From War to Love and Friendship

Text of Chris' 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.

Dear Friends, I would like to take you back to 1941.

The world is at war, and British soldiers are stationed in Hong Kong, defending the territory from the advancing Japanese forces. However, on Christmas day 1941 was the fall of Hong Kong, during which many of those soldiers were taken prisoner by the Japanese.

We often speak of the soldiers as men, but many were just boys. Young boys, who had left their homes, their families, and their futures behind to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Two of those young men were John Borg, my grandfather and Duncan Edwin Cameron, known as Eddy, my great uncle.

Both were from Edinburgh, Scotland and became friends during their time in Hong Kong. At that moment in history, they could not have known the lasting significance of that friendship. Yet even in the midst of war, friendship endured.

On 27th September 1942, John and Eddy were among hundreds of prisoners of war forced aboard the Lisbon Maru, bound for Japan. The conditions on board were unimaginable. The men were weak, suffering from starvation, disease, and brutal treatment.

On October 1st 1942, after 4 days at sea the Lisbon Maru was hit by a torpedo. After some time, around 3 nautical miles from the island where we stand today, the Lisbon Maru began to sink.

There were 1816 POWs (men and boys) on board.

That night they worked tirelessly to keep the ship afloat using a hand operated water pump. 828 of these men and boys perished when the Lisbon Maru finally sank on October 2nd 1942. These were not the last victims of this dreadful tragedy, a further 200 would die in the coming months.

I think we should take a moment to remember the bravery of these men.

And it is here, at one of the darkest moments of war, that we see extraordinary humanity. Chinese fishermen, at great personal risk, came to the rescue of those who had escaped the sinking ship.

They brought survivors, including my relatives and many others, to safety on nearby islands. They gave them food, water and clothing. Offering kindness to strangers in a time of fear and conflict.

Once again, even in war, we see love and friendship prevail.

Thanks to the courage and compassion of those fishermen and their families, John and Eddy survived. They were later taken to Kobe House in Japan, where they remained prisoners of war, but their friendship endured.

Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, another bond was forming. John's mother and Eddy's sisters developed a close friendship, united by hope, worry, and resilience.

When the war finally ended, John and Eddy were fortunate enough to return home. They returned to Liverpool on 27th October 1945 and made their way to Edinburgh by train.

In Edinburgh, both families with their new found friendship, gathered at the train station, waiting anxiously for their loved ones to arrive. John's mother expressed fear that she may not recognise her own son.

It was there that John met Eddy's sister, Margaret. And from the hardships of war came something extraordinary - love.

John and Margaret married and from that union, a family was born. Those moments of friendship, courage, and love are the very reason I myself and my sister Kirsteen are able to stand here today. John our grandfather and Margaret our grandmother.

So today, we remember not only the suffering of war, but the bonds it has created.

We honour the bravery and kindness of the Chinese fishermen, whose actions saved so many lives.

So, we must carry on this bond between us in the UK and our friends here in China. Thanks to the fishermen and their friendship we can stand here today.

May we continue this friendship for generations to come. Despite war - love and friendship should prevail.

Thank you dear friends.