Text of Catherine's commemorative speech given on Tuesday 19th May 2026 at the Chinese Memorial on Qingbang Island, Dongji Town, Zhejiang province, East China dedicated to the Chinese fishermen who saved the lives of hundreds of POWs during the Lisbon Maru Incident.

My father, Brian Finch, served with The Middlesex Regiment and he has asked me to lay a wreath on his behalf dedicated to all members of the Regiment (known as The "Diehards") and everyone else who suffered on the Lisbon Maru.

He helped to have a memorial built in the UK to the victims of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and was delighted when he learned that a memorial was to be unveiled in Zhoushan dedicated to the brave fishermen who rescued so many prisoners of war from the sea. This act of incredible courage and kindness forced the Japanese soldiers to abandon their policy of wholesale slaughter and instead to pick up survivors. Thus whilst the fishermen directly saved 384 lives their intervention indirectly saved many hundreds more.

My father has long wanted to visit Zhoushan to see the site of the sinking and to meet the descendants of these fishermen. His advanced years and infirmity prevent him from making the journey so he has asked me to represent him at this ceremony.

My father, Brian Finch, wishes to convey his profound gratitude for the selfless courage shown by the Zhoushan fishermen in 1942 and sends his personal best wishes to their descendants and to the local population. I should like to add my personal respects to the memory of these fishermen.