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Major Parker continues:
"With me, "D" Company officers studied a map of the area and we formulated our
plans. Major Browing, a white Indian officer, assisted us with much information we
could not have had otherwise. Satisfied, we went out to do the job. Prior to the
opening attack, owing to officer casualties, Sgt. George S. MacDonnell had been
placed in charge of No. 18 platoon. His platoon was to attack an objective in St.
Stephen's."
Sergeant MacDonnell reports: "Our orders were to attack the left flank of the
village and occupy a group of houses which were on the high ground and
commanded an excellent field of fire across the whole left flank of the village. Two
of my three section leaders had been killed in action , prior to this, and I appointed
temporary replacements to lead Nos. 7 and 8 sections.
The attack commenced at about noon. We filed down the west side of the
fortress, crouched low and in single file. The sun was hot and it was a bright clear
day. The enemy opened up with machine-guns and small caliber artillery. By
running and by crawling from rock to rock, we managed to reach an assembly
area in the fold of dead-ground, just below and slightly to the south-west of our
first objective.
Casualties up to this point were light as our approach route had been well chosen
for us... At the assembly point, I spread my platoon out to the left, below and in
front of the grave-yard which lay south and slightly west of the houses that were to
be our first objective. Heavy firing commenced to my right and I ordered my men
to commence firing on the enemy who I could see running to take up positions with
light weapons in the grave-yard in front of us.
Either at a prearranged signal or upon orders delivered by runner, I ordered the
attack. Since the enemy had a much superior position on the higher ground above
us and since they had good cover among the gravestones, I decided we must close
quickly or suffer heavy casualties and would quite probably be pinned down; thus
exposing the left flank of the Company.
Accordingly, I ordered the men to fix bayonet and charge, which they did with
fearful war whoops. Within seconds we were upon the enemy in the grave-yard,
with bayonets, submachine guns and Brens fired from the hip.
This maneuver apparently took the enemy by surprise. Our entry into the
grave-yard led to a confused melee of hand-to-hand fighting which lasted no more
than 3 or 4 minutes at the most. The Japanese were over-run and the grave-yard
was cleared.
We then carried on and, driving remnants of the enemy before us, entered into the
houses on the high ground. Another close scrape took place as the Japanese
stubbornly refused to be evicted. Passing through these houses, we continued on
until we ran into a platoon of Japanese who were bunched together and running up
to the houses we had just taken. For a second, both groups stopped in surprise
but we fired first and literally wiped out the enemy platoon as it stood. This was
the deepest point of our penetration in the center of the village.
The ground was no littered with dead, mostly Japanese. Heavy fire was directed
upon us and casualties began to mount: we therefore returned to the house to
regroup and get some cover. Someone having informed me that Lt. Powers of No.
17 Platoon was killed, I assumed command of whatever of his platoon was with
me at the time.
We took up position in and around and began to repel the Jap counter-attack
which now developed in some strength. L/Sgt. Lance Ross, with a Lewis gun and
Bren, killed at least 20 or 30 of the enemy himself. There was a lull as the
Japanese regrouped and then we came under small caliber artillery fire."
Shells began to explode through the roofs and walls of the houses being literally
shot to pieces around us. We were in danger of being cut off. I sent the men back
in small parties with the corporals, while Lance Ross and I kept on firing until we
made a run for the protective wall of Stanley Prison." Major Parker writes: "With
my group, I advanced across open ground between the Prison and the ridge, the
better to see what success we were having, and met several severely wounded
men walking out from both platoons on the left...I saw figures advancing up the
slope toward the ridge and thought all was well.
Suddenly the tide turned and there was a great din of fire from the waiting Japs.
The walking wounded became a flood, both upon the left and upon the right. The
men were falling back."
Sergeant MacDonnell states: "I then reported to the Company Commander for
further orders. He told me that we had been ordered back to the Fortress and
himself led the way back. I was proud to be a member of "D" Company."
Major Parker summarizes: "Records show that the Company lost 16 killed and 78
wounded in this attack. I gathered up all the men I could find and regrouped...then
with 44 sound men and the walking wounded we made our way back to Stanley
Barracks. After the surrender, I went forward with a working party and buried our
dead. The Japs had built a pier and were cremating theirs. There seemed to be
many of them. This was Christmas Day."
Sergeant George MacDonnell was mentioned in dispatches. This citation, written
by Major Parker reads: "He led the attack in the face of heavy enemy fire with
conspicuous gallantry, being without supporting artillery or machine-gun fire, and
showed outstanding qualities of initiative, dash, coolness and leadership under very
difficult conditions."
At 15.15 hrs., Gen. Maltby had advised the Governor, Sir Christopher Young,
that further resistance was futile and the white flag was hoisted. The attack by "D"
Company, which was ordered and launched at noon, lasted until about 19.00 hrs,
4 hours after this surrender.
Rfm. John Beebe, Royal Rifles of Canada, concludes:
"At 5 o'clock on the 25th, the Japs called on the Canadians to surrender but our
men fought on, outside. Then two hours later, word came through from Brigade
Headquarters to cease fighting and the boys turned in their equipment in good
order. The Jap Colonel who accepted the surrender told our officers that he had
never known men could fight so hard."
"With me, "D" Company officers studied a map of the area and we formulated our
plans. Major Browing, a white Indian officer, assisted us with much information we
could not have had otherwise. Satisfied, we went out to do the job. Prior to the
opening attack, owing to officer casualties, Sgt. George S. MacDonnell had been
placed in charge of No. 18 platoon. His platoon was to attack an objective in St.
Stephen's."
Sergeant MacDonnell reports: "Our orders were to attack the left flank of the
village and occupy a group of houses which were on the high ground and
commanded an excellent field of fire across the whole left flank of the village. Two
of my three section leaders had been killed in action , prior to this, and I appointed
temporary replacements to lead Nos. 7 and 8 sections.
The attack commenced at about noon. We filed down the west side of the
fortress, crouched low and in single file. The sun was hot and it was a bright clear
day. The enemy opened up with machine-guns and small caliber artillery. By
running and by crawling from rock to rock, we managed to reach an assembly
area in the fold of dead-ground, just below and slightly to the south-west of our
first objective.
Casualties up to this point were light as our approach route had been well chosen
for us... At the assembly point, I spread my platoon out to the left, below and in
front of the grave-yard which lay south and slightly west of the houses that were to
be our first objective. Heavy firing commenced to my right and I ordered my men
to commence firing on the enemy who I could see running to take up positions with
light weapons in the grave-yard in front of us.
Either at a prearranged signal or upon orders delivered by runner, I ordered the
attack. Since the enemy had a much superior position on the higher ground above
us and since they had good cover among the gravestones, I decided we must close
quickly or suffer heavy casualties and would quite probably be pinned down; thus
exposing the left flank of the Company.
Accordingly, I ordered the men to fix bayonet and charge, which they did with
fearful war whoops. Within seconds we were upon the enemy in the grave-yard,
with bayonets, submachine guns and Brens fired from the hip.
This maneuver apparently took the enemy by surprise. Our entry into the
grave-yard led to a confused melee of hand-to-hand fighting which lasted no more
than 3 or 4 minutes at the most. The Japanese were over-run and the grave-yard
was cleared.
We then carried on and, driving remnants of the enemy before us, entered into the
houses on the high ground. Another close scrape took place as the Japanese
stubbornly refused to be evicted. Passing through these houses, we continued on
until we ran into a platoon of Japanese who were bunched together and running up
to the houses we had just taken. For a second, both groups stopped in surprise
but we fired first and literally wiped out the enemy platoon as it stood. This was
the deepest point of our penetration in the center of the village.
The ground was no littered with dead, mostly Japanese. Heavy fire was directed
upon us and casualties began to mount: we therefore returned to the house to
regroup and get some cover. Someone having informed me that Lt. Powers of No.
17 Platoon was killed, I assumed command of whatever of his platoon was with
me at the time.
We took up position in and around and began to repel the Jap counter-attack
which now developed in some strength. L/Sgt. Lance Ross, with a Lewis gun and
Bren, killed at least 20 or 30 of the enemy himself. There was a lull as the
Japanese regrouped and then we came under small caliber artillery fire."
Shells began to explode through the roofs and walls of the houses being literally
shot to pieces around us. We were in danger of being cut off. I sent the men back
in small parties with the corporals, while Lance Ross and I kept on firing until we
made a run for the protective wall of Stanley Prison." Major Parker writes: "With
my group, I advanced across open ground between the Prison and the ridge, the
better to see what success we were having, and met several severely wounded
men walking out from both platoons on the left...I saw figures advancing up the
slope toward the ridge and thought all was well.
Suddenly the tide turned and there was a great din of fire from the waiting Japs.
The walking wounded became a flood, both upon the left and upon the right. The
men were falling back."
Sergeant MacDonnell states: "I then reported to the Company Commander for
further orders. He told me that we had been ordered back to the Fortress and
himself led the way back. I was proud to be a member of "D" Company."
Major Parker summarizes: "Records show that the Company lost 16 killed and 78
wounded in this attack. I gathered up all the men I could find and regrouped...then
with 44 sound men and the walking wounded we made our way back to Stanley
Barracks. After the surrender, I went forward with a working party and buried our
dead. The Japs had built a pier and were cremating theirs. There seemed to be
many of them. This was Christmas Day."
Sergeant George MacDonnell was mentioned in dispatches. This citation, written
by Major Parker reads: "He led the attack in the face of heavy enemy fire with
conspicuous gallantry, being without supporting artillery or machine-gun fire, and
showed outstanding qualities of initiative, dash, coolness and leadership under very
difficult conditions."
At 15.15 hrs., Gen. Maltby had advised the Governor, Sir Christopher Young,
that further resistance was futile and the white flag was hoisted. The attack by "D"
Company, which was ordered and launched at noon, lasted until about 19.00 hrs,
4 hours after this surrender.
Rfm. John Beebe, Royal Rifles of Canada, concludes:
"At 5 o'clock on the 25th, the Japs called on the Canadians to surrender but our
men fought on, outside. Then two hours later, word came through from Brigade
Headquarters to cease fighting and the boys turned in their equipment in good
order. The Jap Colonel who accepted the surrender told our officers that he had
never known men could fight so hard."
