The Chinese Labour Corps - forgotten heroes of the First World War (Part 3)

Exactly a hundred years ago in 1917 the First World War was raging across Europe. A century later in 2017 town halls and war veterans groups across Northern France, where many of the fiercest battles took place, have been staging events and commemorations to remember the Allied war dead. Mark Griffiths visited the Pas de Calais area which saw intense fighting at Cambrai, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and French Flanders to investigate one of the least-known aspects of the war - the vital role played by 140,000 Chinese labourers who provided crucial support to the Allied forces in their march towards victory.

This is the third of his five reports from France. 

Mark Griffiths at the war memorial in Oye-Plage, France, December 2017 [Photo: China Plus/Mark Griffiths]

Part 3 - Work and Leisure

The Chinese Labour Corps was commanded by officers from Britain and Europe. Some were retired civil servants or missionaries who could communicate with the Chinese labourers but didn't have much military experience, while others were drawn from the regular army.

Sergeant of the Royal Fusiliers and Chinese worker during roll call at the Chinese Labour Corps Camp at Samer, 26 May 1918 [Photos: IWM, London]

Throughout 1917 and 1918, the men of the Chinese Labour Corps performed vital transport, maintenance, salvage and construction work on the Western Front. They made a major contribution to the Allied war effort. They usually worked beyond the range of the enemy forces’ deadly attacks but hundreds were killed by long-range shelling, air raids, and infantry raids during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. More succumbed to illness, especially during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Around 2000 Chinese labourers died while serving behind the lines on the Western Front. The dead were laid to rest in cemeteries in France and Belgium. In 2002, after a lapse of many decades, ceremonies in their memory were resumed at the Chinese cemetery at Noyelles-sur-Mer on the northern French coast.

Cimetière Chinois de Nolette, Noyelles-sur-Mer, France [Photo: Public domain]

The labourers were mainly aged between 20 and 35. Their job was to provide essential work to support the Allied troops. This included building trenches, unloading ships, mending roads and railways, and filling sandbags. Some members of the Corps carried out skilled and semi–skilled work for the Tank Corps, including riveting and repairing engines. Others worked in munitions factories and others in naval shipyards. Yet, despite their great effort and sacrifice their contribution to the overthrow of tyranny in the second decade of the 20th century was forgotten until relatively recently.

Chinese workers at a WW1 tank servicing facility [Photo: Chatham House, London]

It was never intended that members of the Chinese Labour Corps should take part in combat. However, First Class Ganger Liu Dien Chen was recommended for the Military Medal, having rallied his men while under German bombardment in March 1918. He was eventually awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. By the end of the war, this honour had been awarded to five Chinese workers. 

While the work was physically exhausting, with most of the men working ten hour shifts, there was still time for leisure activities. 

Chinese workers entertaining other workers and British & American soldiers at their camp at Samer, 26 May 1918 [Photos: IWM, London]

Chow Chen-fu, an interpreter with the 167th Chinese Labour Corps wrote to a friend in Shanghai with a description of life in France. "Having arrived just outside a small French village, after about three weeks we were transferred to work at a place about ten miles behind the front line. I saw one or two exciting air fights. About three times a week I get permission to visit the nearest villages for shopping. I dress in my own private clothes and the French people look at me with great curiosity. I must admit that the French always treat me with kindness and respect."

Chinese labourers celebrating Chinese New Year at Noyelles, 11 Feb, 1918 [Photos: IWM, London]

Just like Chinese communities around the world today, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and other celebrations were very important to the Chinese labourers. After an exhausting day's labour, they would make costumes and props and put on plays and performances of Chinese opera.

Members of the Chinese Labour Corps entertaining Chinese workers and British troops at an open-air theatre at Etaples, France (left) [Photo: IWM, London]A sword display in a Chinese labour camp in Crecy Forest, 27 Jan 1918 (right) [Photo: IWM, London]

On May 29th 1920, a Reuters news agency correspondent in Paris reported that the Chinese YMCA was planning to put on three traditional Chinese plays accompanied by Chinese music. The actors were drawn from the Chinese Labour Corps and would wear traditional Chinese costumes. By May 29th 1920 when that report was published the First World War had been over for 18 months. So, why were these talented Chinese performers and tens of thousands of their hard-working comrades still in France? We'll find out in the next part.