RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x 135 Supplement, 29 January 1948; A Record of the Actions of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps in the Battle of Hong Kong December, 1941 (1953). For the official Hong Kong account of the surrender, see Hong Kong Government (1948). 3 The literature referred to in this section is not exhaustive and focuses on books and reports only. English and Chinese newspapers and periodicals from time to time carry articles on the Battle. Post-war annals of universities, university halls and secondary schools in Hong Kong are also a good source of materials about the Battle. There are also a number of novels on war events, + The emphasis is placed on attacking the enemies' "line of least resistance" or "line of least expectation". 5 As quoted in Ko and Wordie (1996), p.18. "They were influenced by the views of Air Chief Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, the British Commander-in-Chief in the Far East. 7 During the initial stage of the Battle, BBC broadcasts (Orwell, 1987) placed high hopes on the availability of Chinese forces in the vicinity of Hong Kong. Such forces were never to come. Liddell Hart (1999): footnote at 219. "Colonel Hewitt is the author of a number of books on the Battle and Japanese occupation of the Colony. 10 The title of the book is a misnomer as the police force obtained the royal title only in the late 1960s. Blackburn gave an account of the anarchic situation of Hong Kong shortly before the surrender (Blackburn 1989). 12 On 23 October 1937, the Joint Overseas and Home Defence Committee considered re-fortification or demilitarisation of Hong Kong, assuming that it took 90 days for the British fleet to relieve Hong Kong. Rollo (1992): 113. According to Aldrich, the British Chiefs of Staff considered the abandonment of Shanghai and demilitarisation of Hong Kong to avoid confrontation with Japan. Aldrich (1993): 261. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 Pottinger Battery: 1 officer + 26 soldiers 3 February 1920 The Chief of Imperial General Staff, Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, considered that Hong Kong could resist Japanese attack for 3 months before relief from Singapore arrived. Washington Treaty 1920/1921 1922 The Admiralty informed the Committee of Imperial Defence that it was the authority to advise the scale of attack on ports and that for Hong Kong, the "status quo applies." Rollo, 1992, p.98 Rollo, 1992, p.101 Rollo, 1992, p.102 1924 "Devil's Peak Sheet No.3," Ordnance Survey 1904, corrected and printed at the War Office 1924, shows road access, including "roads suitable for man-handled guns" and detailed land uses in the Devil's Peak area, with boundaries of War Department lands delineated. However, the locations of batteries and the Redoubt are not shown. PRO100(2) 1927 Aerial Photograph No. H19 15 taken by HMS Pegasus. The Joint Overseas and Home Defence Committee review. Rollo, 1992, p.104 1928 Steel choke caused problems to the 9.2-inch guns at Devil's Peak. Rollo, 1992, p.105 1929 August 1930 February 1931 Chinese writer/composer, Tien Han, visited Hong Kong and was impressed by the scenic views of Lei Yue Mun, as stated in his poem "Good Bye Hong Kong." The 12th Heavy Battery replaced the 9-inch guns with anti-choke pattern. Rollo, 1992, p.105 The 12 Heavy Battery fired new guns at Gough Battery. "Gough Battery fired over Hong Kong Island and Repulse Bay." Rollo, 1992, p.105 1933 Annual Review of the Defence of Ports. Rollo, 1992, p.105 22 October 1934 The 12 Heavy Battery practised indirect shots at Pottinger Battery. 1934 A letter from the Military Operation Branch of the War Office indicated plans to modernise two 9.2-inch guns at Devil's Peak in 1936/37 with 35-degree mountings. 1936 The Hong Kong Defence Scheme Rollo, 1992, p.107 Rollo, 1992, p.108, 109 Rollo, 1992, p.110, 112 131 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 indicated the establishment for the battery observation post (BOP), battery plotting room (BPR), and Eastern Fire Command. A total of 88 officers and soldiers were proposed. 30 December 1936 The 12 Heavy Battery dismantled the 9.2-inch gun at Gough Battery (The two 9.2-inch guns at Pottinger were left for the moment). 23 October 1937 1939/1940 Joint Overseas and Home Defence Committee considered re-fortification or de-militarisation of Hong Kong, assuming that it took 90 days for the fleet to relieve Hong Kong. Bokhara Battery constructed. 1940 The guns at Pottinger Battery removed. A Japanese military map shows the details of defence deployment at Devil's Peak. It states that for the Devil's Peak defence works, "underground passages have been altered and barbed wire added." 12 December 1941 During the early hours, the 5/7 Rajputs and 1 Mountain Battery took up positions at Devil's Peak. The six 3.7-inch howitzers of the 1st Mtn Bty fired 400 rounds at the advancing Japanese, who were at Black Hill. The 5th Anti Aircraft Regiment also moved to Devil's Peak with 6 Lewis Guns At 1800 hours, the garrison received orders to withdraw to Hong Kong Island. The evacuation took place the next morning. Rollo, 1992, p.119 2 Rollo, 1992, p.113 Rollo, 1992, p.120, p.201 Empson, 1992, p.146 (Plate 2-12) The arcs of fire of Devil's Peak's batteries can be found in Rollo, 1992, at p.123 Rollo, 1992, p.130, p.171, 173 PRO 16947 PRO 17849 15 December 1941 13 December 1941 Coast defence batteries on Hong Kong Island shelled Devil's Peak, now in Japanese hands. Pak Sha Wan Battery hit by Japanese light artillery fire from Devil's Peak. Rollo, 1992, p.131 18 December 1941 Pak Sha Wan Battery fired at Devil's Peak Village. 1944 A USAAF aerial photograph shows Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, including the Devil's Rollo, 1992, p.133 Rollo, 1992, p.135 132 ================================================================================