tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8379962256741902605.post7163119630825340173..comments2024-03-29T00:43:01.355-07:00Comments on Military History: No. 4 Battery at Pak Sha Wan in December 1941Philip Cracknellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742419743648086989noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8379962256741902605.post-87678929888496101772019-06-11T01:25:55.031-07:002019-06-11T01:25:55.031-07:00Thanks - Philip.Thanks - Philip.Philip Cracknellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03742419743648086989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8379962256741902605.post-26870134774891334662019-06-10T19:27:55.976-07:002019-06-10T19:27:55.976-07:00Excellent account that throws some "light&quo...Excellent account that throws some "light" on searches of what happened. I have met Maximo years ago. Quite a strong personality. Knew he was at the battery but didn't press for any stories.navig_09https://www.blogger.com/profile/11324009434543946314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8379962256741902605.post-30941534140305081262019-06-09T22:36:19.913-07:002019-06-09T22:36:19.913-07:00Thank you for your message. I don't know wheth...Thank you for your message. I don't know whether there was poor construction or not. I did not hear of that during research. The emplacements all looked pretty solid and consistent with other coastal defence batteries at the time I visited a couple of years ago. The BCP took a direct hit and you can still see the substantial damage. I believe that some of the battery personnel including Captain Barnett held on until surrendering on 20 December but in fairness I believe this was because they were by-passed (rather than holding out) and this because the 2nd Bn 229th had their objectives - i.e. Sai Wan Hill, Lye Mun Barracks and then Boa Vista/Tai Tam Gap and by Friday 19th evening to RV with 3rd Bn 229th at Stanley Gap. Maybe that's why they did not stop to flush out defenders in the battery area. I have not heard of survivors being killed after capture. The bodies may have been from the searchlight emplacement on the cliffs. The Japanese patrol who entered the battery overan No 1 emplacement but only because it was in the way of getting to the searchlight which they had orders to destroy. Hope that helps. Its very difficult getting a clear picture of what happened there. PhilipPhilip Cracknellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03742419743648086989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8379962256741902605.post-39389194399088363732019-06-09T22:16:56.864-07:002019-06-09T22:16:56.864-07:00Philip - Thank you. A well researched piece. Two q...Philip - Thank you. A well researched piece. Two questions: In the late 1980s the last British Commander at the Barracks organised for a group of prisoners from Stanley to clear the vegetation around the PSW battery. Japanese ammunition clips were found quite close to the BOP. In an oral recount of the battle the officer mentioned three items that I would like to confirm: 1) That elements of PSW were a poorly constructed. Evidence being the lack of steel reinforcement in the BOP and nearby structures, 2) That some men within the battery (Chinese/Portuguese members of the VDC in his account) held out until after the surrender 3) That the hold-outs were executed and the bodies thrown off the cliff. These were discovered during the land reclamation of Heng Fa Cheng in 1978. Anything in your research to confirm this?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795290827686400689noreply@blogger.com