Cpl Rix, DCM

Derek Everard Rix, Corporal

Corporal Rix was in command of a section of the Winnipeg Grenadiers at Hong Kong in December 1941.

At dawn of 19 December when the Japanese attacked the Wong Nei Chong area, Corporal Rix and his section were cut off from their platoon. They worked their way from their open position on the hillside above the Blue Pool Valley to Join a section of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps who were holding pill box No. 2 on the slope of Jardine's Lookout and cooperated in the defence of the pill box during the remainder of the morning. At about noon a patrol of Japanese succeeded in reaching pill box No. 1 (about fifty yards further up the steep hillside) and heavily engaged the crew, who were soon in a very difficult situation.

After an unsuccessful relief attack by some of the crew of pill box No. 2, Corporal Rix with a mixed party of Winnipeg Grenadiers and Hong Kong Volunteers made another attempt. They were under fire from across the valley and had to climb a steep hillside in the face of the enemy, but succeeded in wiping out the surviving Japanese around pill box No. 1, thereby regaining control of both pill boxes for some hours longer. As pill box No. I was no longer in use due to the machine guns being damaged, and the loopholes being under continuous close range rifle fire, Corporal Rix took up a very precarious position close to pill box No. 1 until he was wounded in the right hand when he returned to pill box No. 2 for treatment. Later when enemy pressure increased and there was no sign of relief, the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps officer in command gave leave to walking wounded to retire, but Corporal Rix preferred to stay and see the action through to a finish.

Corporal Rix proved himself an able and courageous noncommissioned officer and his conduct throughout was a credit to his unit and the Canadian army.

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