LiMMA in Action
All the people, activities, events, fundraising and research which are at the core of LiMMA
Forthcoming Events
Spring get together 2026
For a few years now, the Chinese Embassy has kindly hosted a get together for relatives of the POWs to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Last year the event was held at the Chinese Embassy in London, with previous get togethers taking place in Gloucester. As soon as we know the details we will update the website so please revisit.
Friday 2nd October 2026
The Lisbon Maru Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is the major focus of the year for LiMMA. For 2026 we plan to follow the same format as this year, with a service held at the NMA, followed by an informal get together.
Sunday 8th November 2026
After a well received invitation to march at this year's Remembrance Sunday in London, our plan is to march again as part of the Royal British Legion Memorial Service at the Cenotaph in 2026. We have an allocation of 30 places, so even more relatives will be able to join us next year. We also hope to secure a plot in the Field of Remembrance outside St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey. Watch this space!
Your LiMMA Steering Group
Who's who?
The LiMMA Steering Group are pictured from left to right: Paul Williams, Leigh Gray, Mandy Stubbs, Gerry Borge, Ken Williams, Anthony Jones (Chair), Geoff Haviland, Jean Clements and Rob Golding. Plus Trish Wooding and Alan Tucker (I.T. Support).
Ken & Paul are the grandsons of Corporal Edwin Husband.
Leigh is the great niece of Private James Alfred Maynard.
Mandy is the granddaughter of Leading Stoker Arthur William Bright.
Gerry is the son of Private (Drummer) John Borg and nephew of Private Duncan Edwin Cameron.
Anthony is the grandson of Telegraphist Thomas Theodore Jones.
Geoff is the son of Telegraphist Charles Stephen Haviland.
Jean is the niece of Private Kenneth Townson Hodkinson.
Rob is the son of Lance Corporal William Golding.
Trish is the great niece of Private Duncan Edwin Cameron.
Commemorations
VJ80, Remembrance, Repatriation and more
Throughout August LiMMA members took part in VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations around the UK. For more details of these events, please see the VJ Day Commemoration page.
This year members of the Lisbon Memorial Association (LiMMA) took part in the march to the Cenotaph for the first time. For more details and photos of LiMMA's attendance at Remembrance Sunday, please see the Remembrance Sunday page.
LiMMA Steering Group member Rob Golding, who is also the Area Co-ordinator for the Hampshire Children of Far East Prisoners of War group (COFEPOW) attended the Southampton repatriation commemorations in August. Read his full account of the day's events on the Repatriation Commemorations page.
Annual Memorial Service
At the National Memorial Arboretum
Every year on October 2nd, the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association (LiMMA) organises a Service of Remembrance for the POWs aboard the Lisbon Maru.
The annual gathering is an important opportunity to honour and remember those we lost and to connect with others, who share this heritage. Everyone is welcome and we sincerely hope you can join us in future years.
For this year's service a group of around 70 gathered in front of the Lisbon Maru Memorial for a simple, respectful, inclusive ceremony which lasted approximately one hour.
A Scottish Memorial
LiMMA Steering Group member Gerry Borge met Kirsteen Sullivan MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow at her constituency office in August after which Kirsteen said: "In May, I spoke in Parliament about the remarkable story of Gerry's father's and uncle's service with the Royal Scots in the Far East during the Second World War. It was a privilege to meet Gerry in my constituency office this week. When Parliament returns on 1st September, I will be leading an adjournment debate on the Lisbon Maru, a story too often forgotten, yet one that deeply affected many Scottish families and deserves to be remembered."
The adjournment debate on 1st September 2025 can be seen on parliamentlive.tv, during which Kirsteen asks for support for a memorial in Scotland.
This is an on-going action for LiMMA and a particularly important one for those families who reside in Scotland and/or whose relatives on the Lisbon Maru came from Scotland. Not forgetting how many of the men on board served with the Royal Scots.
LiMMA in Parliament
On 15th May 2025 Kirsteen Sullivan MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow raised the tragedy of the Lisbon Maru sinking in response to a letter from LiMMA Steering Group member Gerry Borge. She said:
"My constituent Gerry Borge shared with me the story of his father's and uncle's service with the Royal Scots in the Far East during World War Two. Next Tuesday, a memorial will be unveiled in the Zhoushan islands to commemorate the death of over 800 allied servicemen who were captive on the sunken freighter Lisbon Maru, and hundreds of survivors rescued by Chinese fishermen who braved the seas. Gerry will be in attendance, representing his family members who survived. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on remembering those who perished in the tragedy, and the bravery of the rescuers?" The speech can be seen on parliamentlive.tv.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
Now available online
The documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" is now available for streaming in the UK and Ireland. To stream the film, please follow this link:
https://www.odysseychinesecinema.uk/search.html?q=sinking+of+the+lisbon+maru
Community Cinema Showings
The aim continues to get the film shown in community cinema across the United Kingdom and Ireland to raise funds for the LiMMA. To find a cinema near you please visit the Cinema for All website using this link:
https://mycommunitycinema.org.uk/find-a-cinema/.
Enter your postcode and find your nearest community cinema. You can then propose the film and if they are interested, you can share with them a link to the booking form:
https://us3.list-manage.com/survey?u=33fa1e2bfd775a341fcd076ab&id=b2c8c5500e.
Belfast Screening 5th September 2025
Major (retired) Brian Finch attended a screening of Fang Li’s Documentary film in Belfast Northern Ireland on 5 September. Read more...
Fundraising
LiMMA pin badges are now available for you to own!
We also have Handknitted Poppies in a variety of colours, complete with a presentation card. Choose from red, white or purple.
As well as Handmade Resin Poppy Necklaces, which are individually made, so may vary slightly in their design.
Please click on the photos below to expand and view the items.
We suggest a minimum donation of £5 per item please.
All proceeds are donated to LiMMA.
Should you wish to purchase any of these items, please contact Jean Clements on missjeangarside@googlemail.com
