10 Dec 1941, Major John Monro MC RA diary of the Battle of Hong Kong

Today there has been heavy fighting all along Smugglers Ridge and up towards Golden Hill.

This morning I went round the mainland positions with the C.R.A. ((Commander Royal Artillery, Brig T Macleod)).  It rained last night and though the men looked a little bedraggled and the positions were very muddy, they seemed quite cheerful. 1 Bty (Customs Pass) had occupied quite a reasonable alternative position.  They have not had very much to do.  Polo Bty (25) were in their main position and had done quite a lot of firing onto Smugglers Ridge.  The concrete blocks they have used instead of sandbags for revetting their position are not standing up to the blast.  I met Crowe at Filters; the situation on his front is very obscure.  He did not know where Atkinson had got to.  At Tai Wai position there was only an I. O. (Md Khan I think) and I thought their position was in a bit of a mess, equipment lying about all over the place, but the position is damned cramped and awkward.

Podge Walkden took us round in a commandeered car.  He is a pleasant, able chap.  I wish we had had him longer for training; he would make a damned good officer.  All the poorer Chinese from Kowloon were out on the hillside by the Taipo Road cutting down the trees for firewood.  None of the police are available to stop them.  They may as well get it while they can; there will be no more imported into the colony for many a day.