Ernest Richard MAYCOCK (aka Ernie) [????-????]

STATEMENT by Sigmn. E MAYCOCK, attached to No.2 Company on the events of the night 24/25 December, 1941.

"Had dinner with the Signal Detachment at No.2 Coy. HQ on the beach behind Stanley Village.  The enemy had spotted our position and were shelling us heavily, but not accurately and we suffered no casualties.  At about 1830 hours, when it was getting darker, the OC Coy told us we were to try and retake and hold the pass at Chan Nam Kok which had been evacuated by the Royal Rifles some few hours earlier.  We drew rations for 3 days and stood by ready to move off with three platoons of No.2 Coy.  L/Cpl Mathias detailed Signm. Wilson, Engelbrecht and myself to join this party and told us what we had to do.

            After darkness had fallen, Major Forsyth ordered the party forward in platoons.  We moved off behind No.2 HQ Platoon through Stanley Village which was now deserted.  We carried L.G. ammunition as well as our own signaling equipment.  After leaving the village, we started climbing and reached the top of a small hill which was to be our position with HQ Platoon.  From this position we were to keep in contact with Major Forsyth at the Stanley Police Station.

            No.1 Platoon moved on to forward positions and we waited for No.3 Platoon to come up.  We set up our lamp ready to signal back to the Police Station and heavy rifle fire opened up in the village behind us; we realized, then, that the Japanese had occupied the village behind us and had cut off No.3 Platoon.  We saw men advancing up the hill behind us and our gunners opened fire but ceased immediately when they realized it was the remainder of No.3 Platoon who had managed to break through the Japanese ambush.

            I sent off a message to Coy. HQ at the Police Station asking for medical aid and the Japs opened fire at the lamp.  We were then re-inforced by a party of Canadians under Capt. Royal, who had evacuated the pillboxes on the beach.  The Japanese started attacking our positions and I sent off another message asking for M.G. fire from Stanley to cover the valley where the enemy were advancing.  This was acknowledged by Coy. HQ and the M.Gs from Stanley opened up.  Our platoon was deployed about the top of the hill and we fired at the Japanese as they tried to come up to get us.  They continued throughout the night trying to reach our position.

            Stanley Village was now a raging battlefield where the enemy had contacted our forces.  We were kept hard at it all night, repelling the Japanese raiding parties with rifle fire and our two Lewis guns.  I tried several times during the night to contact HQ by lamp, but without result, until finally my lamp was shattered by fire from a Japanese automatic gun just below us.  I located its position by its burst of orange flame and tossed down two grenades which put it out of action.  The hand grenade was our best weapon and we used them with great effect throughout the battle. 

            The next day, we realized that we were completely surrounded.  We could see the enemy on the surrounding hills above us and that their forward elements were in control of the village and were pressing forward beyond St. Stephen’s College and towards the Prison.  They had apparently given up their attempts to take our position on the hill, concentrating on pushing on to Stanley and up the main road to Repulse Bay.

            At about 1000 hours, Lt. Bryden told me to try to contact Stanley by flag, but I had no success.

            The Japanese then scaled the hill on our left, driving off a platoon of Canadians.  The Japanese leader planted his flag on the top.  I shot at him at 800 yards sight and he toppled down the slope dropping his …  The enemy then appeared over our hill in great numbers and opened fire on us with automatic weapons.  We kept under cover and sniped back at them.  At … Capt. Royal, o.c. of the party, told us that we were completely cut off and we were to try and regain our own troops as best we could.  Part of the party tried to go towards the beach with the intention of swimming towards Repulse Bay and Aberdeen, at nightfall.  Wilson joined this party (which is missing).

            I joined Lt. Bryden’s party and we tried to get back to the Maryknoll Convent, which the Canadians were supposed to have taken earlier in the day.  As we approached the Maryknoll, an automatic gun fired on us and wiped out a lot of our party.  We now realized that the Japanese were actually in position in the Maryknoll House.  I was hit and, with several others, took cover in a gully.  I here lost contact with the other signaller, Engelbrecht.

            We then discussed plans of escape with Lt. Bryden and some suggested that we wait until nightfall and try to swim to the end of Stanley Peninsula and get back to our troops in the Fort.  While we were waiting, one of our officers who had been captured by the Japanese, shouted to us from Maryknoll House that, if we surrendered without arms, we would be taken prisoners.  We discussed this with Lt. Bryden and the rest of the party and it was decided that this was about the only alternative, as many of the party were badly wounded.  We carried the wounded over to the Maryknoll House where the Japanese searched us and tied us up.  The time of our capture was about 1600 hours on the 25^th December.".