British Hong Kong Garrison Explained

The Hong Kong Garrison was a British and Commonwealth force that protected Hong Kong. In December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong in the Second World War, the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong and after a brief but violent series of engagements the garrison surrendered. The garrison continued until 1989.

1941 Garrison

This is the garrison of Hong Kong that surrendered in December 1941.^[1]

Command

• Commander Hong Kong Garrison - Maj.Gen. Christopher Maltby^[2]

Kowloon Brigade

• • C.O. - Brig. Cedric Wallis
• 2nd Bn, Royal Scots - Lt.Col. Simon E.H.E. White
• 5/7th Bn, Rajput Regiment - Lt.Col. J.C. Cadogan-Rawlinson
• 2/14th Bn, Punjab Regiment - Lt.Col. Gerald Ralph Kidd

Hong Kong Brigade

• • C.O. - Brig. John K. Lawson
• 1st Bn, The Middlesex Regiment (MG Battalion) - Lt.Col. Henry William Stewart
• Winnipeg Grenadiers - Lt.Col. John Louis R. Sutcliff
• Royal Rifles of Canada - Lt.Col. William James Horne

Several members of the 1st Bn were linked to the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment.

Fortress units

• H.Q. Fortress, Royal Engineers - Lt.Col. R.G.Lamb
• Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps - Col. H.Rose
• C.O. Royal Artillery - Col. E.H.M.Clifford
  • 8th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lt.Col. Selby Shaw
  • 12th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lt.Col. Richard J.L.Penfold
  • 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lt.Col. Frederick Denton Field
  • 1st (Hong Kong) Regt. Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery - Lt.Col.John Corbet Yale

Aftermath

Following the Fall of Hong Kong to Japanese forces, most British personnel were captured, others died in the battle. For those able to escape (or later released) from Hong Kong, some managed to re-group in China. The Hong Kong Chinese Regiment and the British Army Aid Group kept the remaining elements of the Garrison alive and help it re-establish the British military after the Liberation of Hong Kong.

Structure in 1989

The British forces stationed in Hong Kong were called the "Hong Kong Garrison", which had the following structure:^[3]

• British Army units
  • Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire) – Light role infantry unit.
  • 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles – Light role Gurkha infantry unit.^[4]
  • Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) – light role army reserve unit.
  • 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps.
  • 50th Command Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
  • Hong Kong Provost Company & Hong Kong Dog Company, Royal Military Police.
  • 415th Maritime Troop, Royal Corps of Transport.
  • Defence Animal Support Unit, Royal Army Veterinary Corps
• 48th (Gurkha) Infantry Brigade
  • 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)
  • 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles
  • 247th Gurkha Signal Squadron, Royal Signals.
  • 67th Gurkha Field Squadron, The Queens Gurkha Engineers.
  • 68th Gurkha Field Squadron, The Queens Gurkha Engineers.
  • 70th Support Squadron, The Queens Gurkha Engineers.
  • 28th Gurkha Transport Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport.
  • 29th Transport Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport.
  • 31st Gurkha Transport Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport.
• Royal Navy Forces / Royal Marines
  • Peacock-class corvette
    • HMS Peacock
    • HMS Plover
    • HMS Starling
    • HMS Swallow
    • HMS Swift
  • Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
  • One troop of the 40 Commando, Royal Marines.
• Royal Air Force Units
  • No. 28 Squadron RAF, Royal Air Force.

References

Bibliography

• Book: Wong . Richard Y.C.. Cheng. Joseph Y.S.. The Other Hong Kong Report . 1990 . The Chinese University Press . Hong Kong . 978-9622014947.

Notes and References

1. Web site: China Command, Far East Command, 8.12.1941 .
2. Web site: Major General C. M. Maltby. britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. 7 February 2024.
3. Web site: British Orders of Battle & TO&Es 1980-1989 v4.5. R Mark Davies . ireandfury.com. 7 February 2024.
4. Web site: History of the Regiment 1967 – 1977 .