The Great Escape from Hong Kong

You've heard of the Great Escape, but what you may not know is that Hong Kong had its own epic escape during the Japanese invasion of World War II.

They survived murderous machine gun fire in broad daylight, followed by more bursts as they swam away to the nearest island. Those that survived thought they were safe once they got ashore only to be targeted again followed by incendiary shells. After an eighty mile forced march with fifty pound packs over mountainous terrain, and fording rivers through bandit infested country and the Japanese lines, all the time being guided by local guerrillas they reached the relative safety of Free China.

Some had bullet wounds, others injuries picked up on the march. Some had footwear that fitted, some not, some had none at all. What lay ahead was 3,000 miles of hostile mountainous terrain by river, truck, and train, being targeted by Japanese bombers. They encountered the harsh Chinese winter, sometimes sleeping rough, in floating brothels, and places with bubonic plague. Finally they reached their goal Rangoon, they had triumphed over adversity only to be confronted with the Japanese invading forces and escape all over again.

And all of it began on Christmas Day, 1941.

Learn more about The Great Escape from Hong Kong. Locals or visitors to the Big Lychee can also visit a special exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, titled: Escape from Hong Kong: The Road to Waichow.

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