This is a shot in the dark.
My ancestors are buried in a graveyard in Ardamine, Courtown, Co Wexford, Ireland. I have visited this place all my life (I’m 46), although I am not from there - I’m English. At the edge of the graveyard is a grave which, I was told, was that of a man, always known as “the Chinaman”, whose body was washed up on the beach during the second world war.
After having heard the Archive Hour programme several years ago I have often wondered whether he was from Liverpool. His grave used to be marked with a metal cross, but nowadays there is a gravestone which says:
From a war ravaged sea, washed up on the strand, Lum Soey Chum, seaman, Laid to rest 8th May 1941, RIP.
Even as a tiny child it was clear to me that his grave was always well tended by the locals, who presumably erected the tombstone later. It is a fishing village and everyone has known a friend or relative who has drowned. My family always visited him when we went to see the family graves. He comes into my mind quite often. He is in a lovely place, with a view of the sea, overlooking the beach where St Aidan is supposed to have landed. People clearly care for him.
I wanted to put his name out there in case descendants ever search for him. It seems likely he was working on a British warship or merchant navy ship that sank, since they were able to identify him, I’m guessing he wore a dog tag.
I’m not sure which is sadder - being so far away from home if you’re from the Far East or being from Liverpool just across the water, without your family ever finding out where you are.
I’m also not sure his name is even Chinese. I wondered if it might be Korean. Perhaps someone can advise?
Anyway, there is a picture of his grave on the North Wexford Historical society website, along with all the other graves in the Ardamine graveyard.
If there is a better place for this post than the Lancashire/Liverpool Board, please send it to the right place.
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Topic: Chinese Soldiers Deaths Liverpool? (Read 2680 times)