British Hong Kong Garrison facts for kids

The Hong Kong Garrison was a group of soldiers from Britain and other Commonwealth countries. Their job was to protect Hong Kong. In December 1941, during the Second World War, the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong. After some tough fighting, the garrison had to surrender. This group of soldiers continued to protect Hong Kong until 1989.

The Garrison in 1941

This section talks about the Hong Kong Garrison that fought in December 1941.

Who Was in Charge?

The main commander of the Hong Kong Garrison was Major General Christopher Maltby. He was in charge of all the soldiers defending Hong Kong.

Fighting Units

The garrison was made up of different groups of soldiers. These included:

• Kowloon Brigade: This group was led by Brigadier Cedric Wallis. It included soldiers from the Royal Scots, Rajput Regiment, and Punjab Regiment.
• Hong Kong Brigade: Brigadier John K. Lawson led this group. It had soldiers from the Middlesex Regiment, Winnipeg Grenadiers, and Royal Rifles of Canada.
• Fortress Units: These were special units that helped defend the forts and important places. They included engineers, artillery (soldiers who use big guns), and local volunteers from the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.

What Happened Next?

After Hong Kong fell to the Japanese forces, many British soldiers were captured. Some sadly died during the battle. A few managed to escape or were later set free. These soldiers regrouped in China. Groups like the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment and the British Army Aid Group helped keep the spirit of the garrison alive. They also helped the British military return to Hong Kong after it was freed from Japanese control.

The Garrison in 1989

The British forces in Hong Kong were still called the "Hong Kong Garrison" in 1989. They had a different structure by then.

British Army Units

The army part of the garrison included:

• Infantry units like the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment.
• Special Gurkha infantry units, such as the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles. Gurkhas are brave soldiers from Nepal who serve in the British Army.
• The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers), which was a local army reserve unit.
• Helicopter units from the Army Air Corps.
• Support teams like the Royal Military Police and dog handlers.

Gurkha Infantry Brigade

There was also a special brigade made up mostly of Gurkha soldiers. This was the 48th (Gurkha) Infantry Brigade. It included:

• Different Gurkha rifle regiments.
• Gurkha signal squadrons (for communications).
• Gurkha engineer squadrons (for building and repairs).
• Gurkha transport squadrons (for moving supplies).

Royal Navy and Royal Marines

The navy part of the garrison protected Hong Kong's waters. It included:

• Small warships called Peacock-class corvettes, like HMS Peacock and HMS Plover.
• The Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which was a local navy reserve.
• A small group of Royal Marines, who are highly trained soldiers.

Royal Air Force Units

The air force part of the garrison had:

• No. 28 Squadron RAF, which was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.