's classic work "In Memory of Bethune" made the name "Bethune" widely known. This member of the Canadian Communist Party, who had crossed the ocean to China, regarded the cause of the liberation of our people as his own responsibility, and died on November 12, 1939 after suffering a finger injury and sepsis while treating the wounded.
On the occasion of his death, Bethune wrote a touching will to the commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, in which he wrote a letter to the general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada to report the situation, concerned about the life of his ex-wife, and said that he would give the relics to comrades and friends as a memorial.
Bethune: An Internationalist Fighter Dedicated to China Bethune, a physician born in a small town in northern Ontario, Canada, had a carefree childhood, but the difficult life of his college years changed his outlook on life.
He began to pay attention to the suffering of those at the bottom of society and was determined to fight to change this situation. Bethune showed great talent in the field of medicine, and his innovative spirit and fearless spirit made important contributions to the medical community.
His experience with tuberculosis** is the result of his bold attempts and perseverance. Bethune's relationship with China began in Yan'an, and during his work in China, he actively contributed to the health of the Chinese people, and even on his deathbed, he handed over his will to ***
This deep love for the Chinese people has deeply touched the hearts of Chinese leaders in his exchanges with China. Although Bethune's life was full of hardships and hardships, his fearless spirit and noble sentiments made him an internationalist fighter who will always be worthy of people's admiration.
The cannons of the October Revolution of 1917 awakened Bethune and gave him the dawn of a new era of proletarian revolution. He saw this as the path to the liberation of the oppressed nations, so he threw himself into the revolutionary torrent of the proletariat.
In 1935, as one of Canada's delegates, Bethune attended a meeting and decided to join the Communist Party of Canada. Since then, he has seen the emancipation of people all over the world as his responsibility.
On July 7, 1937, when the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, Bethune was outraged by it, and he immediately decided: "Spain and China are both anti-fascist battlefields, I want to go to China and fight with the people there, they need me!" ”
In early January 1938, Bethune led a medical team of Canadians and Americans to Hong Kong on a cruise ship from Vancouver and then to Wuhan.
** He Bogu warmly received Bethune at the Wuhan office of the Eighth Route Army and had a cordial conversation with other members of the medical team. ** He told Bethune about the anti-Japanese struggle waged by the Chinese people and explained to him the correct position of our party on the current situation.
Bethune also reported his determination to resist Japan and put forward a request to go to the front and Yan'an. During his time in Wuhan, many high-ranking Kuomintang generals came to Bethune's residence and asked him to stay and help the Kuomintang.
However, when Bethune saw the scene of ** corruption and the displacement of the people within the Kuomintang, he said: "I will not waste precious time for a political zombie!" ”
Therefore, he rejected the Kuomintang *** ** and resolutely went to Yan'an.
On February 22, 1938, under the careful arrangement of ***, Bethune and others embarked on the journey to Yan'an. In the face of the indiscriminate bombing of Japanese planes and the search and arrest of the Kuomintang, they embarked on this journey full of challenges and unknowns without hesitation.
After a long journey, I finally met the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army in Xi'an. On the way to Yan'an, Bethune not only met many soldiers of the Eighth Route Army who went to the front line, but also met hot-blooded young people from all over the country who went to northern Shaanxi.
With their actions, they expressed their firm belief in the revolution and their incomparable expectations for the future. Finally, at the end of March, Bethune and his party arrived in Yan'an, which they had longed for.
The Minister of Health of the Eighth Route Army and others had already warmly welcomed their arrival outside the south gate, and they were arranged to live in an earthen cave in the central lane of Yan'an City, although the conditions were difficult, Bethune and the others did not complain, but were very excited about it, because they saw a Yan'an full of life and hope.
Bethune wrote in his diary: "Although Yan'an was the oldest city of the Chinese Revolution, I immediately felt that it was a well-managed city. Here, the streets are clean, the streets are vibrant, and people seem to know what their purpose ......Finally, Bethune wrote: "In Yan'an, I saw a new China!" ”
In general, Bethune and others encountered many challenges and difficulties on their journey to Yan'an, but they expressed their firm belief in the revolution and their expectations for the future with practical actions.
They saw a brand-new China in Yan'an, and also witnessed the development and progress of the Chinese revolution.
New copywriting: *The encounter with Bethune is as unforgettable as the acquaintance between Lu Zhishen and Liu Bei. In the spring of 1938, ** talked with Bethune, who was about to enter the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border area in Yan'an, and he said humorously: "Wutai Mountain, there was Lu Zhishen before, and now there is *** is the new Lu Zhishen!" ”
Bethune had great curiosity and yearning for this "new Lu Zhishen". *I am also looking forward to the arrival of Bethune, a surgeon. The conditions in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region at that time were very difficult, not only lacking medicines, but also lacking specialized medical personnel, so a large number of wounded could not be treated, and they were either seriously injured or lost their lives.
Therefore, when *** learned of Bethune's arrival, he was particularly happy and attached great importance to it. In June 1938, Bethune arrived at the Jingangku, where the headquarters of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region was stationed, and went to greet him in person.
When he saw Bethune, who was full of exhaustion, he immediately said, "Doctor Bai, you better go and rest for a few days before working?" ”
Bethune resolutely refused to rest, stating that he was like a machine gun ready to fight at any time. Deeply touched by his spirit, I decided to do my best to take care of him.
Knowing that Bethune was not used to Chinese cuisine, he immediately found a master who could bake bread. However, this caused a little skirmish. Bethune objected to being special because of himself, which made *** feel very embarrassed.
In addition, ** also increased the amount of dishes for Bethune, but after Bethune found that his meal was different from that of the fighters, he immediately looked for *** theory. Bethune said that since everyone regarded himself as a comrade, then he should eat the same things and enjoy the same treatment as everyone else.
** I expressed my deep admiration for this, and I felt sincere admiration for Bethune's lofty ideological realm.
When Bethune first entered the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region, he deeply felt the poor medical environment, backward medical technology, and scarcity of medical equipment in the border area. Watching a large number of wounded people die or be crippled because they are not effective**, Bethune was deeply saddened.
He actively put forward the requirements for the establishment of a regular hospital and put forward suggestions for training medical technical personnel. However, ** believed that in the current environment, it was not suitable to establish a regular hospital, so he and Bethune and others jointly researched and built a hospital suitable for field conditions.
Bethune worked tirelessly for the construction of the hospital, and after more than two months of hard work, a simple model hospital was finally built. **Personally attended the inauguration ceremony of the hospital and announced Bethune as the first director of the hospital.
Bethune said excitedly: "I feel like a king today, a revolutionary comrade-like king!" I'm going to be the dean, I will! ”
However, not long after the establishment of the hospital, the Japanese army launched an attack on the Jinchaji anti-Japanese base area. During this siege, the model hospital that had just been established was blown up.
Looking at the ruins of the hospital, Bethune sat there and wept loudly. He felt heartache for his hard work, and even more heartache for the soldiers to not get a good **.
Bethune refused to eat because of his pain, and ** stepped forward to comfort him: "The hospital can be rebuilt if it is gone, but if the people are gone, it is really gone." Only when you have enough to eat and have the strength can you build a hospital. ”
Soon, in order to adapt to the conditions of the field, Bethune established a mobile medical team, and designed and produced two medicine boxes, which were carried by mules on the battlefield, and were called "mobile hospitals".
In the process of treating the wounded, Bethune met ***, he introduced his medicine box to ***, and praised his name "Lugou Bridge" for being very vivid and meaningful.
In the spring of 1939, when Bethune heard that the Eighth Route Army in central and eastern Hebei was fighting against the Japanese army, he asked for permission to lead a medical team to the front line to treat the wounded.
Although *** did not agree at first, he still agreed under Bethune's firm request. During his time in Jizhong, Bethune was always the first to appear on the scene whenever a battle broke out.
On one occasion, a seriously injured man was transported for more than 10 hours before being brought to the medical team, and despite the best efforts of the paramedics, he was not able to be rescued.
After the operation, Bethune's heart was filled with deep pain, and it was also because of this incident that he decided to get closer to the battlefield, closer to the wounded. Later, a seriously wounded man who had been shot through the abdomen by an enemy bullet was sent to Bethune's medical team**, and thanks to the timely arrival and the superb skills of the medical staff, the wounded was treated.
Bethune also wrote a report to ***, describing in detail the process of treating the wounded and the existing problems, and suggested: "Our medical team should be a little closer to the front line, so that we can treat the wounded in the shortest possible time and avoid the death of more fighters!" ”
Bethune used to say, "We can do a better job, and we can save more people!" After working on the Jizhong front for four months, Bethune returned to Pinghan Luxi and attended the party meeting of the military region to commemorate July 1 in Tang County and Jiazhuang.
**Invite Bethune to sit in the front row of the podium. After the meeting, he asked Bethune: "Comrade Bethune, do you have any other needs?" Bethune replied: "I need to go back to Canada and publicize to the outside world the achievements of the Eighth Route Army in fighting against Japan."
If possible, I would like to enlist more international aid so that we can buy medicines and medical equipment to better ** the sick and wounded. ”
Bethune resolutely stayed on the front line, disregarding his personal safety and only to treat the wounded. He had his finger cut during the operation and was infected with a severe surgical infection. ** Knowing that his condition was serious, Bethune still insisted on working and was unwilling to put down the scalpel in his hand.
Although he was repeatedly ordered to accept it, Bethune never agreed and insisted on working at the front until his condition deteriorated to the point of no return. Bethune's dedication is admirable, and his deeds will always be remembered.
On November 11, 1939, Bethune, who was seriously ill, wrote his last words to ***, in which he expressed his happiness in China and hoped to make more contributions.
At the same time, he also asked *** to help with his belongings, including two marching beds, two pairs of English leather shoes and riding boots, breeches, etc., which were given to him. He also hopes that the International Aid Committee will be able to allocate a sum of money for his ex-wife's living expenses, which can also be paid in installments.
In the letter, he said that he had a heavy responsibility to his ex-wife and could not take her with him because he had no money. In the end, he affectionately said that the two years in Jinchaji were the happiest and most meaningful days of his life, and the only regret was that he was a little lonely.
Bethune met his ex-wife, Francis Campbell Penney, when he was 33 years old, when he met the beautiful and gentle Francis while sitting for the Surgical Society membership examination in Edinburgh.
Francis was only 22 years old at the time, with big eyes and a fluent Edinburgh language. Although Bethune loved his ex-wife very much, for some reason, he finally chose to divorce.
However, his will is full of attachment to his ex-wife, which makes people feel very touched.
Bethune and Francis fell in love at first sight, and immediately after the exam, they agreed to travel together and spent 20 wonderful days together. After a year of correspondence, they decided to get married the following year and moved to Detroit, USA.
After marriage, Bethune chose to become a private doctor because he had always sympathized with the poor and often treated patients who could not afford to pay for medical treatment for free, so his patients became more and more numerous.
However, it wasn't long before he developed tuberculosis, a disease that was not able to be ** at the time. The newlyweds were undoubtedly devastated. Bethune began to hide from his wife, not wanting her to worry, but Francis found out about his condition.
Despite this, Francis did not abandon him, but took good care of him, hoping to alleviate his pain. This made Bethune feel very guilty and uneasy. One day, Bethune said to his wife, "My dear, I know that you already know about my condition, and I can't pass tuberculosis on you, so let's divorce." ”
Francis categorically disagreed. A few weeks later, Bethune said that he wanted to return to his hometown for treatment, in fact, he wanted to take the opportunity to separate from Francis. On the occasion of parting, Francis said, "Because I love you, and no matter what happens, I will not leave you." ”
Bethune said, "It is because I love you that I cannot be with you without regard for your life!" Francis cried and said, "Death is death, I am not afraid of death, we must be together in life and death." ”
Bethune had no choice but to say ruthlessly: "If you don't divorce me, then I won't go!" In desperation, Bethune and Francis divorced. She was overbroken and returned to her native Edinburgh.
Bethune was a persistent man who, despite his divorce, was deeply in love with Francis. In order to return to her, Bethune fought against the disease with superhuman perseverance, and even risked testing "artificial pneumothorax" on himself
A miracle really happened, and Bethune was cured in less than a year. Immediately after he was discharged from the hospital, he sent a telegram to Francis, stating that his feelings had never changed and asking her to return.
Francis had also been thinking about Bethune's illness and had not empathized, so she returned to their home as soon as she received the telegram. Soon after, Bethune and Francis were married again, and they were finally reunited.
However, Bethune was very ambitious, and he was so immersed in his work and research that he neglected his own life and Francis. This made Francis feel that Bethune had changed, that he had become impersonal and that he did not care about himself.
After a long time, their relationship also had a crisis.
Franceste instructed Bethune to buy meat and vegetables, but when he came home in the afternoon, there was only a piece of intestine in the refrigerator. Bethune explained that it was human intestines, much to Francis's surprise.
Similar events often occur, and Francis eventually chose to break up with Bethune. However, despite their divorce, Bethune still cared about Francis at the end of his life.