Zhoushan Visit

This year marked the fourth occasion that relatives of Prisoners of War involved in the Lisbon Maru sinking were invited by the Chinese UK Ambassador and the Chinese province of Zhoushan to go to China to pay their respects to the POWs and Chinese fisherman, involved in rescuing so many that fateful day on 2nd October 1942. Twenty people were invited on the China 26 group and the trip was funded by the Chinese.

17th to 18th May 2026

Football Event

The Zhoushan trip this year kicked off with a visit to the Wu-Yue Cup. During a short break in the cup match, a special Lisbon Maru Sino-British Football Event saw descendants of Lisbon Maru POWs take to the pitch alongside descendants of the Zhoushan fishermen, who saved some of the POWs. David Hillon, relative of Seaman Gunner David Knox, and Catherine Cooper representing the families of the British POWs gave gifts of Liverpool FC flags to the Zhoushan and Quzhou teams.

David and Catherine kicked off the match. Then 2 football enthusiasts from the UK, William and Kwasi both wearing number 84 shirts, marking 84 years since the Lisbon Maru sank, took part alongside Chen Tao, a descendant of the Chinese fishermen.

The Journey to China

The adventure for the rest of us started at Heathrow, boarding a 12 hour flight on Chinese Eastern Airlines to Shanghai. Fortunately for the first time no visas were required, so that made things easier.

As midnight came and went somewhere over Russia and we slipped into the 18th May, my birthday, I was singled out by cabin crew with a birthday card and a little cake as my birthday had just arrived. The first indication of the overwhelming hospitality and care we were to receive on this trip. Even included in China in our support team were a doctor and a nurse, as one of our group said, "Wow!" Luckily their professional services were not required, but they were with us just in case.

On arrival in Shanghai we were were met by our team of chaperones and bussed for three hours, or so to Zhoushan and our first hotel, the Sheraton, an outstanding start to our trip.

19th May 2026

Zhoushan City Museum

The following morning it was 'all systems go'. Smart clothes on and we were straight off after breakfast to the opening ceremony of 'Friendship across Mountains and Seas' with speeches and presentations and exchange of gifts. Chen Chong, Secretary of the Zhoushan Municipal Party Committee was present and James Murphy, son of Lance Corporal James Laurence Murphy delivered a very moving speech on behalf of the relatives.

Read the full text of James Murphy's Speech...

Then we were off to visit the Zhoushan City Exhibition Hall. This was a significant museum featuring the Lisbon Maru incident ('The Lisbon Maru Rescue Incident: An Exhibition of Archival Records'). Again, Wow! Looked brand spanking new, a real tribute to those involved in the Lisbon Maru incident. Even a wall of POW names where we searched out our relatives. And of course lots of pictures, interviews etc as the Chinese press made sure that the most was made of recording and publicising the visit and raising the profile of the Lisbon Maru story.

The Quingbang Memorial

After an hotel lunch, we were off again on a 2 hour fast boat ride to Qingbang Island, one of the islands in the Dongji Islands Group. This is where the Lisbon Maru memorial is cited, remembering the Chinese fishermen involved in rescuing POWs in their sampans and bringing them to the island. Qingbang island has been described as a "green fairyland". This island is quieter than the others in the Dongji group, less developed and known for its overgrown, abandoned stone houses cascading down the hills.

A shuttle bus ride followed, then a climb to the memorial on the top of a hill, with wreaths in hand for the wreath and flower laying ceremony at the memorial.

This was it. Tthe solemn and heart wrenching memorial moment for us, as we remembered our relatives, those who died, those who survived and the Chinese rescuers, some of whose descendants joined us in what was a poignant and tearful event.

A once in a lifetime moment, very precious.

Then another special moment, an official tree planting ceremony nearby to symbolise the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.

Speeches were also delivered by local officials, Catherine Cooper, Chris Borge and Kirsteen Dugan whose grandfather Private John Borg and great uncle Private Duncan Edwin Cameron were rescued by the fishermen.

Read the full text of Catherine Cooper's Speech...

Read the full text of Chris Borg's Speech...

Read the full text of Kirsteen Dugan's Speech...

And all of this captured for posterity by Chinese reporters and film crews, with video, photos and interviews.

After this emotional rollercoaster and highlight of the trip, off we went by boat to Miaozihu Island for an overnight in the Silent Space Hotel, another outstanding venue. Here we met up with descendants of Dongji fishermen and made sweet potato rice cakes, just as their ancestors had done for our Lisbon Maru survivors back in 1942, sharing all they had including food stored for winter to feed and cloth survivors who had nothing.

Click image to expand and see all images

20th May 2026

Lisbon Maru Rescue Incident Memorial Hall

The following morning, we went off to another Lisbon Maru museum on Miaozihu Island. Again, Wow! Artefacts and stories and poignantly, a ladder recovered at the time from flotsam and jetsam floating in the sea, after the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, all those years ago.

Catherine Cooper presented a commemorative gift to the museum for its collection and gave a deeply moving speech on behalf of her father, Major (Retd) Brian Finch.

Read the full text of Catherine Cooper's Speech...

Then an island tour, back for lunch, followed by a 2 hour boat ride back to Zhoushan and a visit to Xingcheng Bay, before returning to the Sheraton hotel.

The next few days were a whirlwind of visits and tours.

21st May 2026

Visits, Tours and Food

We took in the Shenjiamen Fishing Port, the Guanyin Culture Park and a wonderful lunch in Guanyin village, with the biggest 'lazy susan' round tables I have ever seen! Then a visit to Songhai Greenway and Five Mountain Water Conservancy Project. Amazing engineering, carefully preserving the greenery, topography and ecosystem of the area.

Dinner with the Mayor of Zhoushan

In the evening, it was time for smart clothes again. A banquet hosted by none other than Xu Renbiao, the Mayor of Zhoushan. This marked the first time since 2005 that a senior official from Zhoushan had dined with the British relatives.

When the speeches came round, Rob Golding LiMMA Treasurer, whose father Lance Corporal William Golding survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, had the honour to do the 'thank you' reply on behalf of LiMMA and the relatives of all the men on the Lisbon Maru.

So pleased we had the opportunity to do that, the hospitality was frankly unimaginable.

Read the full text of Rob Golding's Speech...

22nd to 24th May

More Visits, Hospitality and Home

The last couple of days were a whirlwind of visits to other venues.

First was the ancient cultural city of Ningbo. Temples ancient and modern on a magnificent scale, the Ming Dynasty Library and believe it or not a fantastic modern University campus of Nottingham University. Who would have thought that?

The following day we were off to Hang Zhou, a phenomenal silk museum and a boat trip on the amazing West Lake in Longing. Then once settled into a hotel, off to the street markets and to practice with the Alipay payment app on the phones!

Sunday saw us return to Shanghai and home. Taking time to process and absorb all we had seen and done and reflect on the amazing Chinese hospitality.

A Few Closing Words From Rob Golding

LiMMA Treasurer and 2026 Participant

If you are lucky enough to get the opportunity, as LiMMA Members to put yourself forward, should there be future trips, do not hesitate. I know only a few can do this given the numbers that can be accommodated, but the key for me was at the start of the trip.

The moments of high emotion at the Qingbang memorial, to be there, look out to sea where the Lisbon Maru sank, touch the rocks where survivors had been, touch the memorial, look out to sea where so many had died just 3 miles away and remember.

As families of Lisbon Maru POWs this is our legacy, and our responsibility.

Never forget. Never forget those who died, those who survived, and those Chinese fishermen who risked so much and gave so much to rescue many POWs.

Text courtesy of Rob Golding LiMMA Treasurer and China 2026 Participant and Kent Shum.

Photos courtesy of Kent Shum, LiMMA members and relatives on the 2026 trip to Zhoushan.