Mortars deployed in the Battle for Hong Kong December 1941

The mortar is an infantry support weapon that could fire high explosive bombs or smoke bombs. They were used during the Battle for Hong Kong but had only just reached the garrison before battle commenced. They were in short in supply and likewise there was limited ammunition available for these weapons. The light 2-inch mortar provided infantry support at the platoon level and the heavier 3-inch mortar provided support at the company or battalion level. Major General C. M. Maltby, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) British Troops in China refered to the shortage of mortars and ammunition in his Report on Operations published in the London Gazette dated January 1948. 

"It was unfortunate that the equipment situation in other theatres of war had not permitted earlier dispatch of the garrison's infantry mortars and ammunition. For instance, the worst case, the 2/14 Punjab Regiment had had one 3-inch mortar demonstration, of a few rounds only, but ammunition in any appreciable quantity did not arrive until November 1941 and then only 70 rounds per battalion both for war and for practice. Hence these mortars were fired and registered for the first time in their battle positions and twelve hours later were in action against the enemy.

 The 2-inch mortar  situation was worse for there had been no receipt even of dummies, consequently the men had had no instruction in detonating. There had been no preliminary shooting and the 2-inch mortar ammunition was delivered actually in battle. 

For the 3-inch mortar there was neither pack mule nor carrying equipment for the men, consequently everything, including ammunition had to be manhandled".                       (Source: Report on Operations) 

WW2 - 3-inch mortar (Wikipedia)

                                                        WW2  2-inch mortar (Wikipedia)

The 2-inch mortar had an effective range of about 500 yards (473 metres). It was easily portable and with a weight of 10-11 pounds it could be carried with its ammunition by a single soldier. The HE (High Explosive) and smoke bombs each weighed around 2 pounds and were typically carried in a case of three projectiles. Other kit carried included the cleaning gear, oil and the tube brush. The 2-inch mortar had a greater range and was more effective as an explosive than the rifle-fired grenade which was also used in the Battle for Hong Kong. The 3-inch mortar had a range of around 1,600 yards (1,463 metres). It weighed a hefty 115 pounds. Each mortar bomb weighed 10 pounds. It was a heavy piece of equipment which in Hong Kong had on occasion to be man-handled into battle because of the shortage of mules and vehicles. The 3-inch mortar would normally be carried by Bren gun carriers or light trucks. There had been inadequate training because the mortars arrived shortly before battle commenced. 

The post will focus on where and when the mortars were deployed in the Battle. We can learn more about their deployment from three main sources. Firstly, there are references in some of the official war diaries to mortar deployment. Secondly, there are references in private war diaries. Thirdly, from battlefield finds. The finds consist of the remains of a mortar after it has been fired. More useful are the disposable mortar bomb screw-on/off metal caps. Where you find these caps you know that a mortar was deployed and was in action in that location. The 2-inch mortar bomb cap is larger than the 3-inch cap - the latter having a more pointed nose. These screw-on caps for the 2-inch and 3-inch mortar have been found at various locations in Hong Kong including Notting Hill (near Bridge Hill), Tai Tam Fork Battery, Stone Hill, Mount Cameron and Stanley Mound.

Screw-on/off disposable cap from a 2-inch mortar bomb (Writer's Collection)

The wording on the top of the screw-on cap reminds the user to "remove before firing". 

Side view of disposable cover cap. (Writer's collection)

Three 2-inch nose caps on the left and three 3-inch nose caps on right (Courtesy Ed Narby) 

The 2-inch mortar bomb caps are larger than the 3-inch bombs because of the pointed nose on the latter.

The individual nose cap shown in first two images above was one of two or three found on Notting Hill. The HKVDC No. 1 Coy War Diary refers to the Royal Rifles of Canada bringing up a 'small' mortar to fire on Red Hill from Notting Hill. They carried this from their base at Palm Villa (near where the American Club is located today). This was deployed during East Brigade's advance to capture the Tai Tam Crossroads on 21 December.

About 1600 (21 December) enemy light tanks were observed on Island Road at Tai Tam Tuk Dam and they were engaged by Lt Bryden's section which had got into position on our left after Bridge Hill was made good. About the same time the Canadians brought into action a small mortar with which they endeavoured to shell the top of Red Hill but they had only brought up some half-a-dozen or so shells and it was ineffective.  (Source: 2/Lt Carter's account of operations on Bridge Hill - No 1 Coy War Diary UKNA WO172/1693)

The Royal Rifles of Canada (RRC) War Diary refers to the Mortar Detachment being under Lt Languedoc and Lt Ross but it is not clear how many mortars they were supplied with. Lt Ross and Lt Languedoc's  mortar section was attached to Major Parker's 'D' Coy. This was in conection with an advance by 'D' Coy with the intent of reaching the beleagured West Brigade HQ by way of Gauge Basin. The RRC War Diary describes how the 3-inch mortar and ammunition were dumped by the mortar section during this deployment. "The mortar section was routed by the enemy and (they) jettisoned the mortar and all bombs (24 HE bombs) and returned to Palm Villa". (Source: RRC War Diary). The RRC War Diary in a separate section describes how the mortar section had come under artillery fire but that there had been no casualties. The 24 mortar bombs and the 3-inch mortar are still most likely lying on the slope below the path that links Repulse Bay View to Gauge Basin.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers also had access to mortars and incurred casualties to a mortar crew during the Japanese attack on Aberdeen Reservor and Bennett's Hill on 24 December. Squadron Leader Donald Hill, RAF, described in a personal war diary how they set up the mortar but fired it under overhanging trees. The shell exploded on hitting the branches and one operator lost part of his right arm and another man was badly injured in the leg. (Source: The Code of Love by Andro Linklater).

Interestingly several 3-inch mortar bomb screw-on/off caps were found near the circular pit which most battle buffs believed had been a light AA MG position at Tai Tam Road Fork howitzer battery.  The fact that the caps were found so close to the pit may suggest that a 3-inch mortar was located in the pit rather than a Lewis gun on AA mountings. The retaining wall was made up of Mimi Lau bricks making it a good position for a 3-inch mortar, but who was respomsible for it and was it brought back to Stanley on the 19 December together with the one remaining howitzer at Tai Tam Fork. One of this battery's howitzers had been moved to Lye Mun Barracks and had been overrun when the Japanese 229th Regiment landed nearby on 18 December 1941. This battery was the only one in the whole East Brigade area to bring its gun back to Stanley - the rest were captured. Since they took the gun back presumably stripped down to its component parts and loaded onto a truck - it is likely they may have taken the mortar back too even though manned by a different unit. We know it was in action on 19th December ahead of the evacuation to Stanley by East Infantry Brigade and East Artillery Group.

The location of other nose caps found at Stanley Mound and Stone Hill were areas where the Royal Rifles of Canada were in action. These nose caps were for the 2-inch mortar. During the East Brigade advance to capture the Tai Tam Crossroads, 3-inch mortars were deployed by the Canadian infantry. Brigadier Wallis writing in East Brigade War Diary (File: UK National Archives CAB 106/35) mentions two 3-inch mortars deployed on Island Road agaist the Tai Tam Crossroads.

"The Brigade Commander went forward again to find OC 'D' Battalion (RRC) sitting in the house at (grid reference provided) and he gave him the picture re his left and again he went on to see the Advance Guard Commander. He found Major Macaulay, RRC, (with Major Templer, RA) trying to get his troops on and working hard. He was operating two 3-inch mortars from (grid reference provided) against enemy holding out at Cash's bungalow (a private house) and the Tai Tam Crossroads".

 Cash's bungalow was on a mound overlooing the Tai Tam Crossroads.

As usual I would appreciate any comments from those who have found screw-on caps or have additional information on mortar deployment in the Battle for Hong Kong, 

              ......................

Acknowledgments:

Ed Narby