Hong Kong 1941–45

First strike in the Pacific War

Hong Kong 1941–45 cover

Description

The invasion and conquest of Hong Kong formed part of the staggering series of Japanese conquests across the Far East in late 1941 and early 1942.

On 8th December 1941, as part of the simultaneous combined attack against Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) invaded the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia and the British colony of Hong Kong. After only 18 days of battle the defenders, a weak, undermanned brigade, were overwhelmed by a superior force of two battle-hardened IJA divisions.

What defines the battle of Hong Kong was not the scale - just 14,000 defended the colony - but the intensity of this battle, fought not only by the British Army, Navy and Air Force but also Canadians, Hong Kong's own defence force, the Indian Army and many civilians.

The campaign itself is characterized by a fierce land battle, with long artillery duals and as well as fast naval actions with intense actions at the Gin Drinkers Line as well as the battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap where a handful of defenders took on an entire Japanese regiment.

Less known but equally important are individual acts valour such as CSM John Robert Osborne winning a posthumous VC, throwing himself over a Japanese grenade to save fellow combatants.

Table of Contents

Origins of the campaign
Chronology

Opposing commanders
Opposing armies
Orders of battle
Opposing plans
The campaign

Aftermath
The battlefields today
Further reading
Index

Product details

Published Jun 20 2014
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781782002697
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 18 b/w
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 263
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Benjamin Lai

Benjamin Lai was born in Hong Kong, educated in th…

Illustrator

Giuseppe Rava

Giuseppe Rava was born in Faenza in 1963, and took…

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