Heartache of the sailors sent home
A MAJOR exhibition exploring the little-known story of more than 1,000 Chinese sailors, repatriated from Liverpool, opened at Birkenhead’s Williamson Art Gallery on February 10.
In 1946, the Liverpool Constabulary carried out orders from the British government to deport Chinese sailors in Merseyside, many of whom had travelled to England as part of the war effort.
A total of 1,300 were forcibly repatriated to China.
Their wives and children believed they had been deserted, until the release of declassified records 50 years later revealed the truth.
Edge Hill University’s Rosa Fong, who is behind the exhibition, worked with local community group The Dragons of the Pool to document the stories of the surviving children of the seamen for the first time.
This project builds on Rosa’s previous academic research.
The Dragons of the Pool will be on view at the Williamson Art Gallery until March 18.
Find out more at https://williamsonartgallery.org/portfolio/dragons_of_the_pool/