John K. Lawson

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Brigadier John K. Lawson was the senior Canadian officer during the Battle of Hong Kong. After the forces defending Kowloon were withdrawn to the island of Hong Kong on Dec . 11, General Maltby organized the defence of the island into two brigades, west and east. Lawson was placed in charge of the west brigade, which included the Winnipeg Grenadiers. The Japanese landed on Hong Kong island on Dec 18 with the intent to split the defenders in two. After fierce fighting, Japanese forces surrounded Lawson's HQ at around 10 a.m. on the 19th. Lawson radioed his commanders that he was going to "fight it out" and left his bunker with a pistol in each hand, only to be cut down at point blank range [[1]].