King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,016
Hi Guys,
Every December in Hong Kong, as the city prepares itself for Christmas, some of its residents, especially those interested in history, remember another December, 76 years before when the then British Colony was attacked by the forces of Imperial Japan at the beginning of the Pacific War.
At the time the small British garrison had been recently reinforced by two battalions of Canadians… The Winnipeg Grenadiers and The Royal Rifles of Canada.
Together these almost 2,000 Canadian soldiers played a gallant but ultimately doomed role in the defence of Hong Kong during the eighteen-day campaign.
As a special reminder of the battle Hong Kong’s own King & Country has designed and produced a special double set of SIX all-metal, hand-painted military miniatures depicting a squad of Canadian infantrymen in action as they would have appeared in those distant, dark days of December 1941.
King & Country’s Cofounder & Creative Director Andy C. Neilson picks up the story…
“Just over 30 years ago I was the Regimental Adjutant of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment. One of my duties was to meet visiting veterans of the Battle of Hong Kong and accompany them around many of the original battle sites where they had fought decades before.”
Among the many veterans Andy met were, of course, Canadians.
“I was fortunate to hear their stories and memories of that time first hand.” Andy says.
His company, King & Country was then in its infancy however the expatriate Scot made a promise to himself and the veterans that one day he would try and tell at least part of their story in miniature… at some later date.
Finally, that day has arrived with the release of a very special group of military miniatures depicting one particular ‘action’…
On December 20, 1941, the day after Japanese troops landed on Hong Kong Island, Company Sergeant Major John Osborn of The Winnipeg Grenadiers and some of his men were defending a position on Mt. Butler (near the centre of the island). Japanese troops had surrounded the Canadians and were lobbing grenades into their position… CSM Osborn bravely picked up each grenade and threw them back at the enemy.
Finally, one grenade fell where CSM Osborn could not reach it in time to throw back… Shouting a warning to his men, Osborn threw himself on top of the live grenade which exploded killing him instantly.
His sacrifice saved the lives of countless others and for this brave action, he was awarded the British Commonwealth’s highest gallantry medal… The Victoria Cross.
On Thursday 14 December 2017 Andy was at the Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong to present Consul General Jeff Nankivell with the very first two sets of Canadian soldiers depicting CSM Osborn and some of his men in action.
“It was important that Canada’s principal representative in Hong Kong should receive King & Country’s tribute in miniature to the soldiers who fought and died trying to defend Hong Kong.” Andy said.
As Consul General Nankivell said in reply, “Every year at this time we honour the memory of the men who gave their lives defending Hong Kong in 1941. This is one of the many important bonds that bring Hong Kong and Canada together.”
The figures themselves will go on display in a special area in the Consulate devoted to the Battle of Hong Kong and the Canadians who took part.
In 2018 King & Country will also present to the Consul General a specially designed diorama portraying CSM Osborn and his men defending their position on Mt. Butler.
Best wishes,
Andy
K&C's Andy C. Neilson together with Canada's Consul General Jeff Nankivell at the presentation.
Every December in Hong Kong, as the city prepares itself for Christmas, some of its residents, especially those interested in history, remember another December, 76 years before when the then British Colony was attacked by the forces of Imperial Japan at the beginning of the Pacific War.
At the time the small British garrison had been recently reinforced by two battalions of Canadians… The Winnipeg Grenadiers and The Royal Rifles of Canada.
Together these almost 2,000 Canadian soldiers played a gallant but ultimately doomed role in the defence of Hong Kong during the eighteen-day campaign.
As a special reminder of the battle Hong Kong’s own King & Country has designed and produced a special double set of SIX all-metal, hand-painted military miniatures depicting a squad of Canadian infantrymen in action as they would have appeared in those distant, dark days of December 1941.
King & Country’s Cofounder & Creative Director Andy C. Neilson picks up the story…
“Just over 30 years ago I was the Regimental Adjutant of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment. One of my duties was to meet visiting veterans of the Battle of Hong Kong and accompany them around many of the original battle sites where they had fought decades before.”
Among the many veterans Andy met were, of course, Canadians.
“I was fortunate to hear their stories and memories of that time first hand.” Andy says.
His company, King & Country was then in its infancy however the expatriate Scot made a promise to himself and the veterans that one day he would try and tell at least part of their story in miniature… at some later date.
Finally, that day has arrived with the release of a very special group of military miniatures depicting one particular ‘action’…
On December 20, 1941, the day after Japanese troops landed on Hong Kong Island, Company Sergeant Major John Osborn of The Winnipeg Grenadiers and some of his men were defending a position on Mt. Butler (near the centre of the island). Japanese troops had surrounded the Canadians and were lobbing grenades into their position… CSM Osborn bravely picked up each grenade and threw them back at the enemy.
Finally, one grenade fell where CSM Osborn could not reach it in time to throw back… Shouting a warning to his men, Osborn threw himself on top of the live grenade which exploded killing him instantly.
His sacrifice saved the lives of countless others and for this brave action, he was awarded the British Commonwealth’s highest gallantry medal… The Victoria Cross.
On Thursday 14 December 2017 Andy was at the Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong to present Consul General Jeff Nankivell with the very first two sets of Canadian soldiers depicting CSM Osborn and some of his men in action.
“It was important that Canada’s principal representative in Hong Kong should receive King & Country’s tribute in miniature to the soldiers who fought and died trying to defend Hong Kong.” Andy said.
As Consul General Nankivell said in reply, “Every year at this time we honour the memory of the men who gave their lives defending Hong Kong in 1941. This is one of the many important bonds that bring Hong Kong and Canada together.”
The figures themselves will go on display in a special area in the Consulate devoted to the Battle of Hong Kong and the Canadians who took part.
In 2018 King & Country will also present to the Consul General a specially designed diorama portraying CSM Osborn and his men defending their position on Mt. Butler.
Best wishes,
Andy
K&C's Andy C. Neilson together with Canada's Consul General Jeff Nankivell at the presentation.
