Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009 Battle of Hong Kong, 1941. from category: Sieges and Battles. It was seventy years ago in December when Sergeant Gander gave the ultimate sacrifice serving his country in the Battle of Hong Kong during WWII. The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers had no battle experience, nor had they received proper training for front-line action. The Canadian reinforcements were formed from two battalions, the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada. The graves of Pvt J. Maltese of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Rifleman A. M. Moir of the Royal Rifles of Canada. There was also one military stowaway who was sent back to Canada. 2nd Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment. 8 The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Association, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Prisoners of War Association, held a simple wreath laying ceremony at the Shrine in the City Hall Garden of Remembrance at 11.00 today to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the start of the Battle for Hong Kong. A battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada from Quebec, and a battalion of the Winnipeg Grenadiers from Manitoba, totaling 1,975, arrived at the Colony on Nov. 16. (DND / Library and Archives Canada / … He died in action during the Battle of Hong Kong, saving the lives of several Canadian soldiers. Written in the words of the Riflemen of The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Grenadiers of The Winnipeg Grenadiers who fought. We do not have specific battle information for this soldier in our online database. The Gander Heritage Memorial Park unveiled two new statues Thursday, including a tribute to Sergeant Gander, a Newfoundland dog and World War II hero. But in September 1941 the Canadian government agreed to send the Royal Rifles of Canada (a Québec unit) and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, although they were… December 13– Japanese demand for the surrender of Hong Kong rejected. On Nov. 16, 1941, two Canadian battalions – Quebec’s Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers – arrived in Hong Kong, along … CBC archives - Canada's home for news, sports, lifestyle, comedy, arts, kids, music, original series & more. The small brigade group consisting of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles … Uncle Bob and Uncle Frank had volunteered for the Royal Rifles. Canada’s first contribution to the Pacific Theatre came at the Battle of Hong Kong. For 18 days in December 1941 they fought, died, were wounded, and finally captured on December 25th to … Both units left from Vancouver and arrived in Hong Kong on November 16th, 1941. He enlisted for military service in August, 1940 and became a Rifleman in the 18th Platoon, D Company, of the Royal Rifles of Canada. The Royal Rifles of Canada was a rifle regiment in the Canadian Army and fought alongside The Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II. Over the course of more than 17 days, these men, mostly members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada, would represent Canada on the world stage in defence of the area. Royal Rifles of Canada - How is Royal Rifles of Canada abbreviated? Carp, Ontario: Baird O’Keefe Publishing Inc., 2001. On December 8th, the Japanese attacked Hong Kong but luckily, everyone on the defence in Hong Kong was in their positions on the island 15 hours before Japan invaded. The 7 th and 11 th Hussars who had been amalgamated in 1933 contributed 383 men and 16 officers mostly from this area, to the newly amalgamated Quebec Royal Rifles of Canada, who served in Newfoundland and then in Hong Kong. “The Battle of Hong Kong would be the Canadian Army’s harrowing introduction to major combat during the Second World War. The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong, 1941–1945. “C” Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe. The Royal Rifles of Canada from Quebec City were under the command of Lt. Col. William James Home. East Coast to the Far East. Fred signed up in October 1940 and was placed with Quebec's Royal Rifles of Canada. For 18 days in December 1941 they fought, died, were wounded, and finally captured on December 25th to spend 44 months in a Japanese POW camp. As what became known as "C" Force, the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were sent to reinforce the British enclave in Hong Kong on October 25, 1941. In November 1966, it was reduced to nil strength and place on the Supplementary Order of Battle.
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