FALL OF HONG KONG

In tandem with its assaults against the US, Imperial Japan also attacked British colonial possessions in Southeast Asia in December 1941. The Battle of Hong Kong began just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, with the Japanese 38th Division advancing against the Allied garrison positioned on both the mainland and island portions of the Hong Kong defences. The Allied defenders included men of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, who became the first Canadians to engage in combat during WWII when they fought back against the Japanese attack on 11 December. Hong Kong finally surrendered on Christmas Day.