201
'Will some kind hand in a foreign land place a flower on my son's grave.'
Avril Williams has answered that call countless times. She looks upon the departed, including of course the two Chinese, as members of her extended family. It is important they all have visitors.
NOTES
1 J Keith Stevens, 'British Chinese Labour Corps' Labourers Buried in England', Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society vol. 29, 1989 (1991), p 390 and Plates 24 and 25
2 Michael Summerskill, China on the Western Front, Britain's Work Force in the First World War, published by Summerskill (1982), passim
3 The Register at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery
*S M Bard, Report on Survey and Study of old Service Graves at Stanley Military Cemetery, Antiquities and Monuments Office (Hong Kong, c 1990), p.10, and S M Bard, Annex to Board Paper Antiquities Advisory Board/21/91, Study of Military Graves and Monuments Hong Kong Cemetery (Hong Kong, 1991), p 17
4 In large Chinese families children are still sometimes known by numbers eg 'Number Four Sister'
5 British soldiers in World War Two each wore two identity discs on a cord around their necks. On these plastic discs were stamped their army number and their name. If a soldier was killed one disc was buried with the body and the other was sent back to base for record purposes
6. Four proverbs were used. The other two were, 'A noble duty bravely done', and 'Though dead he still liveth'. All four have a hint of a Christian message
7 Tim Sebastian, 'Haunted by the Ghosts of Heroes', South China Morning Post (1 July 1995), Features p.3
8 Ibid
PLATES
Plate I Although an army number is inscribed, this grave of a Chinese labourer in Foncquevillers Cemetery is unnamed. This is not uncommon
Plate II The inscription on this grave shows the name of the labourer and his native place in China
201
'Will some kind hand in a foreign land place a flower on my son's grave.'
Avril Williams has answered that call countless times. She looks upon the departed, including of course the two Chinese, as members of her extended family. It is important they all have visitors.
NOTES
J Keith Stevens, 'British Chinese Labour Corps' Labourers Busted in England', Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatte Society vol. 29, 1989 (1991), p 390 and Plates 24 and 25
2 Michael Summerskill, China on the Western Front, Britain's Work Force in the First World War, published by Summerskill (1982), passım
'The Register at Fonoquevillers Military Cemetery
*SM Baid, Report on Šio vey and Study of old Service Graves at Stanley Military Cemetery, Antiquities and Monuments Office (Hong Kong, c 1990), p.10, and S M Bard, Annex to Board Paper Antiquities Advisory Board/21/91, Study of Military Graves and Monuments Hong Kong Cemetery (Hong Kong, 1991), p 17
4
In large Chinese families children are still sometimes known by numbers eg 'Number Four Sister'
Brush soldiers in World Wat Two each wore two identity discs on a cord around their necks On these plastic discs were stamped their army number and their name If a soldier was killed one dise was buried with the body and the other was sent back to base for record purposes
6. Four proverbs were used. The other two were, 'A noble duty bravely done", and "Though dead he still liveth' All four have a hint of a Christian message
7 Tim Sebastian, 'Haunted by the Ghosts of Heroes', South China Morning Post (1 July 1995),Features p.3
8 lbid
PLATES
Plate Although an amy number is inscribed, this grave of a Chinese labourer in Foncquevillers Cemetery is unnamed This is not uncommon
Plate II The inscription on this grave shows the name of the labouter and his native place in China
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