Search
Search
Search Results
4752 results returned
Taken Prisoner
Mr. Harrison describes the details of his forced march to Sham Shui Po camp.
Final Battle
Mr. Harrison describes raking the advancing Japanese with Bren gun fire and grenades, exacting a heavy toll on the enemy. This allowed the Canadians to safely retreat to the Aberdeen Reservoir. The following morning the island of Hong Kong is surrendered.
Escape from High Ground
Mr. Harrison is promoted to sergeant on the battlefield, and leads his men, under extreme pressure from the Japanese, to a secure location. After nightfall, he orchestrates an escape to the valley in an old sedan with four flat tires.
Evacuation to Hong Kong Island
Mr. Harrison is initially involved in a rearguard to protect the retreating British at Kowloon. The rapid Japanese advance forces the Canadians into a very disorderly evacuation to the island.
Overpaid Rickshaws
Mr. Harrison describes the Canadians' tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers in Kowloon. Soon there seem to be no drivers around. Mr. Harrison speculates that the rickshaws were parked in favor of visits to the local bars.
Nuttin' but Mutton
Mr. Harrison describes with some humor the endless diet of mutton aboard ship, and proceeds to discuss how the weather affected their escort vessels.
Is Your Porthole Closed?
Mr. Harrison describes being tasked with making sure all the portholes are secured shut, as the Awatea is beset by a storm. He accidentally enters a nurse's cabin just as she's emerging from the shower. His innocent question leads to a lot of laughter!
The Awatea Mutiny
Mr. Harrison describes helping to organize a protest against the cramped, unsanitary accommodations aboard the troop ship. The mutiny fails due to lack of support from the other troops.
Homecoming
Mr. Gerrard discusses being taken by the Americans to a hospital ship for medical treatment, then on to Guam for further medical assessment and treatment. He travels to San Francisco by boat and takes the train to Victoria, B.C. To his pleasure and surprise, his girlfriend (and future wife) is there to greet him.
Signs the War is Ending
Mr. Gerrard talks about how the men's spirits are buoyed by the arrival in camp of Canadian intelligence officers, who indicate the war is over. To celebrate, the men slaughter a cow found nearby and have their first real protein in almost four years. He describes the American food drop and donating the parachutes to the local Japanese who make clothing from them.
A Guard with Hot Foot
Mr. Gerrard describes an incident in the mines blacksmith shop where a Japanese guard stands too close to some molten steel rods and gets hot footed. Mr. Gerrard and his elderly Japanese foreman find the incident very amusing.
Hidden First Aid Supplies
Mr. Gerrard describes an American bombardment which injures several internees and the fact that there was nothing available with which to treat their wounds. After the camp is liberated, a horde of first aid supplies is found in a locked building.
- Date modified: