Before landing from the ships we were told to take off our Canadian badges and all else that might identify the Battalion. Later the same day we bought Hong Kong papers with glaring headlines, “Canadians land in Hong Kong.” Such is Official secrecy.
We noticed at every street corner the tall Sikh policeman, a very fine body of men. We remembered the lectures on the boat as to our behavior when meeting the East Indian, that they did not smoke or drink and we should not spit in their presence. While remaining at their posts performing police duties many of these fine tall men were killed by the Japs. Others were forced to continue these duties under the Japanese.
From India comes many breeds, the lowly coolie from the rice paddies of the burning plains, the clever and often times rich Parsee1 merchant or barber, the hardy little Gurkha soldier from the hills of Nepal, and the warrior types, the Sikhs, Rajputs and Punjabi, the last, fighting hill men from the north.
After the surrender I saw an example of the courage and loyalty of these Indian troops. They were herded into an enclosure of barbed wire and the Nip made use of his Indian spies and collaborators to urge these men to join the victors and have a share in the spoils. This they steadfastly refused to do, paying little or no attention to those making the appeal other then spit in disgust. The Japs, to emphasize how much choice was allowed them, brought up a machine gun and trained it upon them. The Indian soldiers took quick notice of the gun. As a man they walked up to the wire, bared their chests by tearing open the front of their shirts, and with feet apart and heads thrown back challenged the Japs to shoot. The Japs withdrew the gun. How many of these proud warriors were latter reduced to dead and living skeletons? Did the Japs ever break their spirit? I think not.
We had been on the mainland about two weeks and had carried out battle practice and maneuvers when we were ordered over to the Island of Hong Kong. A plan of defense was taking shape and the two Canadian Battalions were to be part of the reserves on the Island. The Royal Scots and the two Indian Battalions were left on the mainland in prepared positions, the first to oppose the Jap when he attacked.
We crossed the ferry and marched through the business section of Hong Kong. It was a warm day late in November. The seasons at Hong Kong and Japan are much the same as our own but the winter days are often hot while the nights are freezing cold. We wore full battle dress with steel helmets and were loaded down with machine guns and ammunition. Our air was entirely different than when we first arrived. Then we came to garrison, now we were taking the field. The British authorities had supplied us with some field equipment including two Bren Carriers. Our own had been on a different ship and was detained at Manila.
The seriousness of things was plain now to everyone. Big events were afoot and we were in the middle of them. Feeling the heat as we marched through Hong Kong, seeing the furtive looks of the people, and noting the brooding Peak beyond, I thought of Lyttons “The Last Days of Pompeii”. The Roman soldiers on guard at the City gate kept their places when all others had fled. Were we going to keep ours? There was one thing about Hong Kong, the people had no place to flee to, unless it was by sea.
