"How can you forget your old friends, and you can't miss them in your heart. How can old friends forget each other, and friendship lasts forever. In the midst of the song, people joined hands and sang the Scottish folk song "Friendship Lasts Forever" ......Recently, the families of the survivors of the Lisbon Maru and the descendants of Chinese fishermen who participated in the rescue operation gathered in Gloucestershire, England, to remember the history and inherit the friendship between the two peoples.
In October 1942, the Japanese army requisitioned the passenger and cargo ship "Lisbon Maru" to escort more than 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong, China back to Japan, and was hit by the US army while passing through the waters near Zhoushan, China, killing 843 British prisoners and saving 384 British prisoners by local fishermen.
At sea we are all family, and no matter who is in distress at sea, we will come to the rescue. As a representative of the descendants of Zhoushan fishermen who rescued British prisoners of war, Wu Buwei told the deeds of his grandfather Wu Qisheng and the thrilling rescue at the scene.
Pooh is deeply moved by the mention of this history. Pooh's father, Molly, was the last survivor of the Lisbon Maru. "My father repeatedly said, 'If it weren't for the Chinese fishermen, I wouldn't have survived.'" Pooh said that he will always remember the kindness of those Zhoushan fishermen who risked their own safety and sacrificed their lives to rescue British prisoners of war.
At that time, Wu Qilin, a fisherman from Zhoushan, went into the water twice to rescue seven people, and then worked with his relatives to provide them with clothing and food. To commemorate this special friendship, Wu Xiaofei, Wu's granddaughter, created a painting of Morley and Wu Qilin's family, with the daily life and work of Zhoushan fishermen in the background.
The families of the survivors of the Lisbon Maru who participated in the event came from all over the UK, and many of them were three or four generations of grandchildren. Some of them carry the badges and ** left by their fathers, and some display the relevant historical materials they have collected.
This is the second time that Daniel, a descendant of survivors, has accompanied his grandparents and parents to the event. At the scene, Daniel's 5-year-old daughter Anna was deeply attracted by the dance performance of Zhoushan artists. "It's a story to be remembered by the younger generation."Daniel said that he hopes to have the opportunity to take his daughter to Zhoushan, China, "so that she can learn about the stories of Chinese fishermen who sacrificed their lives to rescue her, and also see the beautiful island of Zhoushan with her own eyes."
Sai Oscar, who lives in Northampton, England, drove three hours to the event with her husband, whose father, Williamson, was one of the survivors of the Lisbon Maru. "My father once said that without the Chinese fishermen sacrificing their lives to save them, there would be nothing that happened to him. ”
Retired British Major Feenqi, who has long been committed to collecting and sorting out materials on the rescue incident of the "Lisbon Maru", said that he was very happy to see that the rescue incident of the "Lisbon Maru" was becoming more and more widely known, and hoped that everyone would inherit this memory and friendship and jointly promote friendship between the British and Chinese people.
Zheng Zeguang, Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, said that the rescue of the "Lisbon Maru" was an important testimony of China and Britain fighting side by side as allies in World War II to jointly resist fascist aggression, and it was also a historical story of the deep friendship between the two peoples. It is hoped that the families of the survivors of the "Lisbon Maru" and people from all walks of life will carry forward the friendship between the Chinese and British people and make positive contributions to promoting the stable development of bilateral relations.
The British Gloucester Telegraph).