The Lisbon Maru 2

On the 1st October 1942 the Lisbon Maru was torpedoed and began sinking off Dongji Island, China. 

The Lisbon Maru was one of the infamous ‘Hellships’ of the Maru class of Japanese mixed cargo ships. The names ‘Hellships’ came from the appalling conditions in which the prisoners were held, herded into the cargo holds. 

The ship had sailed from Hong Kong on 27th September 1942 carrying 1816 British Prisoners of War, Japanese guards and some Japanese troops.

As the ship sank the hatches of the cargo holds were closed shut, trapping the prisoners inside. After 24 hours many of those trapped escaped and jumped into the water where they were then fired on with machine guns and rifles. A Japanese destroyer repeatedly tried to run down my father and his comrades in the water.

The courageous intervention by the brave, unarmed, Chinese fishermen of Dongji Island rescued 384 PoWs from the water and by intervening and being witnesses, saved the lives of many more, including my father. 

Most of the PoWs were recaptured and went on to camps in Japan. Three were hidden and they returned to the UK.

This picture, by the artist Paul Christien is a cultural interpretation of the rescue of Lisbon Maru PoWs by the fishermen of Dongji Island.

A copy of this print, together with the above text, was presented to H.E. The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, by the artist, Paul Christien in February 2024. Paul also presented a copy to representatives of Dongji island, for display in the museum, alongside a copy of The Lisbon Maru 1 which was already on show.

The work is digitised and printed by Graham Saxby to fine art archival standards.

Commissions by arrangement

• Only available in the UK
• Prints shipped/ delivered free locally within 3-5 working days 
• Archival quality media
• Available in three sizes, each with a small border to aid mounting
• Mounting and framing by request