The Tai Wai Bunkers

One of my Facebook (FB)  friends, Kei Fu, posted a  message on the FB site "Battle of Hong Kong" showing a contour map with a location point labelled the "Tai Wai Bunkers." In his post, he was wondering how to get access to these bunkers which had become incorporated into a major building site. The development which will be a 15-storey residential apartment block will be called The Met.Acapella. The artist's impression shows a very attractive development close to the amenities of Tai Wai and surrounded by the hills and countryside. Another FB friend, Victor Li, helped to pinpoint the location with photographs and map extracts. Kwong Chi-man, a professor of history, advised on the FB site that he had been in contact with the Civil Engineering & Development Dept (CEDD) and Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) regarding the importance of protecting these WW2 bunkers. Chi-man posted a photograph which showed a very substantial bunker ("the long bunker"). I had not heard of these bunkers before, but immediately wondered given the size of the long bunker and the presence of four other splinter-proof shelters, and the proximity to Tai Po Road, whether this could be the site of the Advanced Battalion HQ of the 2nd Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment.  The battalion was commanded by Lt-Col Gerald Ralph Kidd who was killed in action during the fighting at Shouson Hill on the Island.
There were three possibilities as to who may have occupied these surviving WW2 military structures:

1. Advanced Bn HQ 2/14 Punjab Regt.

2. 'D' Coy HQ 2/14 Punjab Regt

3. Battery HQ for the forward guns of the Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (HKSRA) which were positioned in Tai Wai locality.

Any of these three usages are possibilities, and the site could have been a combination of any two, or even all three.
On the declaration of a State of Emergency on Sunday 7 December 1941, six howitzers were deployed to forward locations in the vicinity of Tai Wai. These included two 3.7-inch and two 4.5-inch howitzers from 2nd Mountain Battery, and two 6-inch howitzers from 25th Medium Battery. The two 3.7-inch guns were transported by pack mules and were probably positioned furthest forward. The 4.5 and 6-inch guns needed to be towed by lorries and would, therefore, have been deployed close to the Tai Po Road. Other guns (3.7-inch howitzers) were deployed at Customs Pass, on the right flank of the Gin Drinkers Line (GDL), whilst others were positioned to the rear of the GDL at Main Filters, located at the southern end of Tai Po Road,  and the Polo Ground near Prince Edward Road. Nearby AOPs were manned at Sandal Wood, Crown Point, Golden Hill, Shing Mun Redoubt, Texaco Peninsula and Crown Point. Mainland Royal Artillery had their HQ in splinter-proof shelters adjacent to those occupied by Mainland (Kowloon) Infantry Brigade at the northern end of Waterloo Road. 

The map extract from the wartime map below shows the 5 1/2, 6 1/2 and 7 1/2 milestones (MS) along the Tai Po Road. It also shows the approximate position of the Tai Wai Bunkers which seem to be located very close to the 7 1/2 MS at a point where the railway starts to curve southwards to the Beacon Hill Tunnel.  

The Mainland Brigade war diary, the Royal Artillery war diaries, and the 2/14 Punjab war diary make no mention of the exact location of Battalion HQ, or 'D' Coy HQ or Forward Batteries RA HQ.  'D' Coy 2/14 Punjab Regt was occupying the left flank of the Punjab sector from Tai Po Road towards Shatin Pass. When the evacuation (of troops and guns) on the Mainland began on Thursday 11 December 1941, Captain David Mathers, commanding 'D' Coy, 2/14 Punjab Regt writes in the battalion war diary section pertaining to 'D' Coy that the company was was ordered to RV at the 5 1/2 MS. From the 5 1/2 MS, they took the catch water path which is marked in white on the map above. This might suggest that 'D' Coy HQ was located closer to the 5 1/2 MS.
At 1100 hours on 11 December, 'D' Coy's forward troops fired their Boys anti-tank rifles at two Japanese light tanks seen on Tai Po Road near the Shatin level-crossing which were probing the Punjab defences.

11 December 1215 hours:

"Last troops left forward positions. I met the CO at Advanced Battalion HQ and proceeded to 5 1/2 MS. On arrival found that 'D' Coy had been posted in position above the catchment. Spent next four hours walking along the catchment, up Railway Pass, round Beacon Hill locating Coy positions."

11 December 1830 hours:
"Withdrew Coy along the catchment up Shatin Pass, down Jats Incline to Devil's Peak Pier."

We know that Rear Bn HQ commanded by Lt James Flynn was located at Whitfield Barracks in Kowloon.  The Advanced Bn HQ was on or close to Tai Po Road, but was it at the Tai Wai Bunkers which were close to the 7 1/2 MS or was there another set of bunkers at the 6 1/2 MS now demolished?  The reason for posing this question is that the Diary of Events for Rear Bn HQ written by Lt James Flynn refers to the 6 1/2 MS HQ

10 December 2400 hours:
"Reported to CO at 6 1/2 MS HQ".

This could be an error, and perhaps the 7 1/2 MS was meant, but this seems unlikely. We are then back to the possibility of there once having been more military structures at the 6 1/2 MS. The 6 1/2 MS must have been close to where Shatin Heights is now situated. At the 7 1/2 MS, there is a small park named after the milestone and in which there is a replica of the 7 1/2 MS. 

            

71/2 MS Rest Garden

Replica of MS

The building site for The Met.Acapella is a short distance from the replica MS. I wanted to see these shelters, but the problem arose as to how to get there. I would not be allowed to walk into the building site without permission and without supervision and health and safety requirements like a  hard-hat, but I thought I might be able to reach the bunkers from the hillside above. So I trekked up the road leading to the Po Leung Kuk hospital located at the end of a cul-de-sac and overlooking the building site. I explained to the security guard that I was hiking down the hill from outside the perimeter fence. I then proceeded to work my way around the outside of the permitter fence until I reached a pylon a little way down the slope. I passed under the pylon and made my way downhill and slightly to the right. The undergrowth was not too thick and the slope was not too steep and by holding onto the trees I was able to make my way down to building site.

Source: Po Leung Kok YC Cheng Centre web site

I emerged above the building site and to the rear of the site. The slope had been protected by slope work and a large steel wire netted fence had been erected to catch any rock-fall. 

My route from the hospital to the back of the building site 

I spent some time going along the lower slope expecting to find the bunkers but soon realised the only way to see them was to get into the building site. I entered the site at the rear and made my way past the swimming pool, which was under construction and followed the northern perimeter of the building site where I found the string of WW2 bunkers. 

Splinter-proof shelter

The same shelter looking west towards the rear of the site 

The long bunker looking east towards the entrance to the site 

Entrance portals at the long bunker 

The long bunker looking west towards the rear of the site

Entrance to one of the splinter-proof shelters

Standard design splinter-proof shelter at the site. 

Set of two splinter-proofs 

Since I was in a building site without permission - I took photographs hurriedly and walked out the main entrance of the site. Nobody questioned me and it was preferable to walk out the main entrance than retrace my path up the hill to the Po Leung Kuk hospital facility. After I posted my photos on FB Battle of Hong Kong site a number of other photos were posted showing the Tai Wai bunkers in better condition, and including some internal photos of the bunkers taken before the area became a building site. The long bunker had two or three portals but no apertures. The splinter-proof shelters had apertures that had been bricked up. 

Rob Weir, who specialises in Hong Kong's WW2 fixed defences,  informed me that the site was used at one time during the 1960s/1970s as a Riding School. Victor Li advised me that before and during the war the site was known as the Kai Kee Farm.

Damaged map showing four sets of splinter proofs and the long bunker (Courtesy: Victor Li)

The map extract above shows the former Shatin Riding School, and the set of four splinter proofs (labelled Bunker No. 2), and the long bunker (labelled Bunker No. 1). Sometime after I published the first edition of this blog I was contacted by Geoffrey Lam whose grandfather ran the Shatin Riding School in the period from the 1960s  until the 1990s. Geoffrey described it as an orchard and riding school. He sent me family snaps showing the swimming pool with the bunkers in the background and a black-white showing the whole site of the riding school adjacent to Tai Po Road.

The Shatin Riding School (courtesy of Geoffry Lam)

The illustration of the site below, looking south, is taken from the online marketing brochure for the development.

The Met.Acapella

The red line, marked on the photo above, shows the approximate line of bunkers. The major concern of history enthusiasts is that the bunkers, which are already overgrown and dilapidated, are likely to be further damaged due to the proximity of a major construction site. The only way to see the bunkers now is from the building site. When the building is completed there is concern about public accessibility. I suspect these bunkers will be very inaccessible and neglected in future. Colin Blackwell posted a copy of the Summary of the Land Grant which requires the developer not to damage the military structures.

   There is still a question mark as to who used these bunkers. Was it the site of the Forward Artillery, was it Advanced Bn HQ for 2/14 Punjab Rgt, or was it HQ for 'D' Coy 2/14th Punjab Regt, or a combination of the three. To many people, and perhaps to some of the future residents of the Met.Acapella, these are just unsightly ruins, but to an increasing number of people, these are seen as a precious link to our wartime history and the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941. They are historic buildings and they deserve to be better cared for.


Addendum:

Sometime after writing this post I heard about another military bunker on Tai Po road still extant but converted into a two-storey dwelling presumably by squatters. The location is at Luk Hop Village (see photo below) opposite the bus stop. When I visited there was nobody around, but there were some mean looking dogs that prevented me from taking a closer investigation. There is at least one WW2 type splinter-proof shelter evident but there may have been a cluster of two or more. If a single shelter - it could have been a Platoon HQ or Coy HQ for 2/14 Punjabs. If it is a cluster of two or more then possibly 'D' Coy HQ or battalion HQ.

A splinter-proof shelter with a storey added on top

The bus stop opposite the splinter-proof

Continuing along Tai Po Road towards Lai Chi Lok. I came across a simi-circular array of WW2 type splinter-proof structures. These were being used as (light) explosives storage by the HK Government.  The structures were fenced off and guarded and I was unable to get a close look. A notice board showed that the facility was operated by Mines Dept.

I posted the photos on FaceBook community for Battle of Hong Kong. Guy Bridges responded:

That is Kowloon Explosives Depot, operated by Mines Division of the CEDD. I believe it was a former military magazine dating back well before WWII. Currently used to store small quantities of pyrotechnics for the film industry, and emergency storage of confiscated explosives.

If these were constructed pre-war - could they have been the Bn HQ for 2/14 Punjabs? Clive Franks posted a message as below:

As well as eight storage bunkers, there is an administrative building. The complex was originally built by the British military in the mid 1930's for storage of a variety of explosives. It was handed over post WW2 for civilian use for storage of industrial explosives. More recently used for storage of professional fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Some others stated that the magazines were post-war. The wartime map shown below shows the first and second positions of Bn HQ 2/RS,  but more interestingly appears to show 2/14 Punjab Bn HQ at the 6 1/2 MS  at about the location of the bunkers at Luk Hop Village. It is a continuing mystery as to who occupied the Tai Wai Bunkers, the Luk Hop Village bunkers and the government magazines assuming that the latter was a pre-war construction.

West Flank - GDL  

6 1/2 Milestone 

I am inclined, for the time being, to think that the Tai Wai bunkers were RA Mainland Forward HQ and that the bunkers at Luk Hop Village were 2/14 Punjab  Bn HQ and that the Govt Magazines were post war structures and did not exist in 1941.

..........................

Acknowledgements:

Colin Blackwell
Kei Fu
Kwong, Chi Man
Geoffrey Lam
Victor Li