On the 20th, the Japanese occupied the D'Aguilar peninsular and deployed field artillery, to pour shells into the Stanley defences across Ty Tam Bay. They also launched an attack on Red Hill and Ty Tam. Heavy fighting took place around these areas, but the enemy was held for two days. Meanwhile, in the Western end of the Island, they were pressing forward as far as Happy Valley Racecourse, Jardine’s Lookout, and Wong Nei Chong Gap. The latter was a heavily defended area and fierce fighting took place in that region.
Street fighting was going on around Causeway Bay. At Happy Valley racecourse, the Japanese had taken possession of the horses, that only a short while before had been the delight of the local racing profession and were now being used for the purpose of dragging ammunition and supplies up the steep mountain sides. Our greatest drawback, of course, was a lack of air support and air reconnaissance. Our artillery was firing blind, whereas the Japanese had constant air cover and were able to see our every movement during daylight.