When I was doing research for my book, Beyond the Call, about the men of the Royal
Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) in Hong Kong and Japan, one aspect of the
battle that I was never able to find much information on was which of the
Signal Corps operators were assigned to East Brigade Headquarters, and what
were their experiences during the battle and eventual surrender. None of the
RCCS diaries or reports provided any of these details.
I am
particularly interested in finding out more because from what I can gather, my
uncle, Don Penny (K34027), was one of those who didn’t accompany Captain
Billings (RCCS CO) and fourteen others who left the Island Signal Pool at Casa
Bianca near Deep Water Bay on about December 14th for West Brigade Headquarters
at Wong Nei Chong Gap. Most of the remaining Signallers would have been
assigned to East Brigade Headquarters which was the area of defence for the
Royal Rifles and the Rajput regiment. Initially, Brigade HQ was located near
the Royal Rifles HQ at Tai Tam Gap, but on December 19th it was moved to the shelters at Stone Hill.
There, BHQ set up “in a house just below the fork in the road running south to
Stanley.” (Denison War Diary, RRC)
When my brother was in Hong Kong in April, 2017 he
went with a guide up to the original EBHQ location and took a number of
photographs. Two of those included here show the general location, and two show
a specific shelter that his guide thought could have been the Signals location.
Any suggestions as to sources I might investigate or
specific information about RCCS activity in the East Brigade sector would be
much appreciated. You can add a comment to the blog, or send me an email: beyondthecall@rogers.com
