The story of "Lisbon Maru": Zhoushan fishermen rescue 384 British prisoners of war

Source: China Blue News

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On September 27, 1942, a "Lisbon Maru" ship carrying 1,816 British prisoners of war and 800 Japanese soldiers departed from Hong Kong to Japan. On October 1st, when the "Lisbon Maru" passed through the waters of the Aoya Island of Dongji, it was attacked by the U.S. submarine torpedo and began to sink. After the Japanese transferred officers and soldiers, in order to prevent the escape from the prisoners of war, all the cabins were closed with wooden bars, in an attempt to make all prisoners of war and "Lisbon Maru" buried the sea together. The British prisoners on the "Lisbon Maru" rescued himself and escaped.

It is the traditional virtue of Zhoushan fishermen to save the sea. During the crisis, the fishermen from nearby islands such as Qinghuan and Miaozi Lake spontaneously drove Xiaoyu on the sea to save people. 198 fishermen dispatched 46 small boats, 65 times back and forth, and rescued 384 British prisoners of war to the island. However, 828 British soldiers were shot or buried under the sea by the Japanese army.

Fishermen also took out their clothes, meals, and arranged accommodation for prisoners of war. Later, the Japanese army changed the strategy and went to the island to conduct a carpet -based search. 381 prisoners of war were re -marked by the Japanese. The survivors who were arrested and survived in other ways were still sent to Japan for hard work, and many people did not cook until the end of the war. The story of Zhoushan fishermen bravely rescued the "Lisbon Maru" was still praised by the Chinese and British peoples.

In August 2020, the last fisherman Lin Agen, who was rescued, died at the age of 96. In 2015, he recalled the scene of rescue at the time to reporters.

Lin Agen, who was caught by the "Lisbon Maru" shipwreck (interview during his lifetime): I pulled one when I saw someone drifting over and pulled one to see one. The water flow is very urgent, and there are (people) who rolled away, not saved.

In 2019, 14 British prisoners of war arrived at the East Polar Sea, which was sinking in Lisbon Maru, and the old man Lin Agen accompanied them to find a boat. The descendants of the British prisoners of war and the British researchers sent a mourning letter to the elderly Lin Agen.

Major Fei Enqi: He is the last fisherman who has experienced the Lisbon pill incident, but everyone will not forget him because he leaves. His family and all the people of Zhoushan City should The fishermen who had played a glorious moment of the moon were extremely proud. May he rest in peace.

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