The author has had the assistance of a number of people without whose efforts this book would, at the worst, have been totally impossible or, at the best, vastly inferior.
First and foremost, I am indebted to Michael Childs, on whose superlative research the book depends. It incorporates most of his research, many of his ideas, and some of his words. I am also grateful to Anita Burdett for her invaluable work in London and to Eve Elman for the research on the post-war period.
I wish to express my appreciation for the courtesy and assistance of the staffs of the Public Archives of Canada and of the Directorate of History of the Department of National Defence. Their co-operation was up to its usual high standard.
My thanks also to Hugh Halliday for taking time from his vacation in England to select and order photographs when I could not do so due to the postal strike. The interest and enthusiasm of George Hopp in producing the maps and of Don Connolly in creating the cover and end-paper art was a pleasure to see.
My very sincere thanks are due to Heather Ebbs, who carried out the production of this book with skill and patience and whose editorial ability has vastly improved the text. I am grateful as well to Leslie Jones, without whose enthusiasm and adaptability the project would have taken far longer to complete.
Finally there is my wife Elizabeth, without whose unfailing support and assistance I could accomplish little. I am more grateful than I can possibly say.
Department of National Defence, Directorate of History [referred to as DHist]
| File Nos. 002, D11 | (D3) Supplement to London Gazette 29 Jan 1948 (Maltby Report) |
| 111,13 | (D47) Training reports. (D52) Training reports. (D56) Training reports. (D63) Training reports (D66) Memoranda by Ralston and Foulkes on Hong Kong inquiries (D72) Drew's speech 12 Jan 1942. (D74) Article in Macleans, July 1968, by Ian Adams |
| 112,3M1009 (D124) | Far East Intelligence Summaries |
| 168.009 | (D8) Intelligence file-notes on Japanese Army, Aug. 1941 |
| 325.009 | (D516) Comments on developments in Far East by Col. Mullahy |
| 352.009 | (D1) DCGS Miscellaneous file on Hong Kong Expedition Dec. 1941 |
| 593 | (D1) "C" Force HQ Diaries (D3) War Diary, Royal Rifles of Canada, December 1941 (D6) Reports on "C" Force (D7) Report of conditions affecting Canadian POW's at Hong Kong (D8) Notes on atrocities in POW camps (D12) Letter, Brig. Andrew Peffers to Brig. W.H.S. Macklin, 22 Sept. 1945 (D15) Signals Report "C" Force (D16) Lawson's diary, Oct.-Dec. 1941 (D17) Reports of Medical Officers "C" Force (D23) Situation Reports from Hong Kong, 8-25 Dec. 1941 (D24) "C" Force Diary, 10 Aug.-2 Oct. 1945 (D25) Honours and Awards, "C" Force (D27) Report by Maj. R.J.C. Hamilton, trip to Manila, 1945 (D28) Draft narrative on Canadian participation (D33) War Diary, Winnipeg Grenadiers, 8-25 December 1941 (D35) Interview with Maj. G.B. Puddicimbe, prosecutor in War Crimes Tria 11 July 1947 (D37) Interview with Hong Kong participants (D42) Record of action of HKVDC |
| 593.008 | (D1) Troopers to Far East |
| 593.010 | (D3) "A Medical Officer in Hong Kong" by Brig. J.N.B. Crawford |
| 593.013 | (D5) Canadian Reinforcements (D7) Statement by Col. Doi (D14) Defence requirements Hong Kong (D20) Reports on Defence of Hong Kong (D21) Hong Kong Policy (D22) Situation Reports from Hong Kong, Dec. |
| 593.014 | (D2) Hong Kong Defence Scheme |
| 593,018 | (D1) Extracts from War Diary, East Brigade, RA
(D3) Diary of "C" Coy, Royal Rifles |
| 593,023 | (D1) Hong Kong, Intelligence Reports 1941 |
| 840.013 | (D1) Far East Defence 1921-39 (D2) Defence in Far East 1929-39 |
| 951.003 | (D23) Defence Policy, Hong Kong 1938 |
| 952.001 | (D1) History of Army section, Imperial Japanese GHQ |
| 982.011 | (D1) Account by Maj. Gen. Tanaka and Maj. Gen, Shoji (D2) Account by Lt. Gen. Ito Takeo |
| 982,013 | (D1) History of 38th Japanese Division in World War II (D4) Hong Kong Operations Japanese Side, Air Force (D93) War Cabinet Draft Narrative on Defence in Far East |
| 982.023 |
(D12) Draft Charge Sheet, Tanaka (D13) Draft Charge Sheet, Maj. Gen. Shoji |
| 982.045 | (D1) 38th Division Order of Battle of Dec. 1941 |
Public Archives of Canada
RG2
Orders in Council, PC8020, 1941 and PC4267, 1952 7C, Cabinet War Committee, reels C 4653A, C4654, C4875, and C4876
RG24 DND
Vol 2203, file HQ 54-27-70-14 AG-POW files
2266, file HQ 54-28-1192-1 Expenses for Hong Kong inquiry
2865, file HQ 58902 miscellaneous file on Hong Kong 5823, file S-20-6-20 Despatch of "C" Force.
13806, "C" Force Diary
15229, War Diary, Royal Rifles of Canada 15291, War Diary, Winnipeg Grenadiers
RG25
Department of External Affairs; files on relations with Japan, Canadians at Hong Kong, and on publications of reports on fighting at Hong Kong
RG33/120
Duff Royal Commission; Exhibits, etc.
MG26
J King Papers: subject files, mainly on Japan, and Strategy and Progress of the War, and diaries for the relevant period.
MG27, III
B11 Ralston Papers
D22 Hanson Papers
MG30
E157 Crerar Papers
E328 Diaries of Frank W. Ebdon
MG32
C3 Drew Papers
Great Britain Public Record Office.
W0106/
2364 1937 Report of Defences
2366 July 1938 Notes Maj. Gen. Grasett
2376 Jan 1939 New Policy, Notes for Col. Eady
2371 May 1939 Report of Defences Required
2375 1938-40 Telegrams between GOC Hong Kong and War Office
2401 and 2401A 8-25 Dec 1941 Operations at Hong Kong 2409 Policy re Hong Kong
2412 Sept 1941-Feb 1942 Hong Kong, Canadian Reinforcements
2424 1942 Telegrams, War Office and Overseas Authorities
2426 Report to Lt. Col. Lamb, Fortress Engineers 4872 Visits of Maj. Gen. Macready and Mr. Ralston to England
4900 Canadian Government Telegrams
5362 Dec 1941 Hong Kong, Canadian part in defence
Printed Sources
Butler, J.R.M., ed.
Grand Strategy. Vol.1 ("History of the Second World War, United Kingdom MilitarySeries") London, H.M.S.O., 1956.
Carew, Tim
The Fall of Hong Kong. [London], Anthony Blond, 1961. [referred to as Carew 1] Hostages to Fortune. London, Hamish Hamilton, 1971. [referred to as Carew 2]
Chan, Lau Kit-Ching
"The Hong Kong Question during the Pacific War (1941-45)" in the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, Oct. 1973, pp. 56-78.
Churchill, Winston Spencer
The Grand Alliance, New York, Bantam, 1962.
Ferguson, Ted
Desperate Siege: The Battle of Hong Kong, Toronto, Doubleday, 1980.
House of Commons Debates (Hansard) 10-11 Sept. 1945, 20 Feb, 1948, 6 June 1950, 22 June 1964, 3 Aug. 1964, 22 June 1967, 28 Oct, 1969.
House of Commons Sessional Papers
Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, May 1960, May 1961, Dec. 1963, May 1966, May 1972.
Lindsay, Oliver
The Lasting Honour. London, Hamish Hamilton, 1978.
Penny, A.G.
Royal Rifles of Canada, a Short History. 1962 (100th Anniversary Booklet).
Power, Charles Gavin
A Party Politician: The Memoirs of Chubby Power. Toronto, Macmillan, 1966.
Proulx, Benjamin A.
Underground from Hong Kong. New York, Dutton, 1943.
Richardson, H.J. Canadian Pension Commission Report of a Study of Disabilities and Problems of Hong Kong Veterans 1964-1965.
Stacey, Charles Perry Six Years of War. Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1955.
Vancouver Daily Province. 21 June 1948. Victoria Daily Times. 13 June 1964.