Hey there! Have you ever heard about heroes who sailed the seas to save lives? 🌊 Let me tell you an incredible true story from over 80 years ago!
The Brave Fishermen of Dongji Island
During World War II, in October 1942, a big ship called the Lisbon Maru was carrying more than 1,800 British soldiers who had been captured by the Japanese army. The ship was sailing from Hong Kong to Japan when it was hit by a U.S. submarine near the Zhoushan Islands in China’s Zhejiang Province.
After the ship was damaged, the British soldiers were in great danger! But guess what happened next? Local Chinese fishermen from Dongji Island saw what was happening and decided to help. They didn’t worry about their own safety. Instead, they rushed to rescue the soldiers from the sinking ship! 🚣♂️
A Heroic Rescue
Thanks to the brave fishermen, over 380 British soldiers were saved that day. The fishermen used their small boats to pull the soldiers out of the water. They showed that kindness and courage can make a big difference, even during tough times.
A New Memorial is Unveiled
Now, 82 years later, a special memorial has been built on Dongji Island to remember this incredible act of bravery. The memorial was unveiled on Thursday in Zhejiang Province. On the side of the memorial, it says in both Chinese and English: “Love knows no boundary; Friendship transcends time.” Isn’t that inspiring? ❤️
The memorial was designed by the China Academy of Art. It’s a big sculpture, measuring 4.5 meters long, 1.8 meters high, and 1.7 meters wide. That’s about the size of a large car! It even weighs about 1 tonne, which is as heavy as a small whale! 🐳
Remembering the Heroes
People like Wu Buwei, who is a descendant of one of the heroic fishermen, hope that more people learn about this story. “I hope more people learn about this chapter of history and remember those who made sacrifices for peace,” he said.
This story shows us that heroes can come from anywhere, and acts of kindness can happen even in the darkest times. The fishermen’s actions remind us that helping others is always important.
So, the next time you think about heroes, remember the brave fishermen of Dongji Island who risked everything to save others! 🌟
Reference(s):
Memorial commemorating heroic WWII rescue unveiled in E China
cgtn.com
