Descendants of British POWs commemorate Lisbon Maru WWII tragedy

Descendants of British prisoners of war and the Chinese fishermen who rescued them during the Lisbon Maru incident gathered on an eastern Chinese island on May 20 to unveil a monument to the historic rescue, before meeting filmmakers behind the upcoming war epic "Dong Ji Island."

A bronze monument is unveiled on Qingbang Island in Dongji town, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, May 20, 2025, to commemorate the Lisbon Maru tragedy during World War II. [Photo/Xinhua]

In October 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a cargo ship requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was torpedoed near the Zhoushan Islands by a U.S. submarine after failing to display required prisoner transport markings. As the ship sank, Dongji fishermen braved machine-gun fire to rescue drowning British prisoners, saving 384 lives.

The gathering was held on Qingbang Island, one of the three populated islands in the Dongji Islands archipelago in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, where a bronze monument now stands to commemorate the heroic rescue 83 years ago.

The 4.5-meter-long memorial, designed by Qu Xiaoshi of the China Academy of Art, features the inscription "Love knows no boundary; Friendship transcends time" in both Chinese and English, along with a detailed account of the event. The design shows arms linked together, reaching up from rough waves, inspired by stories of rescuers pulling prisoners from the water by their wrists.

The tragedy has been largely forgotten and is denied by the Japanese government. In recent years, descendants, historians, journalists, filmmakers and the Chinese government have worked to preserve accounts of the incident and uncover the truth. Film producer Fang Li released the acclaimed documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" last year.

"This memorial stands as a bridge between past and present, between China and the U.K., between sorrow and solidarity," said Anthony Jones, grandson of survivor Thomas Theodore Jones and chairman of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association. "We honor all, both the dead and the living, who kept their memory alive."

"Though the Lisbon Maru sank, the bond it forged never will," Wu said, a descendant of a Dongji fisherman. "As descendants of Dongji fishermen, we will guard this truth just as our ancestors guarded lives – embracing peace and friendship as the ocean embraces all boats."

Descendants of British prisoners of war pose with filmmakers at a preview event for "Dong Ji Island" in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, May 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Dark Horse Entertainment]

A new feature film, "Dong Ji Island," based on this historic rescue, is set for release this summer. The day after the monument unveiling, the filmmakers screened a preview for descendants of British prisoners of war, who said they were deeply moved.

The descendants said the film vividly recreates the heroic rescue of British POWs by Chinese fishermen, highlighting the bonds formed between the two countries during the World Anti-Fascist War.

Lindsey Sarah Archer, niece of the late Lisbon Maru prisoner John Weaver, called the film profoundly shocking yet compelling, saying its gripping narrative held the audience's attention throughout.

Denise Wynne, whose father Dennis Morley survived the Lisbon Maru, said the film's preview offered striking visuals and realistic performances. She was particularly moved by scenes of Chinese fishermen rescuing British prisoners. Wynne said she hopes the film's release will raise awareness of the Dongji Islands rescue and this chapter of history, as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of both the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Fei Zhenxiang, co-director of the film, spoke at the event about his emotional return to Zhoushan, where the crew filmed on location out of respect for the story. He said their goal was to share this rarely told tale of bravery and kindness with the world.

Producer Liang Jing, who recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where the film received strong positive feedback, said the creative team feels responsible for sharing this moving story with audiences around the world.

She recounted a poignant moment at Cannes when a British producer, after seeing the "Dong Ji Island" poster, revealed his uncle was a victim of the incident and thanked the Chinese filmmakers for honoring his ancestor's ordeal. The exchange, Liang said, reinforced the team's sense of mission.

"It made us realize this film's profound value – we must ensure the world remembers this history," she said.