Escape to Pagan Read Online Free PDF Page A

must have been a comfort and blessing to him that he was back among men he knew.”

    In the streets below, drunken Japanese troops celebrated their victories with looting and rape. Executions of Chinese civilians became commonplace. All these indulgences were collectively referred to as “the fruits of victory.” If Sergeant Devereux believed that his worst problems were over, he was greatly mistaken. The Lisbon Maru , the sharks of the South China Sea, the coal mines of Nagasaki and the atom bomb still awaited his presence.
    The Royal Scots suffered the highest losses of officers and men during the battle on mainland China defending the Gin Drinkers’ Line. General Maltby wanted them to hold out for seven days while the islands defences were improved. Yet months had been wasted.
    After the mainland fell so rapidly, the defenders of Hong Kong Island braced themselves for the coming attack. Confusion reigned, troops were scattered in penny packets; the most obvious crossing point was only lightly defended. The two commanding officers entered their deep bomb-proof bunkers and stayed put. They remained out of touch when the battle above began. On the 15th December before attacking Hong Kong, the Japanese began a heavy bombardment of the islands north shore. Demands for surrender were made on December 13th and December 17th. When these demands were refused, the Japanese successfully forced a crossing from the mainland, suffering few casualties.
    During that night the Japanese massacred 22 gunners who had surrendered. Soon after this there was another massacre of medical staff at an aid station. At the hospital, patients were bayoneted in their beds, doctors and surgeons shot out of hand and the nurses repeatedly raped.
    The poorly trained and equipped Canadians gave a good account of themselves, one of their numbers receiving a VC. The Japanese had cut the water supply after capturing the islands reservoirs. Hong Kong surrendered: shades of Singapore.
    Before the fall of Hong Kong, Tam and Willie (two of dads’ fellow NCOs and lifelong friends) had safely crossed the bay. The Royal Scots were now in a position above and not far from the harbour at North Point. Their view of the enemy landings and their lines of fire were blocked by high buildings, making it a simple task for the enemy to come ashore in small boats undetected. Very soon they were being attacked by Japanese infiltrators from the rear; while malarial mosquitoes harassed them from all directions (their position was a malarial hot spot). This was an ill prepared and poorly chosen defensive line; the orders being received were confused and often contradictory.
    With the danger of being surrounded and cut off, the two friends, along with other defenders, left their positions and headed in the direction of the town. Such was the commercial drive in the Crown Colony that Tam and Willie found a Chinese noodle bar still open; it would be their last decent meal for several years. They then came across a group of soldiers who had found a liquor store. Helping themselves to booze and cigarettes, they took refuge in some tall buildings and began sniping at the enemy below. Because of the amount of indiscriminate small arms fire, their actions went unnoticed. Many of the Japanese troops by now were also drunk.
    Tam and Willie took pleasure in emptying as many bottles as they could. Years later when visiting dad, they happily reminisced about all the types of expensive alcohol sampled, alcohol they had never tasted before; they found all to their liking with only one exception: Crème de Menthe.
    The orgy of violence over, the victorious soldiers began plundering the rich European homes. Their superiors concentrated on the many bank vaults and gold reserves therein. Amazingly, some of the bars were still open and customers were being served by drunken soldiers from different regiments. The battle was lost; drinks were on the house. Only the Japanese bars and