island they were the units called upon to counterattack. On 8 December, Japanese aircraft destroyed a nearly empty camp at Sham Shui Po where two men of the Royal Canadian Signals were wounded, the first Canadian casualties in the Pacific theatre, and the first Canadian army casualties in combat. On 11 December, the Winnipeg Grenadiers became the first Canadian Army subunit to fight in battle in the Second World War, with D Company acting as a rearguard during the retreat from Kowloon. Private John Grey was killed during the evacuation. It is unknown how he died but guesses have included mobs, fifth columnists, and being executed by the Japanese. The majority of the men of C Force were strongly patriotic and saw themselves as fighting for the British empire, and in particular believed that by defending Hong Kong that they were defending Australia, seen at the time as a fellow member of the Commonwealth "family". The Japanese had believed that after smashing through the Gin Drinkers' Line that the British would surrender Hong Kong and that the operation would last only three days at most. Maltby had expected the Gin Drinkers' Line to hold for a least a week, and was shocked that the Japanese had broken through so quickly over the course of one night. One of Maltby's staff officers later remembered the headquarters was in "chaos" with no one really knowing what was happening or what to do. Maltby ordered Lawson to send the Winnipeg Grenadiers to Kowloon. On 18 December 1941, the Japanese landed on Hong Kong island and the first substantial clash occurred on 19 December 1941 at the Wong Nai Chong Gap where the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Scots were stationed. After a hard-fought action lasting all of the morning of 19 December, Major A. B Gresham of the A company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers led a counterattack that pushed the Japanese back, but were in turn encircled at Jardine's Lookout later in the afternoon. Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn was killed during the fighting on 19 December and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for bravery in battle in the British empire, becoming the first Canadian to be so honored in World War Two. During the fighting, the commander of C Force, Brigadier Lawson was killed in action. After three days of fighting, the Japanese finally took the Wong