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The Awatea Mutiny
Mr. Harrison describes helping to organize a protest against the cramped, unsanitary accommodations aboard the troop ship. The mutiny fails due to lack of support from the other troops.
Is Your Porthole Closed?
Mr. Harrison describes being tasked with making sure all the portholes are secured shut, as the Awatea is beset by a storm. He accidentally enters a nurse's cabin just as she's emerging from the shower. His innocent question leads to a lot of laughter!
Nuttin' but Mutton
Mr. Harrison describes with some humor the endless diet of mutton aboard ship, and proceeds to discuss how the weather affected their escort vessels.
Overpaid Rickshaws
Mr. Harrison describes the Canadians' tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers in Kowloon. Soon there seem to be no drivers around. Mr. Harrison speculates that the rickshaws were parked in favor of visits to the local bars.
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.
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.
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.
Taken Prisoner
Mr. Harrison describes the details of his forced march to Sham Shui Po camp.
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.
Kai Tak Airport
Mr. Harrison describes sabotaging the concrete mixture used on the runway extension.
Sudden Blindness
Mr. Harrison is reading one night when he suddenly becomes totally blind.
Dr. Crawford and the Kamloops Kid
Mr. Harrison admires the dignity with which Dr. Crawford endured abuse at the hands of the Kamloops Kid, who would slap him around every time he requested medications for the ill.
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