Hong Kong Volunteers Company - War Diary 1944

War Diary of The Hong Kong Volunteers - Appendix J.1

Foreword

Prior to the arrival of the Hong Kong Volunteers at Malthone a true diary of events had not been recorded.

The information of training and operational schemes during the early part of 1944 had to be taken from individual extracts. Names and dates may not be strictly accurate.

When Hong Kong fell many men who were with the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps escaped to Free China, and enlisted with the British Army Aid Group at KWEILIN. Here they were used as a Defence Company. Most of the men had had training in R.E. and Searchlights whilst in Hong Kong. This knowledge stood many of them in good stead at a later date.

From KWEILIN many found their way out of China into India either on foot or having been flown out.

War Diary of The Hong Kong Volunteers - Appendix J.2

On arrival in INDIA they reported at various centres and were later sent to DEOLALI. Here the men were re-organised and reformed as the CHINESE BRITISH UNIT about 5th February 1944.

Pte. HO Pak whilst on guard duties was murdered.

On the 14th February 1944 the CHINESE BRITISH UNIT became the HONG KONG VOLUNTEER COY under W.E. 15/BRIT/44 but was not published as such until a later date.

War Diary of The Hong Kong Volunteers - Appendix J.3

During the month of February 1944 the Company was split up and joined various Units of SPECIAL FORCE for which they were best suited.

On 14th March a message was received by HQ. SPECIAL FORCE from 77 Bde Adv. HQ. that 121 members of the HONG KONG VOLUNTEERS were split up as follows –

War Diary of The Hong Kong Volunteers - Appendix J.3 Continued

Stronghold R.E. Unit

Intelligence Section 4/9 G.R.

Intelligence Section DAH FORCE

Base Party Reinforcements

Still at DEOLALI

War Diary of The Hong Kong Volunteers - Appendix J.4

By 9th March all personnel had been attached to Units which arrived at BROADWAY. Those attached to the Bde Defence Platoon started operations the next day when Sgt. MACKLEN, 4 British R.Es., 2 Burma Rifles and 45 Hong Kong Volunteers headed by Sgt. Leung Kwan left BROADWAY to blow up a railway bridge at NASINHAUNG about 6 miles away.

This was successful and the party returned to the Block at 1815 hours. That evening the Japs who apparently knew of our presence put in an attack against the Block. This battle lasted for over 24 hours. It was eventually beaten off with heavy casualties to the enemy. Pte. Lo Ping Luen was killed during this action and was buried the following morning whilst the enemy were still mortaring our positions. Ptes. ROCHA E., and LEE Sheung Chi were evacuated by plane with malaria.

Another party left the Block on the 11th, including Sgt. MACKLEN, LEUNG Kwan, Ptes LAM Lee, WONG Yan, LUK Chi Keung, WONG Shing together with a Platoon of the L.Fs. went to the same area around NASINHAUNG to lay booby traps. Sgt. LOPEZ-LAM Y.K. with 2 sections of HK. Vs. laid an ambush on a neighbouring road.

When Sgt. MACKLEN’s party were returning a party of the enemy fired on them from the rear, but the 3/6 GURKHAS who were protecting them drove the enemy away and Sgt. MACKLEN’s men were able to return safely. The 3/6 G.R. could not return till the following morning.

On the 28th, all HK. V. personnel who were with the Stronghold Platoon were flown out to India. Attacks were put in against the Block every night with heavy casualties to the enemy.

On the 25th March, 4 Columns moved out to attack MOYIN but news was received that the Block was itself again being attacked, this time by a regiment of the enemy so the force moved back to the Block. The enemy attempted to ambush the returning forces but after a short battle the enemy dispersed. Men of the HK. Vs. in the Block were photographed by a representative of "LIFE" Magazine.

On the 29th, the G.R.s. moved out to lay an ambush on the BHAMO-NAMKHAM Road and at 1400 hours the following day a truck was fired at resulting in the killing of 1 and one live prisoner was taken. He was interrogated by Sgt. CHAK Chun Kwan who managed to find out his name and regiment.

When the Block was eventually vacated the HK. Vs. went with 77 Bde in their move northwards to assist the Chinese and American Forces under General Stillwell in their attack against MYITCHINA. Our routes was via MOGAUNG and the monsoon having broken made marching extremely hazardous. A few miles from MOGAUNG south of it, we were ambushed by the enemy estimated to be a hundred strong. Pte. LAM Lee was wounded in this action. The ambush was successfully counter attacked and we proceeded to move up for the attack on MOGAUNG.

On the tenth day of the battle for MOGAUNG we were in a hospital captured from the enemy. Two days later, Sgt. LEUNG Kwan Pte. LEE Nim with 4 Burma Rifles under a British Officer were sent out to contact the Chinese Forces who were 13 miles North of MOGUANG. We crossed the Moguang River by rubber boat and spent 5 days on the recce and brought back many Chinese soldiers of the 38th Division.

The following men of the Company were attached to the three Battalions as Interpreters:-

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE Regt.

Ptes. NG C.W., YEUNG K.N., FOK Ming, TSANG Kwan Wing, YAU Yuen.

LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS Regt.

Ptes. LAI Kwai Kwan, WONG Fat Choy, LAU Fook.

G.R.

Ptes. AU Y.F., LO San, HO W., CHAN N.

After MOGAUNG had fallen to us, we continued our march north towards KAMAING and we were flown out from WALAZUP on the 19th of JULY 1944 and landed at TINSUKIA in Assam.