The Chinese Labour Corps is one of the almost forgotten contributors to the Allied Forces in WW1. The British and French governments recruited many thousands of Chinese labours throughout the war. Accurate numbers are difficult to estimate but some historians believe there could have been 200,000 men involved. Although the men were armed with picks and shovels rather than rifles and grenades this does not mean their contribution to the Allied victory was any less considerable. The men from China hauled supplies, constructed fortifications, maintained fighting vehicles and repaired roads and bridges – often under horrendous living conditions and frequently while under enemy fire.
Somewhere around 10,000 Chinese lost their lives while toiling in Europe. Today the Bazflyers visited the only memorial dedicated to the efforts and sacrifices of these men one hundred years ago. It is an inconspicuous gate tucked away in a corner of today's bustling Hong Kong and bears the inscription- "In memory to the Chinese who died loyal to the Allied cause in the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945".
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