STORY: Lisbon Maru rescue honored in London
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 22, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 24, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:56
LOCATION: London
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the reception for the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LINDSEY ARCHER, Niece of a British soldier who perished in the Lisbon Maru shipwreck
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KENNETH SALMON, Son of a Royal Artillery sergeant rescued from the sinking Lisbon Maru
4. various of performance
5. various of descendants of British POWs visiting China in 2024 (Courtesy of the Chinese Embassy)

STORYLINE:

The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom hosted a special reception in London on Saturday for the families of survivors from the Lisbon Maru sinking. The event commemorated the heroic rescue during World War II and celebrated the Spring Festival.

The Lisbon Maru was a cargo vessel that was requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war (POWs) from Hong Kong to Japan. In October 1942, the ship was struck by U.S. forces off the Zhoushan Islands in China's Zhejiang Province. As the ship sank, local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang recounted the rescue. Zheng emphasized that the episode stands as a testament to China and Britain fighting side by side as allies against fascist aggression. The rescue has left personal tales of a friendship that "will never fade" and that "has become a valuable asset" for bilateral relations, Zheng added.

The reception concluded with families of the survivors standing together, holding hands, and singing Auld Lang Syne.

Lindsey Archer, niece of a British soldier who perished in the Lisbon Maru shipwreck, told Xinhua that events like this help to strengthen bonds and foster new friendships.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LINDSEY ARCHER, Niece of a British soldier who perished in the Lisbon Maru shipwreck
"I definitely found a new community. As well as the friends and relatives in the Lisbon Maru group, people here in the embassy now. And I've met lovely Chinese people, and I've got the links now in Hong Kong. I feel as if I've just been embraced by the people of China. And I do feel like part of the community. It's a very special bond.
This sort of event can only better build more bonds between us and friendships. Whether they're deep or lasting, I don't know, but it's lovely while it's happening.
It's so important to keep their (our ancestors') memories alive. And what they suffered and lost and sacrificed has impacted where we are now."

Last year, Archer joined a dozen other descendants of British POWs to visit China and 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, Salmon said that there is "an emotional attachment" in Zhoushan.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KENNETH SALMON, Son of a Royal Artillery sergeant rescued from the sinking Lisbon Maru
"One of the things that we took home from our trip in China was something that's quite long-lasting. And that is friendships. We, several of our group, are in regular contact with people on Dongji Island. These are the people whose ancestors rescued our ancestors from the sea. And there's an emotional attachment there. I have an emotional attachment to Dongji Island because my father was one of those that was rescued from the sea by a Chinese fisherman. Which one, I don't know. But if it wasn't for the Chinese fishermen, I would not be born."

As part of the event, a photography exhibition showcased the progress made in recent years in tracing the history of the Lisbon Maru rescue.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London.
(XHTV)