RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n
58

it was there that he first had dealings with the Chinese whom he came to like and respect. He was elected to the Tsing Chung-hui tong [secret society], pledging to serve Sun Yat-sen, to overthrow the Manchu dynasty and liberate the Chinese people. He joined the Canadian infantry and in 1917 landed in England, later being sent to France. He was seconded to the CLC, though the opinion he gained of the Chinese with whom he served, of a lower class to those he met and had business dealings whilst in Canada, was not very high. He rejoined his own unit in March 1918, was wounded and returned to Canada in February 1919. Later he went to China where he joined Dr Sun Yat-sen and, after his death, his son, Sun Fo.

He obtained the nick-name "Two Gun Cohen” after an aide of Dr Sun saw him draw both his guns after a fracas in Canton. Dr Sun first called Cohen 'Colonel', then by his surname and then by the nickname of 'Mah Kun by which houseboys and coolies called him, being the next they could get to "Morris Cohen.”

But all this is another story!

Observations and Places Visited

Returning now to our Friend's reconnaissance expedition, the first stop was at the extensive Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, where one member of the CLC, Yang Feng-yung, 91948, is buried: he died on 4 December 1918. A beautiful American boxwood tree, flowering when we were there, stands behind this lone grave.

Ayette Indian and Chinese Cemetery also holds graves of members of the French Chinese Labour Corps. Their members tended to come from southern China and their duties were similar to those of the British CLC. The French graves here are of a similar shape to the British but with only their romanised name and the inscription Mort pour La France [Died for France]. I have not carried out any research concerning the French and their recruitment of Chinese and other nationalities who assisted in their fight for freedom. The 34 British CLC gravestones conformed to the usual Commonwealth War Graves Commission shape with each bearing the service number and/or name in Chinese and romanisation, the date of death and details of their place of birth in Chinese. The inscriptions in English, a straight translation of the
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n
Abbeville Communal Extension, Somme

Albert French National, Somme Arques-La-Bataille British, Seine-Maritime Ascq Communal, Nord

Auberchicourt British, Nord

*

Ayette British, Pas de Calais

Ayette Indian and Chinese, Pas de Calais

Bagneux British, Gezaincourt, Somme Bailleul Communal Extension, Nord

  
    1
    71
  
  
    4
    3
  
  
    I
    34
  
  
    2
    31
  

Beaulencourt British, Ligny-Thilloy, Pas de Calais 14 Bellicourt British, Aisne

Blargies Communal Extension, Oise Bourlon Wood, Pas de Calais

Caudry British, Nord

Charmes Military, Essegney, Vosges

Chocques Military, Pas de Calais

  
    7
    3
  
  
    21
    1
  
  
    3
    19
  
  
    4
    1
  
  
    16
  

Croisilles British, Pas de Calais

Cross Roads, Nord

  
    2
    2
  

Daours Communal Extension, Somme

Dernancourt Communal Extension, Somme

  
    6
    3
  

Don Communal, Annoeullin, Nord

  
    2
  

Douai British, Cuincy, Nord

  
    3
  

Doullens Communal Extension No2, Somme

  
    1
  

Duisans British, Etrun, Pas de Calais

  
    2
  

Ebblinghem Military, Nord

  
    1
  

Etaples Military, Pas de Calais

  
    1
    4
  

Foncquevillers Military, Pas de Calais

  
    2
  

Hazebrouck Communal, Nord

Fosse No 10 Communal Extension, Sains-en-Gohelle, Pas de Calais

Gezaincourt Communal Extension, Somme Haute-Avesnes British, Pas de Calais

Huby-St Leu British, Pas de Calais Lapugnoy Military, Pas de Calais Le Fermont Military, Pas de Calais

  
    49
  
  
    4
  
  
    12
  
  
    1
  
  
    5
  
  
    2
  

Le Portel Communal, Pas de Calais

  
    1
  

Le Quesnoy Communal Extension, Nord

  
    2
  

Les Baraques Military, Sangatte, Pas de Calais 197

  
    4
  

Les Rues-des-Vignes Communal, Nord

  
    1
  

Lille Southern, Nord

  
    2
    2
  

89
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