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WW1 - Pekin Camp, Camp for Chinese Labour Corps, Mont Kemmel
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WW1 - Pekin Camp, Camp for Chinese Labour Corps, Mont Kemmel
WW1 - Pekin Camp - Camp for The Chinese Labour Corps on the Western Front. The camp was near The Kemmelberg (also known as Kemmel Hill or Mont Kemmel), Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium. The labourers were recruited to fill the manpower shortage caused by casualties during the first 2 years of fighting in World War I. As China was initially not a belligerent nation (in the war), her nationals were not allowed by their government to participate in the fighting and so the Chinese Labour Corps was formed. The Corps comprised Chinese men who came mostly from Shandong Province, and to a lesser extent from Liaoning, Jilin, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui and Gansu Provinces. The men were trained at camps, would be inoculated, have their heads shaved and be given clean clothes before embarking on a gruelling three month journey to their destination. A number are buried in Liverpool, having died during the journey. Approximately 150, 000 Chinese served in the labour corps during the war, around 100, 000 of whom worked in support of the British Army. They were set to work on multifarious tasks including trench digging, road repair, loading at ports, working for the tank corps, burying the dead and making wooden crosses. Identified by a number etched on a brass bracelet, the labour corps were segregated from the rest of the Army. Their war medal, featuring only their number rather than name, was cast in bronze rather than silver. A campaign is underway among the Chinese community to recognise the contribution of these men, and to erect a memorial to them in London. Date: circa 1917
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Media ID 11584301
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Barracks Camps Carved Corps Flanders Gateway Huts Kemmel Labour Labourers Mont Nissen Paifang Pailou Pekin Recruited Kemmelberg
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the daily life at Pekin Camp, a facility housing the Chinese Labour Corps during World War I. Located near Mont Kemmel in Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium, the camp was established to address the manpower shortage caused by casualties in the first two years of the war. With China initially remaining neutral in the conflict, its nationals were prohibited from participating in combat. Instead, the Chinese Labour Corps was formed, recruiting men primarily from Shandong Province, as well as Liaoning, Jilin, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, and Gansu Provinces. The recruits underwent rigorous training at camps, receiving inoculations, having their heads shaved, and being issued clean clothes before embarking on a gruelling three-month journey to the Western Front. Sadly, a number of labourers lost their lives during the journey and are buried in Liverpool. An estimated 150,000 Chinese served in the labour corps, with around 100,000 supporting the British Army. Their tasks ranged from trench digging and road repair to loading at ports, working for the tank corps, burying the dead, and making wooden crosses. Each labourer was identified by a number etched on a brass bracelet, and their war medal, featuring only their number rather than a name, was cast in bronze instead of silver. Today, there is a growing campaign among the Chinese community to recognize the significant contributions of these brave men and to erect a memorial in their honour in London. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of their sacrifices and the vital role they played in the war effort.
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