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The Volunteers were an integral part of the story of Hong Kong. The ‘civilian’ soldiers first made an appearance in 1854 when war between Britain and Russia led to fears of an invasion of Britain’s key foothold on the shores of China. Although that scare passed away without incident, a tradition had been founded which was to see thousands of men and women serve the territory, of which they were resident, over nearly 150 years. In 1941 the Volunteers fought with distinction shoulder to shoulder with the regular forces in the bloody battle for Hong Kong and, although vastly outnumbered and without air cover, they held the invading Japanese for 18 long days until final surrender on 25 December 1941. Reformed after the war the Volunteers carried on the proud tradition. Second to None is the first (and only) detailed account of Hong Kong’s Volunteers, from the early beginnings in 1854 up to the early 1990’s. |
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Serving Hong Kong – The Hong Kong Volunteers Serving Hong Kong – The Hong Kong Volunteers was published in May 2004 at the time of the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Volunteers. The story of the Volunteers until the early post-war years has been admirably told in Second to None. Serving Hong Kong – The Hong Kong Volunteers brings that history up to date mainly in a series of individual memoirs of volunteers who had served in the Regiment after 1945, and ends with a moving account of the disbandment of the Regiment in September 1995, a measure coupled with the transfer of administration of Hong Kong from Britain to China. The authors are clearly devoted to the Regiment and their spirit and enthusiasm shine through the pages of the book. Each had a substantial contribution to make and their pride in being part of its history is there to see. Indeed it is these personal accounts which brings the book to life in a most interesting and moving way. The disbandment of the Regiment in 1995 marked the end of a chapter; it could have marked the end of the volunteer spirit which was the very heart of the Regiment. But it did not. That spirit lives on in activities of the young people of the Hong Kong Adventure Corps, which grew out of the Regiment’s “J” Corps, and in the Volunteer Association as is told in the final chapters of the book. |
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The book was republished in 2004 and, while retaining the main text unaltered, it included, for the first time, a nominal roll of those in the Defence Corps in December 1941. This edition, the first to appear with this title, again retains the original text unaltered and also includes a list of those members of the Corps who received awards and honours in the Battle for Hong Kong or for their subsequent actions. Additional information has been included in the nominal roll of members of the Corps which now forms a more comprehensive record of both those who perished and those who survived. |
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The Arthur May Story (Hong Kong 1941-1945) Arthur May is best remembered for his daring feat of hoisting the Union Jack on Hong Kong's Peak on 18th August 1945, three days after the Japanese surrender. A few days later he sailed to Macao in a sampan to seek approval from the British Government for Franklin Gimson, the senior British subject then in Hong Kong, to take over the administration of Hong Kong from the occupying Japanese forces. How had Arthur remained out of internment for the majority of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and what did he do during this time? Was the hoisting of the instrumental in reclaiming Hong Kong for the British? Was his trip to Macao necessary? While out of internment Arthur befriended some of the Indian soldiers, who had been coerced to become guards for the occupying Japanese forces in return for better conditions for themselves. This liaison continued and expanded into a spy network after Arthur's internment. It later assisted in preventing looting and disorder as British authority was re-established following the Japanese surrender. Arthur died in early 2000 at the age of 92. During his latter years he talked and made notes on what he had done during the Japanese occupation. This is Arthur's story based on contemporary record, his memory and his notes. |
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