This is the first in a series of articles highlighting vintage Second World War books, with a special emphasis on personal memoirs published in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. All of the books are from my personal library and by no means represent the complete range of titles that were published.

The Pacific war, in my opinion, receives far less attention than the war in Europe. I find it of particular interest and so to begin I’m focusing on books from this theatre of War. Up first is Part 1 of a 2-part article covering covering the fall of Hong Kong and the memoirs of those who escaped after being imprisoned by the Japanese Imperial Army.

I’m featuring five books in this article, the first three which I’ve read and enjoyed very much. The last two are on my To Be Read list and the description provided is from the publisher. In Part 2 I will feature three more books as well links to two websites that provide further reading suggestions and research opportunities. If you’d like to recommend other books, or provide your thoughts on the books listed below, please let me know in the comments.

The Fall of Hong Kong

Bombs began falling on Hong Kong within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbour. The British colony was not prepared to defend its precarious position and the small RAF presence was largely destroyed in the opening hours of the attack. By the evening of December 9 any British naval ships that could escape the Japanese blockade had done so.

The job of defending Hong Kong was left to the ground forces, estimated to number between 11 and 14 thousand men, including nearly 2,000 Canadians. The latter comprised ‘C’ Force, the majority of whom were from The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. The ground forces held out until Christmas Day but not before suffering more than 5,000 casualties (killed, missing and wounded). Over 10,000 were taken prisoner. The harrowing experiences of those imprisoned by the Japanese in Hong Kong are well documented, both in book form and online.

HongKong Escape by R.B. Goodwin
First published in 1953 by Arthur Baker
Reprinted by Dragon Books in 1956
Reprinted by Frontline books in 2016 under the title “Escape from the Japanese”

This is a highly detailed memoir of the imprisonment and escape of Lieutenant-Commander R.B. Goodwin of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. He spent three years as a POW before making his escape in August 1944 through the occupied New Territories to China and eventually to India via Kunming.

Escape Through China by David Bosanquet
First published in 1983 by Robert Hale
McClelland & Steward 1985 (paperback)
Cover illustration by Wes Lowe

This is the story of David Bosanquet, a British civilian who arrived in Hong Kong in 1938 and served as a Sergeant in the 5^th AA Battery, Volunteer Defence Force. The book details his experience during the Battle of Hong Kong, his eventual capture, imprisonment, escape and the harrowing journey by he and three others as they cross China to safety.

Underground from Hongkong by Benjamin A. Proulx
E.P. Dutton & Company, 1943
214 pages, Hardcover w/dj
More about Benjamin A. Proulx on Gwulo website: https://gwulo.com/node/16171

Benjamin Proulx was a Canadian-born stock broker who had lived in Hong Kong for twenty years prior to the occupation. He joined the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the outbreak of war and his account of the siege at the Repulse Bay Hotel is riveting stuff. When captured he spent time at Shamshuipo and North Point before making his escape to the Chinese mainland alongside two Dutch submariners.

Note: when the book was published in 1943 Hong Kong was still in Japanese hands and the fate of his wife and children were unknown. Proulx had written a second manuscript covering his escape across mainland China however it was lost in an airplane crash during the war and never saw the light of day. A highly recommended read if you can find a copy.

Escape from the Bloodied Sun by Captain Freddie Guest
First published in 1956 by Jarrolds Publishers
Reprinted by Four Square Books in 1958

“One of the most incredible stories of the last war is the escape from Hong Kong of Captain Freddie Guest and a one-legged Chinese Admiral – Sir Andrew Chan Chak, knighted by King George VI for his work in the defence of Hong Kong – and twelve others that culminated in a tramp of over 1200 miles to Chungking.”

To Freedom Through China: Escaping from Japanese-occupied Hong Kong 1942” by Anthony Hewitt
First published in 1986 by Jonathan Cape as “Bridge with Three Men”
Reprinted by Pen & Sword Military in 2004

“This is the thrilling story of how the author with two colleagues broke out of their POW camp in Hong Kong and made their way through Japanese lines into the vast expanse of China. Capture meant almost certain torture and lingering slow death. Their adventures make for spellbinding suspense. Once through Japanese lines their troubles were by no means over as a state of lawlessness prevailed in China and brigands and cutthroats stood between the three men and freedom. Yet they also met with their share of hospitality and generosity by those prepared to risk everything to help them on their epic journey.”