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The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
The Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbor with 353 fighter, bomber, and torpedo planes. It damaged all 8 of the Americian battleships, siknking 4 of them. -
Japanese attack Hong Kong
Six hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the British colony of Hong Kong -
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The Battle of Hong Kong (MP)(JS)
this is a time line of the events that went on during the battle of Hong Kong. -
Japanese attack Kai Tak Airport
The japanese aircraft attacked the Kai Tak airport and easly damaged or destroyed the few Royal Air Force aircrafts and the nearly empty Sham Shui Po camp where two Canadian soldiers were killed they becacme the first casualties of Hong Kong -
The Gin Drinkers Line
The Japanese ground forces moved across the frontier of the New Territories and met resistance from the forward forces of the Mainland brigade. In the face of strong enemy pressure these advance units fell back to the "Gin Drinkers' Line". The defenders hoped to defend the line for a week or more but, on December 9, the Japanese captured Shing Mun Redoubt, an area of high ground and the most important strategic position on the left flank of the Gin Drinker's Line -
"D" Company
On December 10, "D" Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers was dispatched to strengthen the remaining defenders on the mainland. -
First Canadian Engagement
On December 11, this company exchanged gunfire with the enemy and became the first Canadian Army unit to engage in combat in the Second World War. -
Surrender option for Hong Kong
On December 13, a Japanese demand for the surrender of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government denied the surrender. -
Japan offers surrender Part 2
On December 17, the Japanese repeated their demand for surrender. Once again it was refused, but the situation was very grim. With the sinking of two British relief ships off Malaya and the crippling of the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor, there was no hope of relief, and the Chinese armies were in no position to give immediate aid. The defenders awaited assault in complete isolation. -
Attack of the Island
The invasion came with nightfall on December 18. The enemy launched four separate amphibious assaults across a three-kilometre front on the northern beaches of Hong Kong Island. They came ashore in the face of machine-gun fire from soldiers of the Rajput unit who were manning the pillboxes. From the shore, the Japanese forces fanned out to the east and west and advanced up the valleys leading to high ground. The Royal Rifles engaged the invading Japanese and tried to push them back. -
Building Defences
By nightfall, on December 19, a new defensive line was established from Palm Villa to Stanley Mound, and a brigade headquarters was set up at Stone Hill. Unfortunately, some valuable mobile artillery was destroyed during the withdrawal. Even worse, vital communications were severed between the East and West Brigades when the advancing Japanese reached the sea at Repulse Bay. -
No more forward movement
After December 21, no further attempts were made to drive northward, for the troops were depleted and exhausted and the Japanese, who had been reinforced, mounted constant attacks. -
Sugar Loaf Hill
At noon on December 22, the Japanese took Sugar Loaf Hill, but volunteers from the Royal Rifles' "C" Company went forward and by nightfall they had recaptured the hill. Another company, however, was driven from Stanley Mound. -
Withdraw
On the evening of December 23, orders were given for a general withdrawal to Stanley Peninsula. The exhausted Royal Rifles were taken out to Stanley Fort, well down the peninsula, for a rest. However, they were soon recalled for action as the Japanese were making advances which the Volunteer Defence Corps and other available troops could not contain -
Battle on Christmas
The Royal Rifles celebrated Christmas Day, 1941, by returning to battle. Brigadier Wallis ordered a counter-attack to regain ground lost the night before. "D" Company was successful in this mission but suffered heavy casualties. -
The Final Surrender
At 3:15 p.m. Christmas Day, General Maltby advised the Governor that further resistance was futile. The white flag was hoisted.The fact that it took the Japanese until Christmas Day to force surrender is a testimony to the brave resistance of the Canadian and other defending troops.
