Siege of Hong Kong II

Written by the Late Alfred J. Elsliger

Twas at Valcartier, Quebec, one cold October day
That we received our orders to pack up and start away
We marched down to the station in a cold and drizzling rain,
Then bade good-bye to friends nearby and stepped on board the train.

That journey to the west co(a)st was a rather bore some trip
We arrived in Vancouver, the got on board a ship
We were going to see new country, everyone seemed gay
There we joined the Grenadiers and started on our way.

They just came from Jamaica, we from Newfoundland
We al told different stories, we were a jolly band.

Our destination was obscure, but little did we care,
As our ship, and old New zealander, was taking us somewhere.

We knew not where we were going
What's more we did not care,
Where we went or what we did
As long as we got there

We stopped in Honolulu, but didn't stay there long
Our Officers then told us we were going to Hong Kong.

We landed in Manilla next, another large seaport
Some thought the journey ended, but our sojourn there was short.

Next landing was at Port Kawloon across from old Hong Kong
The streets were lined from end to end with cheering waving throng.

We marched to Naking barracks next, about a mile away
And there received that welcome of proverbial "flowers in May".

The place was like a festival with sport and food galore
At night the grounds were lighted from the lights along the shore.

What pleasant hours the boys spent there
In Canteen drinking beer
Both noon and night, day in, day out,
We'd find Tom Thompson here.

The barbers shaved us while we slept
And gave us haircuts too,
As Collies kept the camp in shape
We had no work to do.

But happiest hours must have an end
Two weeks - it wasn't long
When we broke camp and crossed the straits
To fight at old Hong Kong.

Just two short weeks of gaiety
For all of us - well
Twas just a touch of paradise
Before we entered hell.

"We fought a noble battle
But at such terrific cost
Than even trough the fight was brief.
A host of lives were lost.

We next moved to Stony Hill
And stayed there overnight
From there we went to Repulse Bay
To join another fight
With Royal Rifles, Middlesex and
Hong Kong volunteers; the Royal Scots,
East Indians and Winnipeg Grenadiers.

We fought together valiantly, that time at Repulse Bay
But the Japs outnumbered us, and we were forced to move away.
We fought till we famished with the hope that ground we'd keep
For hours on end the battle raged,
We fought on in our sleep.

We fought while death in its worst forms
Struck men who would not yield
But when Jap re-enforcement's(' ?) came
We had to leave the field

Then finally the finish came
That fateful Christmas night
The stars, as over Bethlehem
Were shining clear and bright.

"Peace on Earth" cannot prevail
While bombs and shells abound,
And hundreds of our comrades brave
Lie dead upon the ground.

We knew we were outnumbered
By a thousand men to one
We felt our case was hopeless
Ere that fight had scarce begun.
So we handed in our rifles
And our ammunition too,
Buried our dead, then went to bed