Multi-Ethnic Colonial Forces in China: The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Field Ambulance, 1939–1945

What is it about?

This article examines the and experiences of multi-ethnic colonial forces in China during the 20th Century, using the Field Ambulance unit of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC) as an example. Formed in the early 1900s, this medical company, comprising mainly expatriate medical professionals and local Chinese, played a crucial role in sustaining the garrison’s medical system during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in December 1941. Its members had a very diverse wartime experience due to their different ethnic backgrounds, and some continued serving with the Allied forces throughout the war because of their training and ability to communicate between the Chinese and Allied service personnel in China. By analyzing archival materials, private papers, and post-war memoirs, the paper highlights the roles of the members of the unit during the Battle of Hong Kong, and their varied experiences after the fall of Hong Kong. It also discusses the broader implications of their service, challenging simplifications about colonial distrust and showcasing how military necessity and resource constraints, rather than ethnic or cultural considerations, dictated recruitment and deployment. The study contributes to understanding the complex interplay of identity, loyalty, and colonial military structures in East Asia, offering insights into the adaptability of British colonial forces in accommodating diversity and complexity within their ranks.

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