The Siege of Hong-Kong
In the battle of Hong-Kong there naturally arose
innumerable acts of individual heroism to which reference might be made. We know
what troop had a part in that fight and how many were killed fighting gallantly
to the last.
Among the survivors who arrive home in the autumn of 1945 were
Thomas Thompson and Alfred J. Elsliger.
As both boys were on board that first "Japanese Hell
Ship" sunk by the United States, their stories provided a wealth of human
interest.
The ship was struck while carrying a batch of prisoners from
Hong-Kong to Japan. When that torpedo hit the explosion was terrific. Most of
the prisoners were in the hold with the hatches on and they had no chance of
survival. The water was filled with the dead and dying but the survivors finally
reached Japan.
While in prison A.J. Elsliger wrote a descriptive poem of real
merit. It was penciled in a black note-book and from this book is a copy of that
poem. Nearing the close he writes:
"I am fairly optimistic and someday hope to be back in
a land of freedom at home as I used to be."
But fate decided otherwise. One month later after his arrival
home he was killed in a car accident October 25, 1945.
SIEGE OF HONG-KONG
Twas at Valcartier, Quebec, one cold October day
That we received our orders to pack up and start away
We marched down to the station in a cold and drizzling rain,
Then bade good-bye to friends nearby and stepped on board the train.
That journey to the west coast was a rather boresome trip
We arrived in Vancouver, then got on board a ship
We were going to see new country, everyone seemed gay
There we joined the Grenadiers and started on our way.
They just came from Jamaica, we from Newfoundland
We all told different stories, we were a jolly band.
Our destination was obscure, but little did we care,
As our ship, an old Newzealander, was taking us somewhere.
We knew not where we were going
What's more we did not care,
Were we went or what we did
As long as we got there.
We stopped in Honolulu, but didn't stay there long
our officers then told us we were going to Hong-Kong.
We landed in Manila next, another large seaport
Some thought the journey ended, but our sojourn there was short.
Next landing was at Port Kawloon across from old Hong-Kong
The streets were lined from end to end with cheering waving throng.
We marched to Nanking barracks next, about a mile away
And there received that welcome of the proverbial "flowers in May".
The place was like a festival with sport and food galore
At night the grounds were lighted from the lights along the shore.
What pleasant hours the boys spent there
In Canteen drinking beer
Both noon and night, day in, day out,
We'd find Tom Thompson here.
The barbers shaved us while we slept
And gave us haircuts too,
As Coolies kept the camp in shape
We had no work to do.
But happiest hours must have an end
Two weeks - it wasn't long
When we broke camp and crossed the straits
To fight at old Hong-Kong.
Just two short weeks of gaiety
For all of us and - well
Twas just a touch of paradise
Before we entered hell.
We fought a noble battle
But at such terrific cost
That even though the fight was brief,
A hot of lives were lost.
We next moved to Stony Hill
And stayed there overnight
From there we went to Repulse Bay
To join another fight
With Royal Rifles, Middlesex and Hong-Kong volunteers;
The Royal Scots, East Indian and Winnipeg Grenadiers.
We fought together valiantly, that time at Repulse Bay
But the Japs outnumbered us, and we were forced to move away.
We fought till we were famished with the hope that ground we'd keep
For hours on end the battle raged,
We fought on in our sleep.
We fought while death in its worst forms
Struck men who would not yield
But when Jap re-enforcements came
We had to leave the field.
Then finally the finis came
That fateful Christmas night
The stars, as over Bethlehem
Were shining clear and bright.
"Peace on Earth" cannot prevail
Wile bombs and shells abound,
And hundreds of our comrades brave
Lie dead upon the ground.
We knew we were outnumbered
By a thousand men to one
We felt our case was hopeless
Ere that fight had scarce begun.
So we handed in our rifles
And our ammunition too,
Buried our dead, then went to bed
(Twas all that we could do)
An now we're in a prison camp
And live on rice and rats,
It might be worse, if Japs were Chinks
We'd have to live on cats.
But I'm fairly optimistic
And some day hope to be
Back in the land of freedom
At home as I used to be.
There'll be Merrier Christmas greetings
Then we uttered this Yuletide last
We'll have happier Christmas meetings
When the evils of war are past.
We'll sing a merrier Christmas anthem
And cheerier New Year song
When we think of that Christmas battle
On the Island of Old Hong-Kong.
Alfred J. Elsliger
Jacquet River,
New Brunswick
