Hong Kong Volunteers in Battle December 1941

On the same day as the assault on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army attacked the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Among the colony's garrison were regiments from Britain, Canada and India as well as men from the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, better known as ‘The Volunteers'.

When the battle began on 8 December 1941, the HKVDC deployed a total fighting strength of 1,900 officers and men. These were mustered into seven infantry companies, five artillery batteries and a single armoured car platoon with a full range of support units.

Over the next 17 days, until the surrender on Christmas Day 1941, the men of ‘The Volunteers' saw action all over Hong Kong. This is the story of their battle.

Evan George Stewart was born in Bedford, England, in 1892. He was educated in Dublin and at Wellington College. On leaving school he taught at St Paul's College in Hong Kong and joined the Hong Kong Volunteers before returning to Dublin to read History. Before completing his degree he was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment and served in France during the First World War.

In 1920 he returned to teach at St Paul's College. He took over as headmaster in 1930, and remained headmaster, with the break of wartime, until his death.

During the Battle for Hong Kong in December 1941 he commanded the Eurasian HKVDC No. 3 (Machine-Gun) Company. After the capture of Wong Nei Chong Gap by the enemy, he organised the escape of the six survivors and, although wounded, found his own way back alone through the enemy lines. His actions resulted in the award of the Distinguished Service Order.

Following the war he joined the Hong Kong Regiment, the successor unit to the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. He led the Regiment's contingent in Queen Elizabeth's coronation procession in London in 1953, and was awarded the OBE in 1955. He served as honorary colonel of the Hong Kong Regiment from March 1958 until his death later that year.