(Recognized as a provincial relic in Decision No. 4425/QD-UBND dated November 28, 2007 of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province)

Co To Archipelago has special significance in terms of economy, politics, security and defense in the Quang Ninh island region, which is the outpost island of the Northeast of the country. Formerly under French colonial rule, Co To belonged to the former Hai Ninh province. After the general uprising to seize power (August 1945), Co To island was still occupied by the remnants of the French army and bandits. Worried about the occupation of the remnants of the French army on Co To and Van Hoa islands in the Cai Bau archipelago, if they can capture the remote islands then they invade the nearby, densely populated islands. In November 1945, implementing the Directive of Inter-region Three, Ky Con Company - one of the first main units of the Dong Trieu War Zone was ordered to organize an attack against the French to liberate Co To.

Ky Con Company is a famous company of Inter-zone 3 bearing the alias Ky Con of the leader of the Nationalist Party, Doan Tran Nghiep (1910-1930), who participated in leading the Yen Bai uprising in 1930, one of the most powerful units in the world. the first concentrated armament of the Dong Trieu war zone. The predecessor organization, Ky Con Platoon, was established after the victory against Bi Cho (1-7-1945) and then Ky Con Platoon. At the end of August 1945, it developed into Ky Con Company with the task of protecting the revolutionary government in Hai Phong and the Hon Gai mine. During this time, the Company achieved many outstanding feats, such as capturing two French warships, defeating Viet Cach troops at Hon Gai, and repelling dozens of French attacks in Hai Phong. Later it developed into Ky Con Battalion, then Ky Con Regiment (66th Regiment, 304th Division). The first company captain (previously platoon leader, squad leader) was Comrade Le Phu.

The Don Cao area is located on an elevated terrain with an area of ​​about 300m2. Here, you can observe the whole scene of Co To. Because of its prime location and military value, the French stationed military troops here.

Co To Island is not the place of establishment or barracks of Ky Con Company, but only the place where the battle against the enemy station took place on the island in order to liberate Co To island and protect the country's sovereignty and territory in the past few days. The beginning of the August Revolution in 1945. It can be said that in the days of fighting the French on Co To island, the whole Co To island was a battlefield, which focused on 3 locations that Ky Con Company had to capture. is Fort Cao, the warehouse of military equipment, military equipment and Ma Vien temple where a French squadron is stationed.

First Battle of Co To: Around the beginning of November, 1945, a fisherman on a small sailing boat from Co To island to Cat Ba island (Hai Phong) informed the government and our revolution: On Co To island there are French soldiers returned to station, asking the revolutionary government to send troops to chase them away. From Cat Ba to Co To Island, if the sails are smooth, the sailing boat will take one night, if it is not convenient, it will take two days and two nights, in front of the people's news, the Command Board of the Ky Con Company met to discuss and agreed to send troops to fight the French in Co To. The company sent comrade Dinh Nhu Tam, platoon leader of the 3rd Platoon, to follow the people's boats to report the news, immediately to Co To island to scout and grasp the enemy's situation. Three days later, with the help of fisherman comrade Dinh Nhu Tam, he reported that the enemy had only one French squad to occupy the island on a small temple near the coast, the temple where the Chinese worship Ma Vien, every day on the island. In the morning, most of our platoon went to the beach to swim. The plan to fight the enemy was agreed upon in the Company Command: one was to surprise the enemy at night while they were sleeping, the other was to attack in the morning when they were swimming in the sea. The company's command board decided to fight the French on Co To island with our force of 15 men, a few more than the enemy, and sent comrade Le Phu, the company commander, fully equipped with weapons, when landing. Go to the island far away from the enemy, go around behind the temple, occupy the enemy's camp. The plan to fight the enemy one or two depends on the time our boats reach the island. The preparation of the boat was carried out right from the afternoon of the previous day (Right after Comrade Dong Nhu Tam returned from scouting to grasp the enemy situation). The boat owner and two crew members are ready to help the army to fight the enemy on Co To island.

In the morning, when the sun just rose from the sea, the company command board reported to the Coast Guard and then sent troops to the boat to fight, the boat was sailing smoothly, running for about 2 hours, the boat owner said I know that if the sails are as smooth as this, tonight we will reach Co To island, the boat is running, there is a Tuan Ma canoe of the Coastal Command, surfing close to the boat, everyone looks back. Behind, only a few minutes after it came close to the side of the boat, comrade Hoang Van Tai, who was on the boat, informed Captain Le Phu of the Ministry of Defense's instructions: We had to wait for the invasion of Co To island in the same night. with Van Hoa. Obeying the orders of his superiors, Le Phu returned the boat to Cat Ba island to wait for the command of the Coastal Command.

Second Co To battle: After receiving instructions to wait for the French troops stationed on Co To island on the same night as Van Hoa fortress (on Cai Bau island), comrade Le Phu, when he returned to Cat Ba island, discussed with Company politician Le Sy Chu about immediately sending officers to re-investigate the situation of French troops stationed on Co To and Van Hoa islands. Platoon captain Dinh Nhu Tam and comrade Le Nguyen Loc were sent to investigate the situation of French troops stationed on Co To island, platoon leader Nham Ngoc Binh and platoon politician Ngo Huy (Ngo Huy Binh, aka journalist). Nhu Mai in Quang Ninh now) was sent to investigate the French troops stationed at Van Hoa fort.

At about 10:00 a.m. on November 10, 1945, the Coastal Command instructed Captain Le Phu: Bring a platoon to raid Co To Island tonight. Receiving this urgent order, Le Phu realized that he was facing many difficulties, the enemy's fluctuation situation on Co To island had not been grasped, and the two comrades of the platoon went to investigate the enemy's situation on Co To and Van Hoa islands. not yet returned, the unit's ships did not have a single one. Fighting the enemy on Co To island tonight is too urgent, finding a way to ensure the time to land on the island, a landing on an island far from the mainland, heavy weapons, no means is really difficult! The order was immediately executed, the good weapons included: Mousqueton guns, clustered machine guns (FM24-29), American submachine guns (Thomson) with 50 rounds, DF grenades, VB grenades, ammunition, and salaries. fully equipped for the platoon to prepare for the landing on Co To island against the French. The spirit of officers and soldiers of the remaining two platoons, someone eagerly wanted to join your platoon to participate in this landing, unified in the Company Command, Comrade Le Phu went to the wharf to find the boat. enough to accommodate a Platoon. Negotiating the use of a sailing ship used to carry stones, enough for a platoon, was accepted by the boat owner. It was just dark, 1st Platoon of Ky Con Company gathered in front of the flagpole in the yard, between two two-story buildings in the barracks, 1st platoon, 2nd platoon, 3rd platoon, one after another, quietly left the barracks. . From the camp gate through the small cement bridge, go left hand side through the Customs house to the jetty, from the camp gate to the boat wharf next to the jetty just a few hundred meters. The boat has been docked since the afternoon, the soldiers of the platoon stood in rows in front of the boat waiting for orders, on the boat only the assistant, the boat owner and the boatmen went ashore from the afternoon to buy things. necessary for the trip, waiting forever to see the boat owner back, maybe the boat owner was afraid of danger, so he made an excuse to go shopping in the afternoon and then hide, then a sudden storm came, Not enough time left to get to the island the Platoon was forced to return to the barracks. Returning to the barracks, the platoon assigned people to search for the owner of the boat until the next morning and still could not find it. Fortunately, another boat owner volunteered to take the platoon to Co To, the platoon boarded the boat and went under the direct command of winter solstice Le Phu. After nearly a day and night, on the morning of November 12, 1945, the boat arrived at Quan Lan Island in the Van Hai Archipelago, the platoon went ashore to rest, was well received by the cadres and people, finished eating and drinking. walking from Quan Lan to Minh Chau island about 10 km forest road, the boat carrying the Platoon ran along the small creek to Minh Chau to pick up the Platoon, the whole platoon and the boat gathered to Minh Chau island in the afternoon of the same day, in Minh Chau Platoon was also welcomed as in Quan Lan, After dinner, the platoon was arranged by the militia and self-defense brethren to stay in the houses of the people on the island, and the night watch was carried out by the militia and self-defense brethren.

Right after the 1st Platoon commanded by Comrade Le Phu went to fight Co To, Comrades Nham Ngoc Binh and Ngo Huy Binh, along with 2 soldiers sent to monitor the enemy situation on Co To and Van Hoa islands also returned. Cat Ba Island on the afternoon of 11/11/1945. The comrades who went to scout to report on the enemy situation on Co To island had just been increased near a platoon stationed at Fort Cao and a platoon stationed at a military-equipment pineapple house near the boat docks entering and leaving the island, close to the island. right below the dirt road leading to Don Cao. Comrade Le Sy Chu, Politician of the Company, and Comrade Bui Sinh – Deputy of the Company (Comrade Le Phu Dai Captain went to fight Co To, Comrade Bui Sinh was appointed to replace Comrade Le Phu in charge) intend to reinforce one more Battalion and assign comrades Dinh Nhu Tam and Nham Ngoc Binh to lead immediately by the boat that they returned from Co To Island. When the squad reached Minh Chau island, they met with the platoon led by comrade Le Phu, comrades Dinh Nhu Tam and Nham Ngoc Binh reported the situation of enemy reinforcement on Co To island to Captain Le Phu and that the company in Cat Ba reinforced comrade Le Phu's platoon with a Battalion, the comrades discussed the plan and then continued to march to attack Co To. The way to defeat the enemy in Co To is to simultaneously fight the enemy at three points at the same time. Through the table again and again, the commanders of this battle agreed on a plan to fight the enemy, based on the number of the platoon divided into four attacks:

1. The attack in front of Fort Cao was led by comrade Le Phu with an army of 15 men, and comrade Khue was the squad leader.

2. The attack point behind the Fort is a steep mountainside led by comrade Platoon Commander Nham Ngoc Binh and comrade Platoon Deputy Do Van Chung with a total of 15 men.

3. The attack on the leaf house was caused by the storage of military equipment and military equipment at the foot of the hill near the dirt road leading to Fort Cao, commanded by Comrade Platoon Commander Dinh Nhu Tam with an army of 9 people.

4. The attack on the temple of Ma Vien was led by comrade platoon deputy Le Hai with the number of 9 men, comrade Nguyen Hoa, the squad leader.

Fighting the enemy on Fort Cao, they were surrounded by a wall, in front there was a gate to the Fort and an apricot hole, there was a bunker in the corner of the wall, so it was difficult to attack.

The two points below are not forts or camps, so attacking and occupying has more advantages.

When there was gunfire on Fort Cao, the two platoons below had to quickly occupy the two positions of Ma Vien temple and the storage of military equipment and military equipment, then strengthen two attacks to attack Fort Cao.

When it was almost dawn, if we could not capture the fort, we would retreat together at the foot of the hill, encircle the enemy and cut off their supply lines.

The plan was agreed, comrade Le Phu met comrade Chairman of Minh Chau commune to ask for help in lending a boat, comrade president hurriedly borrowed a fisherman's boat, borrowing a boat with a capacity of about 20 people and a boat of the chairman's family could carry about 15 people, so 2 boats of Minh Chau and 2 boats of the platoon came out from Cat Ba, all four boats carried four platoons and a fisherman from Minh Chau village. leading the way with 4 boatmen set off.

 At 9 p.m., on November 13, 1945, when our boat approached Co To island, we saw a cluster of bright lights on the sea near Co To island. Comrade Le Phu, who was a French sailor, knew right away that it was a warship's light. France at sea and ordered the brothers to continue to approach and land on Co To island. From capturing ships, the enemy sometimes swept bright headlights on Co To island. Perhaps on the night of November 10, 1945, our troops attacked Van Hoa, so this French ship came to strengthen the defense of Co To.

At midnight, our troops approached the target. Two platoons of high forts met near the enemy's fort, and deployed their troops into position. Comrade Le Phu ordered soldier Bui Van Ngoan to fire grenades at Fort Cao, opening an attack on the whole island of Co To. The enemy returned fire from the position of Fort Cao, somewhat sporadically at first, then rapidly, the headlights of the capture ship focused on positions around Fort Cao, and then the flares illuminated the whole surrounding area. Around the fort, the soldiers were ordered to distance themselves from each other. I have had comrades die in the first moments of attack when volunteering for Fort Cao such as Comrade Tran Duc Thien, Comrade Khue, Comrade Loc... Some other comrades were injured like Comrade Phung Like Tiger injured in the heel, Dang Ngoc Binh was shot through the elbow. Every time the headlights on the battleship swept once and the flares hit the area of ​​our attack, the submachine guns at the bunker on the right corner of the Fort and the bullet holes around the wall shot out violently. Our troops could not advance, lying close to the ground. Next, Comrade Le Van Tam and then Comrade Dao Duy Hanh sacrificed, it was brave and touching when Comrade Dong Duy Hanh was hit in the head by a bullet, knowing that he could not live, he quickly handed over the pistol and first aid bag. for Nguyen Van Sy and shouted: "Long live independent Vietnam"! So, comrade Dao Duy Hanh and some comrades said goodbye to their comrades on the battlefield, enemy bullets still exploded around Fort Cao, two platoons reinforced to support and attack Fort Cao, but there was no signal of coordination. It was almost morning, Captain Le Phu ordered each group to quickly withdraw from the hill of Don Cao in the mountains, find a hiding place to wait for the night to find a boat to cross the sea to return.

Comrade Dinh Nhu Tam's platoon attacked the thatched house, which was a warehouse for military equipment and supplies at the bottom of the hill near the dirt road leading to Fort Cao, when hearing the gunfire on Fort Cao exploding, Dinh Nhu's squad Tam opened fire and threw grenades at the same time, the enemy was suddenly attacked and booed loudly. There were a number of arrows running around, flares shot in and clearly saw Fort Cao. Enemy cannons and flares fired continuously, when we learned that our troops could not capture Fort Cao, but it was almost morning, we burned the warehouse and found a way to retreat.

Comrade Nguyen Hoa's squad was commanded by Lieutenant Le Hai, when he heard gunfire on Fort Cao, comrade Le Hai ordered the squad to open fire, the whole squad simultaneously fired and threw grenades at the temple. worshiping Ma Vien, the enemy was attacked by surprise, fled the temple, the whole squad rushed into the temple, there was no shadow of any enemy, our troops quickly turned to shoot at the enemy's noise on the way out. run.

At dawn, all our forces retreated as planned to a place to wait for the night to get off the boat to return to Cat Ba, but due to the lack of terrain, the retreating groups could not communicate with each other.

In the dim light of the enemy's warship, a seaplane flying low on Co To island could observe and point out the battleship's cannons to shoot at the mountains and forests where they suspected our troops were hiding. But more dangerous is that the enemy ships have sunk most of the boats docked at and around Co To island, regardless of whether they are people's boats or ships carrying our troops in order to cut off our retreat. The enemy came down from Fort Cao and the enemy came from the battleship to sweep into the jungle on the island. Our troops fought back and evaded, but the food, water, and grenades dwindled, our resistance in the following days14, 15, 16, 17 and on November 18, 1945 gradually weakened and was eventually captured by the French. Particularly, comrade Le Hai's platoon, commanded on the night of November 14, 1945, happened to encounter a small boat rowing ashore, so the whole squad had a piece of wood around it, both making buoys and rowing, dark the next evening. The boat returned to Minh Chau island to the original departure point.

Losses in the second battle of Co To: In this battle, we sacrificed 17 comrades and a fisherman from Minh Chau island who volunteered to lead the way. Arrested 22 comrades and 4 boatmen, 12 comrades escaped to Cat Ba island, lost 40 guns.

Comrades who were captured by the enemy, were detained in the lower floor of the Fort Cao blockhouse, then detained in a large boat. On November 19, 1945, the soldiers were taken to the battleship and detained in the basement to bring them to the South. On the afternoon of November 21, 1945, the battleship arrived at Bach Dang wharf, Saigon. The great Saigon detention center. On November 23, 1945, the French colonialists opened a military court for trial, they sentenced to death comrades Le Phu - Platoon captain and Nham Ngoc Binh - Platoon captain, because they thought that these two comrades were originally from the navy. Previously, France, received French military training, now fought against France, rebelled, other soldiers were sentenced to life in prison, and the boatmen were acquitted. On May 29, 1946, Con Dao prison was re-established for the second time, received 56 inmates with death sentences, including Le Phu and Nham Ngoc Binh, and more than 400 prisoners with life sentences of hard labor, including 20 soldiers. of the Sign Company. Despite being sentenced to death or life hard labor, the soldiers of Ky Con Company and all their brothers continued to fight in prison with all possible means, including escaping from prison and crossing the sea.

Under the leadership of the Party, led by the great President Ho Chi Minh, the long-term resistance war was won. On July 22, 1954, the Geneva Agreement restored peace in Vietnam and Indochina was signed. The French invaders withdrew, the prisoners of the two sides were returned, out of 22 officers and soldiers of Ky Con Company, the remaining 15 were returned, including comrades: Le Phu, Tran Quoc Bao, Dang Thua Hien, Giang Doanh, Phung Nhu Ho... 7 comrades died, including 1 comrade who died in cell Lao 2; 6 comrades died in prison escapes. Particularly, comrades Le Phu and Nham Ngoc Binh were sentenced to death, but due to the changing circumstances, on February 28, 1947 they canceled the death penalty for life for 5 people, including comrades Le Phu and Nham. Ngoc Binh.

The battle against the French on Co To island, on the night of November 13, 1945 by Ky Con Company, was the first defeat and also the heaviest defeat in the Company's combat history, the battle was not won. victory, so we have not established a revolutionary government here, so Co To island is still under the yoke of oppression and exploitation of the French colonialists. The French battle on Co To island demonstrated the courage and temperament of the soldiers of Ky Con Company, a good tradition of the unit, the company was protected, cared for and supported by the local people. under the most severe conditions.

The vestiges of the battle of Don Cao, of the Ky Con Company now only remain the foundation of the Fort, the water tank, the underground tunnel, the trench, and many broken bricks and tiles. The old Ma Vien temple sites no longer exist, the house containing the enemy's military equipment and military equipment was burned down right after the failed unit withdrew from Co To island. Today, the relic has become a meaningful attraction for people and tourists from all walks of life.

In 2002, with gratitude and respect, the Party Committee, authorities and people of Co To district spent funds and efforts to build Co To Martyrs Cemetery (in Zone 1, Co To town). This is the place to offer incense, remember and educate the traditions of heroes and martyrs who have contributed to the protection of the sea and island of Co To, in which the graves of 17 soldiers who died in battle have been gathered. Fort Cao of Ky Con Company. Currently, the remains of soldiers who died in the battle have been brought home to rest, and only one grave of one soldier is still located at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Co To district. Every year, on holidays, Tet and especially on July 27, the district People's Committee plans to hold incense offerings and solemn memorials to remember the merits of martyrs who sacrificed for independence. freedom of the sea and island of Co To. /.