Gin Drinkers Line
Encyclopedia
The Gin Drinkers Line or Gin Drinker's Line was a British
military defensive line against the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong
during the Battle of Hong Kong
in December 1941, part of the Pacific War
.
The concept came from France's Maginot Line
, built after World War I
. The British believed the line could protect the colony from Japanese invasion for at least six months and even called it the "Oriental Maginot Line" . The Japanese generals also believed the line would stop their advance until the scouts found out the line was very weak. For example, only 30 soldiers were defending Shing Mun Redoubt in Battle of Hong Kong
with a capacity of 120.
, a former bay
in nearby Kwai Chung
, New Territories
(now reclaimed
and part of Kwai Fong
). It passed through Kam Shan, the Shing Mun Reservoir
, Beacon Hill
, Lion Rock
, and Tate's Cairn
, ending at Port Shelter
in Sai Kung; its total length was 18 kilometers. Its key points were the stretch between Beacon Hill and Sha Tin Pass
, and the Shing Mun
Redoubt
, the latter of which also housed command HQ for the Line.
The Line made use of the mountains north of the Kowloon Peninsula
and was strategically important in preventing any southward invasion from the New Territories.
posts, trenches and artillery batteries were built along the line; however, this artillery support may have been insufficient.
and Stonecutters Island
Fort and Four pillboxes (PB400-403) which is capable to use Vickers machine gun
and Bren LMG. There were 1.5 meter deep defensive channels or trenches, which were named after London
roads such as Charing Cross
, to provide familiarity to the English soldiers of the Middlesex Regiment
.
, wresting control of the skies from the British and initiating the Battle of Hong Kong
. At noon, the Japanese advance guard crossed the Shenzhen River
to invade the New Territories
. The northern garrison fell back to the Gin Drinkers Line, destroying roads and bridges on the way to make it more difficult for the invaders. By dusk, the Japanese had taken Tai Po
.
There were only three British Army
battalions manning the Gin Drinkers Line: the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots in the west, the 2/14th Battalion, Punjab Regiment in the centre and the 5/7th Battalion, Rajput Regiment in the east. It was hoped that they could hold for at least three weeks and inflict some casualties on the Japanese.
, and discovered that British defences were weak at "225 High Ground" near Shing Mun Redoubt and Shing Mun Reservoir. The high ground also meant dominance over all positions in the western portion of the Line. Therefore, the Japanese advanced a sneak attack.
At 9pm that evening, the lieutenant
in charge and ten elite soldiers began the sneak attack. Combat engineers successfully breached the barbed wire and destroyed bunkers. By 7am on 10 December, they had taken the high ground and 27 POWs
, opening a breach in the Line. The success surprised Japanese commanders who had thought at least a month was required to break the British defences, and thereby diverted more forces from mainland China
to boost manpower. They also thought that a premature breakthrough would lead to rear forces and artillery troops falling behind, but ultimately agreed to launch a general assault.
Christopher Maltby knew that the position was untenable and at noon decided to withdraw the garrison to Hong Kong Island
to preserve its strength, signalling the official defeat of the Line. Defenders to the west of the Line began retreating towards the Island at 8pm. The Rajput Battalion stayed behind as a rear guard
, only retreating on the morning of 13 December towards Devil's Peak
and Lei Yue Mun
towards Hong Kong Island. This was also the final retreat of British forces from the Kowloon Peninsula.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military defensive line against the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
during the Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
in December 1941, part of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
The concept came from France's Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
, built after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The British believed the line could protect the colony from Japanese invasion for at least six months and even called it the "Oriental Maginot Line" . The Japanese generals also believed the line would stop their advance until the scouts found out the line was very weak. For example, only 30 soldiers were defending Shing Mun Redoubt in Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
with a capacity of 120.
Geographical location
The Line's name originated from Gin Drinkers BayGin Drinkers Bay
Gin Drinkers Bay or Gin Drinker's Bay is also known as Lap Sap Wan . It was a bay in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong....
, a former bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
in nearby Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung
Kwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
(now reclaimed
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
and part of Kwai Fong
Kwai Fong
Kwai Fong is an area of Kwai Chung Town, Kwai Tsing District, Hong Kong. The mainly residential area extends to Kwai Hing in the north, Lai King in the south, Tsing Yi Bridge to the west, and Tai Lin Pai Industrial Area to the east. It is part of the reclamation of Gin Drinkers Bay in 1960s.Kwai...
). It passed through Kam Shan, the Shing Mun Reservoir
Shing Mun Reservoir
Shing Mun Reservoir is a reservoir in Hong Kong. It is located in Shing Mun, the area between Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin, in the New Territories.-History:Several hundreds years ago, the area around the reservoir was a dense forest with very few inhabitants...
, Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill, Hong Kong
Beacon Hill is a hill in the Kowloon Tong area of Hong Kong's Kowloon peninsula. It is the 65th highest hill of Hong Kong. It is 457 m tall.Beacon Hill is located within the Lion Rock Country Park.-Name:...
, Lion Rock
Lion Rock
Lion Rock, or less formally Lion Rock Hill, is a famous hill in Hong Kong. It is located between Kowloon Tong in Kowloon and Tai Wai in the New Territories, and is 495 metres high...
, and Tate's Cairn
Tate's Cairn
Tate's Cairn is one of many mountain peaks in Hong Kong. The peak is 583 metres in height. It is a member of the Kowloon Ridge and within Ma On Shan Country Park.The name is used by a tunnel that travels under the peak...
, ending at Port Shelter
Port Shelter
Port Shelter, also known as Ngau Mei Hoi indigenously, is a harbour south of Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong.-External links:*...
in Sai Kung; its total length was 18 kilometers. Its key points were the stretch between Beacon Hill and Sha Tin Pass
Sha Tin Pass
Sha Tin Pass or Shatin Pass, and sometimes Sha Tin Au, is a mountain pass between Temple Hill and Unicorn Ridge in Hong Kong. The pass is located north of the populous area of Tsz Wan Shan....
, and the Shing Mun
Shing Mun
Shing Mun is an area between Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It is formerly, as suggested by its Chinese characters, a gate between the two areas separated by a range of hills. The Shing Mun Valley carries water to Shing Mun River. Before the construction of Shing Mun...
Redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
, the latter of which also housed command HQ for the Line.
The Line made use of the mountains north of the Kowloon Peninsula
Kowloon Peninsula
The Kowloon Peninsula is a peninsula that forms the southern part of the main landmass in the territory of Hong Kong. The Kowloon Peninsula and the area of New Kowloon are collectively known as Kowloon....
and was strategically important in preventing any southward invasion from the New Territories.
Construction
Construction lasted from 1936 to 1938. The Line was not actually a solid defensive line but a series of defensive positions linked together by paths. Bunkers, concrete fortified machine gunMachine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
posts, trenches and artillery batteries were built along the line; however, this artillery support may have been insufficient.
Shing Mun Redoubt
Defensive headquarters were located at Shing Mun Redoubt, which had an observation post (also act as the Headquarter of the redoubt) which can call artillery support from Mount Davis batteryMount Davis
Mount Davis may refer to:*A mountain summit in Antarctica:**Mount Davis *A hill in Hong Kong:**Mount Davis, Hong Kong*One of seven mountain summits in the United States:**Mount Davis...
and Stonecutters Island
Stonecutters Island
Stonecutters Island or Ngong Shuen Chau is a former island in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Following land reclamation, it is now annexed to the Kowloon peninsula.-Fauna:...
Fort and Four pillboxes (PB400-403) which is capable to use Vickers machine gun
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
and Bren LMG. There were 1.5 meter deep defensive channels or trenches, which were named after London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
roads such as Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
, to provide familiarity to the English soldiers of the Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
.
8 December 1941: initial contact
On the morning of 8 December 1941, Japanese forces bombed Kai Tak AirportKai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was officially known as the Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, when it was closed and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 km to the west...
, wresting control of the skies from the British and initiating the Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
. At noon, the Japanese advance guard crossed the Shenzhen River
Sham Chun River
Sham Chun River serves as the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China, together with the Sha Tau Kok River....
to invade the New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
. The northern garrison fell back to the Gin Drinkers Line, destroying roads and bridges on the way to make it more difficult for the invaders. By dusk, the Japanese had taken Tai Po
Tai Po
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the...
.
There were only three British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
battalions manning the Gin Drinkers Line: the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots in the west, the 2/14th Battalion, Punjab Regiment in the centre and the 5/7th Battalion, Rajput Regiment in the east. It was hoped that they could hold for at least three weeks and inflict some casualties on the Japanese.
9 December: Japanese sneak attack
On 9 December, Japanese advance scouts of the 228th Regiment headed towards Tai Mo ShanTai Mo Shan
Tai Mo Shan has the highest peak in Hong Kong, with an altitude of 957 m. It is located approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories....
, and discovered that British defences were weak at "225 High Ground" near Shing Mun Redoubt and Shing Mun Reservoir. The high ground also meant dominance over all positions in the western portion of the Line. Therefore, the Japanese advanced a sneak attack.
At 9pm that evening, the lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in charge and ten elite soldiers began the sneak attack. Combat engineers successfully breached the barbed wire and destroyed bunkers. By 7am on 10 December, they had taken the high ground and 27 POWs
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, opening a breach in the Line. The success surprised Japanese commanders who had thought at least a month was required to break the British defences, and thereby diverted more forces from mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
to boost manpower. They also thought that a premature breakthrough would lead to rear forces and artillery troops falling behind, but ultimately agreed to launch a general assault.
10 December: general assault
Japanese forces then opened a two-pronged assault on the Gin Drinkers Line. By the next day, they had already claimed Kam Shan and Tate's Cairn. Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Christopher Maltby knew that the position was untenable and at noon decided to withdraw the garrison to Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
to preserve its strength, signalling the official defeat of the Line. Defenders to the west of the Line began retreating towards the Island at 8pm. The Rajput Battalion stayed behind as a rear guard
Rear guard
A rear guard or rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal...
, only retreating on the morning of 13 December towards Devil's Peak
Devil's Peak, Hong Kong
Devil's Peak is the peak besides Lei Yue Mun on New Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area around the peak was garrisoned by the British Army or local pirates to control the passage of Lei Yue Mun, which is an important nautical passage in South China. The remains of a redoubt and batteries are still...
and Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun is a short channel in Hong Kong, between Junk Bay and Victoria Harbour, separating Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The channel is an important passage in the South China Sea. It is the east gate of Victoria Harbour.The lands around the channel are also called Lei Yue Mun...
towards Hong Kong Island. This was also the final retreat of British forces from the Kowloon Peninsula.
Reasons for failure
Similar to the Maginot Line, the Gin Drinkers Line was generally considered to be a complete failure. The line and the whole of Kowloon were abandoned by the British troops in just two days. There can be said to be three main reasons:- Insufficient troops: although the hardware was sound, there just were not enough British soldiers to maximise the Line's potential. For example, the Redoubt could have fitted over 120 men but was garrisoned by only 30.
- Insufficient training: most of the Hong Kong GarrisonHong Kong GarrisonThe Hong Kong Garrison was a British and Commonwealth force that protected Hong Kong.In December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong in the Second World War, the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong and after a brief but violent series of engagements the garrison surrendered.- Kowloon Brigade :**C.O...
were from India, Canada and Scotland. Most were new recruits lacking experience and training. - Underestimation of the Japanese: the British assumed that the Japanese did not wage night battles and relaxed their guard; they were also confident in the Line's capabilities.