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Kai Tak Airport

Kai Tak Airport

Mr. Harrison describes sabotaging the concrete mixture used on the runway extension.

Rations

Rations

Mr. Harrison describes the fact that cooking rice was a skill the Canadians took a while to master, with serious gastrointestinal consequences. Other than rice, watery green tea and a bit of bread were all they had to eat.

Taken Prisoner

Taken Prisoner

Mr. Harrison describes the details of his forced march to Sham Shui Po camp.

Final Battle

Final Battle

Mr. Harrison describes raking the advancing Japanese with Bren gun fire and grenades, exacting a heavy toll on the enemy. This allowed the Canadians to safely retreat to the Aberdeen Reservoir. The following morning the island of Hong Kong is surrendered.

Escape from High Ground

Escape from High Ground

Mr. Harrison is promoted to sergeant on the battlefield, and leads his men, under extreme pressure from the Japanese, to a secure location. After nightfall, he orchestrates an escape to the valley in an old sedan with four flat tires.

Evacuation to Hong Kong Island

Evacuation to Hong Kong Island

Mr. Harrison is initially involved in a rearguard to protect the retreating British at Kowloon. The rapid Japanese advance forces the Canadians into a very disorderly evacuation to the island.

The Universal Consequences of an Escape

The Universal Consequences of an Escape

Mr. Gerrard discusses the retribution faced by all the inmates, including those on stretchers, after an escape from North Point. The POWs are forced to endure a long night outdoors in a cold rain.

The Effects of Disease were Cumulative.

The Effects of Disease were Cumulative.

Mr. Gerrard describes suffering from diphtheria and witnessing several deaths on his ward as a result of it. He also attributes the death of many of the prisoners to the cumulative effect of several diseases.

Mean Guards and the Kamloops Kid

Mean Guards and the Kamloops Kid

Mr. Gerrard generalizes about rough treatment by the guards and then singles out the Kamloops Kid as a brutal disciplinarian. He expresses a frustration shared by all the prisoners who witnessed his malicious behavior; being under threat of certain death if they tried to intervene.

Working at Kai Tak Airport

Working at Kai Tak Airport

Mr. Gerrard describes sabotaging the concrete used to extend the runway at Kai Tak airport, despite being under constant scrutiny by their guards.

We Never saw the Camp in Daylight

We Never saw the Camp in Daylight

Mr. Gerrard describes leaving North Point camp at daylight to go to work and not returning until after dark. He recalls having a day off and discovering for the first time that his bedding is infested with bed bugs.

Impression of Japanese Captors

Impression of Japanese Captors

Mr. Gerrard describes the rough look of the enemy, and how his Japanese captors are initially hesitant to approach the captured Canadians.

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