THE STORY OF THE PILL-BOXES.
Unknown author. "The Volunteer", Vol I, 1950.
The two pill-boxes on the south-west slope of Jardine’s Look-Out were held by Lieut. B.C. Field, with 18 OR’s of No.9 Platoon. Lieut. Field himself was in PB 1, with L/Cpl K.C. Hung’s section; L/Sgt G.J. White with L/Cpl N. Broadbridge’s section was in PB 2. The rest of the platoon, under L/Cpl G.J. Roylance, was posted on Blue Pool Road, protecting the shelters where HQ West Brigade was located.
Soon after dawn the pill-box garrison was augmented by Cpl. Rix and two men from Macarthy’s platoon of Winnipeg Grenadiers. These had been cut off from the rest of the platoon and made their way to PB 2.
The enemy apparently believed that the pill-boxes could only fire northwards, and that it would therefore be possible to by-pass them safely. They made no attempt to rush them under cover of darkness, and this was a mistake which cost them dearly next day.
It was just at quarter-light that the Japanese advance-party on Sir Cecil’s Ride ‘bumped’ Cpl Ma’s section unexpectedly, with the result that the leading enemy platoon was almost entirely ‘written-off’. This caused the main body to halt, and there was a certain amount of confusion and shouting. There was just sufficient light for Field to observe this enemy concentration in his rear and he at once opened fire, and ‘the Nips caught a packet’. Massed on the Ride, they were unable to deploy or take cover rapidly. Throughout the remainder of the day the Japanese never attempted to make use of the Ride.
Having effectively broken the first attack, PB 1 continued to harass any parties of the enemy which came within sight. The Japanese were not slow to retaliate and heavy mortar fire was directed on the pill-box. One machine-gun was wrecked and Lieut. Field, who was operating it, received multiple wounds in the face and mouth and was rendered unconscious for some ten minutes.
The men, however, continued to hit back at the enemy, and Lieut. Field, on recovering, directed fire with the remaining guns on to parties of the enemy who were moving towards Stanley Gap. At about 0700 hours a company of Japanese rushed Wong Nei Chong Gap, driving back Cpl. Lau’s section there, though Lau with three of his men continued to hold the Gap itself for some time. Field opened fire on the Japanese while massed on the Gap, and again inflicted heavy casualties on the close-packed crowd. Later PB 1 gave invaluable assistance to the defenders of Stanley Gap by shooting up any parties of the enemy who tried to advance along the ridge. Stanley Gap, indeed, might have held out much longer than it did, but for the arrival of a battalion from the 228th, sent forward by Colonel Doi, which attacked Stanley Gap from the east side. By 0800 hours the Gap was in the hands of the Japanese, though a party under CQMS E.C. Fincher held the store shelter until the Japanese brought up a mortar at about 1500 hours and blew down the door, and another party of half a dozen held the HQ shelter until the night of the 22nd.
The pill-boxes were by this time completely isolated and it became merely a question of holding out as long as possible and inflicting as much damage as possible before being overrun. Colonel Shoji used a large part of his force and all available mortars in the attempt to wipe out resistance.
Lieut. Field was again wounded, his left arm being disabled, and in PB 1 the casualties were heavy, seven out of eight were hit, but the fire never slackened. L/Cpl Hung, though wounded, carried on pluckily throughout the day, as did Pte. G. White, who kept up rapid and accurate fire through his loop-hole and was the most exposed to enemy snipers, and three men had been hit in quick succession there. Later he was wounded and the gun was wrecked, but he carried on with a rifle.
All attempts to get within ‘rushing distance’ of the pill-boxes were frustrated. The Japanese twice tried to advance along the catch water, which runs between the two pill-boxes. The first was stopped by Field who went out and lobbed grenades into the water; the second by L/Cpl. N. Broadbridge with Ptes. Jitts and Leonard from PB 2.
About this time PB 1 was a complete wreck, with all guns put out of action; PB 2 was also beginning to disintegrate under sustained mortar fire. Field then moved the remaining men into the open and continued the defence with rifle and LMG fire; in the course of which he received a third wound, being shot through the neck.
At about 1330 hours the men of Birkett’s platoon of Canadians, who had throughout the morning made a most gallant defence on the summit of Jardine’s Look-Out against an entire battalion of Shoji’s Rentai at last gave way. Birkett was killed, and more than half the men were down. Five survivors made their way down the hill in a dazed condition. Field went out from his position, contacted the party and brought them safely to the pill-boxes.
This served to strengthen the defending force, but by 1500 hours the enemy gave up attempting infantry attacks, merely intensifying the mortar fire. Field then decided that he could hold the position with a few men only and ordered Cpl. Broadbridge with a dozen men, including five walking wounded, to withdraw towards Happy Valley, if possible.
This party managed to get through with the loss of one man. The handful that remained continued to resist, and though surrounded by overwhelming numbers, kept the enemy at a distance. At about 1800 hours a Japanese officer came in with a flag of truce proposing terms, which were refused.
Lieut. Field, who had received a fourth wound, collapsed shortly afterwards from loss of blood; Cpl. Rix was wounded and disabled; Cpl. Hung was again wounded, mortally. Of the small party only L/Sgt. White was unwounded, and soon after 1800 hours the enemy overran the position.
It is something to be said for the Japanese that they respected these men who had for twelve hours held their position against all attacks, and inflicted very heavy losses. In their usual callous manner they left the seriously wounded men to die of thirst and gangrene, but they spared the lives of the others, and Lieut. Field, L/Sgt. White, Cpl. Rix and two other ranks lived to reach the prison camp.
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