I was rɛcalled to Hong ong to H..V.M.C. head- quarters on the 10th. the eninsula falling on the 11th. A d or so lster H.K.V.\\.C. was moved to Peak Vansions about “0 yds from the Peak Tram station. From there we operated a DK.3 service, taking in the Canadians at Fokfalm weservoir, the Portuguese Coy at Kt. Davis, the A.. Battery at Aberdeen, the Batteries at Stanley and Cape D'Agullar, the scottish Coy of K.F.V...^. at Shek-0, the A.A. Battery at Lyemun, the bitter; at Sai San below Lyceum Barracks) the Hughes group at the ..ectric Station at North Foint, the Portuguese Section of H.H.V.M.C. in the City and section of the F. V. C. at Zanchai Gaps, and the No. 3 Cor.
Irior to the Japanese landing and despite the severe shelling and bombing, the morale of the troops was excellent and essualities on the island were comparatively light. Our A.A. guns were kept busy but our shooting was not particularly accurate, and after few days the Japanese appeared to have got the location of our guns and zere thus able to fly low over picked areas. Bombing was regular, but could not be called severe, and the enemy appeared to be confi.ing his attention to unlikely objectives.
On the other hand, shelling was severe and securate. The enemy with the aid of reconaissance : lanes and probably fifth columnists, wer finding our mobile gun positions in a very short time. The calibre of the shells were not large, and secording to some of the Artillery officers, some of the ammunition must have been ver, old.
The chemy had his guns in position around about Chat B, iol's Rock and evils ́eak. The latter shooting at blank range played havoc with the Sai Wan and yesumZI batteries and Sai a. was shelled for long intervala deily and the same applied to Mount Davis, and an indian Battery on the eak which was . orrying them considerably, end " hich
owing to its location they fɛiled to damage,
After a couple of days of our retirement to the ialand it became noticeable that the Canadians were beginning to feel the strain, and were extram ly nervous and jumpy, so much so that our Chinese 9/1⁄2. section ordered to go particularly slow when riding in areas manned by Canadians, as they were likely to mistake us for fifth columnists in uniform. The majority of them did not seem to have their heart in their jobs.
On the other hand the Royal Woots and the id lesex were all of fight and steady and calm, and this spirit
railed until the surrender,
I did not come into much contact with the Indians after the retreat to the island, but I was given to under- stand that they became extremely confused at night when
the Japanese when attacking made use of Indian traitors speaking the same dielect.
On the day of 15th Dec, there was considerable shelling of North Foint, and next morning we heard that the enemy had made & landing.
From Japan.se sources later I learned that the lauding was accom;lished in the following manner. The night previous to the landing they had lour or five of their best swimmers, swim tɔ the island and tak- # loos
around/
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