BBfanboy -> RE: Magic Carpet (6/14/2017 7:16:54 AM)
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Haven't seen a book specifically about that battle, although I have read newspaper articles about it since the Winnipeg Grenadiers were there. I think about 40% if the Canadians lived through the camps and came home, but most had nutrition deficit diseases like beriberi. A Canadian Brigadier was killed during the battle. I remember reading that when the Canadians arrived he was appalled at the unpreparedness of the garrison. There were outposts in the mountains set up to give early warning of Japanese movements, but no men were assigned to the outposts. The garrison that had been there for ages did not want to leave the city where they had barracks (and probably, Chinese girlfriends). The Canadians had barely begun to dig in around the perimeter when the Japanese attacked. The Japanese had lots of artillery and MGs, the Canadians had, at best, 3" mortars. No contest in the result, although the defenders earned the Japanese respect for their determination. IIRC, they allowed the Brigadier to be buried with full honours before they marched the prisoners off.
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