Hong Kong in ww2
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(During the battle of Hong Kong)
During the Second World War Canadian soldiers committed to battle to help defend the Crown colony. Canadian troops did not receive training as front line troops and going to war with Japan was not considered and was believed that they were going to Hong Kong for garrison duty. The British government accepted an offer by the Canadian government to send two infantry battalions and a brigade headquarters to help reinforce the Hong Kong garrison.
The force was made up of British, Canadian and Indian regiments as well as Hong Kong volunteer defence corps. Any other defence would have to be carried out without any significant air or naval defence.
Many Canadian soldiers did not have much field experience before arriving in Hong Kong but were told to support the force. In October 1941 many of the Canadians who sailed from Vancouver never returned. A memorial had been erected to honour those who died in defence.
An invasion was at nightfall on December 18 1941. Japanese forces invaded the East and West leading to high ground. The enemy tried to push them back with royal rifles. The invasion force was early December 19 and the Japanese had reached as far as Wong Nei Chong and Tai Tam Gaps while fighting at night to show their power.
Canada's role
Canada's role in ww2 was a big part of a canadian history. Canadian soldiers defended
the British crown colony located in hong kong against the Japanese with lots of casualties and sacrifice. The Japanese soldiers had not only attacked from the west, but they also attacked from the east, which made it very difficult to defend. As the japanese soldiers are well supported by their air forces, their forces overwhelmed the canadian soldiers, who had very little to eat. The Canadian's bravery in the battle of hong kong deserves to be marked in the history of World war 2.