Battle of Hong Kong
 

72 years ago today, fierce fighting raged between the British forces in Hong Kong and the invading Japanese.

My grandfather was one of many involved in this battle and spent 3.5 years as an internee there.

These are the badges of some of the British units that fought in that battle.

Top Row: Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (the Volunteers), The Royal Rifles of Canada , The Winnipeg Grenadiers.

Middle Row: Middlesex Regiment, 14th Punjab Regiment, 7th Rajput Regiment

Bottom Row: Royal Scots

Battle for Hong Kong
 

You could also include the cap badge of the Hong Kong Police who,as you are aware,were attested as Militia and took up arms against the Japanese.

Thank you for that post Mick, and to you 1314 for adding the Hong Kong Police, in which, at a later date served a cousin of mine who was more like a brother,

Regards,
John

I lived in Hong Kong for 11 years, and can tell you, a tour of the trench system on the Island is 100% fascinating. Such an amazing David and Goliath story. So many of the trenches and bunkers are still there, albeit a bit overgrown now, but thoroughly worth getting a tour if you're ever there.

Cheers, Tim

PS, Jason Wordie runs tours of the sites, and is the best guy to take a tour with; he co-wrote a book on the battles, and knows it all.

Very true but HK Police KC badges are hard to find.

I have one already (my grandfather was in the HK Police at the time) but it's in another frame with his medals. He spent time doing ARP duties and was wounded by Japanese artillery fire (I think outside the Gloucester Hotel). I even stood in the same spot he stood when he was wounded.

He was lucky that they were de-Militiaized before the surrender so he ended up in Stanley Camp rather than a military POW camp such as Sham Shu Po.

Mick