Capt Philip, MC

Robert William Philip, Captain

On the night of 18/19 December 1941, "D" Company the Winnipeg Grenadiers were in their allotted positions at Wong Nei Chong, Hong Kong. A Japanese landing in force cut through this area -the centre of the Island - and isolated "D" Company Headquarters from No. 17 and 18 Platoons. The Japanese assaulted the company headquarters, beginning at 0700 hours the morning of 18 December and secured the medical shelter about seventy-five yards from the headquarters shelter. At approximately 0800 hours the company commander was killed while attempting to dislodge snipers, leaving Captain Philip in command. Captain Philip advised the battalion commander of the situation and was told to hold his position and deny enemy use of the main road crossing the island. Relief and reinforcements were promised, but due to strong Japanese positions so close to the shelter this promise could not be fulfilled. The strength of Captain Philip's command at this time was approximately forty men of whom twelve were casualties. By 1400 hours Captain Philip was severely wounded by an enemy grenade, losing his right eye and suffering chest and leg wounds from shrapnel. Nine other casualties were also reported. This gallant little band, under constant fire and within grenade throwing distance of an aggressive and merciless enemy, held out/or three days, at which time every one of the forty had been wounded, thirty-six severely and the other four slightly.

Throughout this long and dangerous battle, Captain Philip, although seriously and painfully wounded retained control of the situation, receiving the reports of his Second-in-Command, Lieutenant Blackwood, and directing him in the defence of the position. So stubborn was the struggle put up by this small and badly battered group that the Japanese used a great number of men in many futile assaults and repeatedly urged them to surrender. On the morning of 22 December, realizing that the situation was hopeless, no ammunition, food or water being left, line communications being cut, and every man a casualty, Captain Philip consulted a Lieutenant- Colonel of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps who was seriously wounded and present in the shelter at the time and advised him of the situation. The Lieutenant-Colonel instructed Captain Philip to surrender, no other course being open.

The action of this gallant group of men denied the use of the island road to the Japanese and prevented exploitation of their initial success, undoubtedly gaining valuable time for the re-organization of the island defence. Over two hundred enemy dead were estimated by Captain Philip prior to leaving the position, and unquestionably the overall casualties inflicted by this small body of men must have proved a serious drain on the enemy.

Of this action, Major-General Maltby, commander of Hong Kong says:

" A company of Winnipeg Grenadiers fought so magnificently the Japs believed the sector was held by two battalions. When it was over, the Nips would not believe they had been opposed there for three days by only one company. They were incredulous and indignant and they showed it by slapping the faces of the Canadian Officers of that company when they interrogated them."

[ Back ] [ Up ]