A stirring debut for a Chinese epic

by New Worker correspondent

Andy Brooks with Eliana - BITDB Design, Beijing

NCP leader Andy Brooks joined actors, academics and members of London’s Chinese community at the reception and screening of Dongji Rescue at a packed house at the art-deco Odeon Luxe in London’s Leicester Square last week. This Chinese block-buster tells the story of the fishermen of Dongji island who braved Japanese gunfire in 1942 to rescue hundreds of British POWs from the Lisbon Maru.
“Watching Dongji Rescue tonight holds special significance” said Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang. “Eighty-three years have passed since the Lisbon Maru incident, and the world has changed, but we should cherish the memory and carry forward the friendship between the peoples of our two countries”.
The story "is very close to my heart, because my grandfather, Thomas Theodore Jones, was one of the survivors of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru" Anthony Jones, chairman of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association, told the reception before the screening. And one of the stars, William Franklyn-Miller, said “the bravery of the fishermen who rescued the British soldiers shines through" adding that he personally felt a responsibility to share this part of history more widely. 
In October 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry more than 1,800 British prisoners from Hong Kong to Japan, was hit by an American submarine unaware of the POWs on board. Rather than assist the POWs, the Japanese shot many who were trying to escape. Many more drowned. All in all, 828 lives were lost. However, this amount would have been higher but for the heroic efforts of the local Chinese fishermen who risked their own lives to save 384 British soldiers from the water. 

A tribute to an untold tragedy

by New Worker correspondent

NCP leader Andy Brooks joined academics, solidarity campaigners and members of the film industry for an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Axis in 1945 last week. Chinese and British publishers hosted a series of events to pay tribute to the victory at the London Book Fair and one of them was the special screening of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru at the Soho Hotel Screening Room in heart of London’s cinema world.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru is a 2024 documentary feature film about a little-known Japanese war-crime during World War II, produced and directed by Fang Li, that features family members of the British prisoners of war who were on board the Lisbon Maru. It not only rediscovers a long-silent history but also tells the story of how the peoples of China and Britain supported one another in the darkest of times. 

The Lisbon Maru was a Japanese transport ship carrying Japanese troops as well as over 1,800 mainly British and Empire prisoners of war. On 2nd October 1942, the ship was tragically sunk by a US submarine in the waters off Zhoushan, China. The Americans were unaware of the POWs on board.

Rather than assist the POWs, the Japanese shot many who were trying to escape. Many more drowned. In all, 828 lives were lost during the incident. However, this amount would have been higher but for the heroic efforts of the local Chinese fishermen who risked their own lives to save 384 British soldiers from the water. The heart of the film is based around those heroic fishermen and the risks they took to assist.

Through rare archival footage, survivor testimonies and expert interviews, this poignant documentary uncovers the harrowing journey of the prisoners as the ship began to sink leaving them trapped below deck. The film also highlights the role of the Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to rescue as many prisoners as they could.

Since its release in China The Sinking of Lisbon Maru has received widespread critical acclaim, achieving a remarkable rating of 9.3 on Douban, a popular Chinese social networking and review platform. It became the highest-grossing and most-watched Chinese documentary of 2024, won the Best Documentary award at the Silk Road Awards, and was selected as China’s submission for Best International Feature at the 97th  Oscars. Following talks with an independent distributor the film may soon go on a limited general release in the UK.

A friendship forged in war

Ambassador Zheng welcomes the guests at the reception

by New Worker correspondent

The Chinese Embassy hosted a special reception in London last weekend for the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors, commemorating a heroic rescue during World War II and celebrating the Spring Festival.
In October 1942 the Lisbon Maru, a freighter requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war  from Hong Kong to Japan, was torpedoed by an American submarine near the Zhoushan islands off Shanghai. As the ship sank, local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.
At the event the Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang recounted the rescue that stands as a testament to the time when China and Britain fought side by side against Japanese fascist aggression. The rescue has left tales of the profound friendship between the people of the two countries – a friendship that "will never fade" and "has become a valuable asset" for bilateral relations, he added.
Lindsey Archer, the niece of a British soldier who perished when the ship went down, said that events like this help strengthen bonds and foster new friendships. She expressed that the families of both the British survivors and the Chinese rescuers have become a new community for her. Keeping the memory of their ancestors alive, she said, is crucial, as "what they suffered, lost, and sacrificed has shaped where we are today".
Last year, Lindsey, along with a dozen other descendants of the British POWs visited China to pay tribute to the fallen at the wreck site in Zhoushan. Kenneth Salmon, whose father was a Royal Artillery sergeant rescued from the sinking Lisbon Maru, described the emotional connection he felt during the visit. Reflecting on the friendships forged during the trip, he said there is "an emotional attachment" in Zhoushan.
He also expressed his appreciation for the presence of young children at the reception, stressing the importance of preserving the story of the rescue for future generations to learn about their ancestry and their family history.

When Britain and China fought as one

by New Worker correspondent

On 1st October 1942, an American submarine sank a Japanese troop ship off Shanghai. Some 700 Japanese soldiers scrambled to safety when the Lisbon Maru went down. The 1,800-odd British POWs on board the ship were not so lucky. Many died trapped in the holds that had been sealed by the Japanese soldiers. Others managed to break through the hatches to take their chances in the water. Some were picked up by Japanese craft. Others, 384 in all, were rescued by local Chinese fishermen.
    And on 26 August, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang called on Denise Wynne, the daughter of one of the survivors, at her home in Chalford, Gloucestershire to deliver a letter from President Xi Jinping.
    Mrs Wynne had written to the leader of the People’s Republic of China to thank him for mentioning this part of history during his visit to Britain in 2015 and to express the firm support of the families of the survivors of Lisbon Maru for the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples from generation to generation.
    In his reply the Chinese President said the rescue of the POWs was an important testimony to China and the UK fighting shoulder to shoulder as allies against fascist aggression during the Second World War. It is also a historical episode epitomising the profound friendship forged between the people of our two countries. The President wrote that he knew the episode well and made a point of bringing up the story during his visit to the UK in 2015.
    President Xi stressed that this year marks the 50th anniversary of ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations between China and the UK. Over the past half a century, and owing to the hard work and dedication of numerous friendly personnel from both countries, China-UK bilateral relationship has kept moving forward. The President hopes that the families of the survivors of the Lisbon Maru will continue to work for the advancement of friendship between our two countries, and he looked forward to positive contributions from more British friends to the growth of China-UK relations.