大象传媒

The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Ronald Parker and Father
Major Maurice Albert Parker:

Gen. Maltby ordered the East Brigade to withdraw to the South and set up a new line of defense on Stanlely Mound, high ground located to the West of the narrow entrance to the Stanley Peninsula. "A" Company was in their new position at Repulse Bay with their back to the sea, threatened by units of the Japanese 228th and 229th.

Meanwhile, the Japanese had made advances on the North coast that were nothing short of incredible. Pushing quickly westward from the beachhead, along the North shore of the island, the Japanese 230th and 228th swiftly captured Sai Ki Wan and the critical high ground on Mount Butler and Jardine's Lookout.

The East and West Brigades were positioned to defend an attack from the South. When the Japanese attacked from the North, from the mainland, and pushed westward to the center of the island, then South, they intended to cut the defenders' fighting strength in half. When the Japanese sawed through the Rajputs, they left the the East Brigade fighting alone and one handed. It was forced to withdraw to the southwest, towards the North/South line dividing the two Brigades.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers were positioned to defend the South coast of the island, the front line of resistance if the attack came from the sea. The Royal Scots were in reserve and the Punjabs were in the rear guard position. The new line of defense now ran from the North cost to the South, in roughly the island's centre.

But the attack, essentially from the rear, had allowed the Japanese to move as quickly as they did and put the entire island in serious trouble. If the defenders couldn't recapture the heights that surrounded them, they were going to be cut to pieces.

Brigadier Lawson had stationed his West Brigade Headquarters at Wong Nei Chong Gap, and "D" Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers H.Q.'s were just across the road from him. He had formed what he called "flying columns" designated as rapid response troops who would be sent to wherever they were needed. These troops were on alert just to the South of the Grenadiers' Headquarters. As the Japanese hurtled forward, two platoons of Grenadiers were ordered to counter-attack. The Grenadiers rushed to respond and were cut to pieces in the attempt to stop the Japanese. The Japanese had taken complete control over the high ground.

The West Brigade rushed to meet the oncoming Japanese and were caught in a meat grinder. The Japanese were attacking them from the North, down the centre-line, and from the West. The two brigades were compelled to attempt a link-up at the centre line, thus preventing them from mounting a concerted, head-on counter-attack or a steady line of defense. They found themselves forced to fight wherever the Japanese chose to apply the heat.

Continued...
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