Harry Livingstone's Forgotten Men: Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps in the First World War by Dan Black


Harry Livingstone's Forgotten Men: Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps in the First World War
Title : Harry Livingstone's Forgotten Men: Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps in the First World War
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1459414322
ISBN-10 : 978-1459414327
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 504 pages
Publication : Lorimer

HARRY LIVINGSTONE was a small town doctor from Listowel, Ontario when he felt the pull of patriotism that led him to volunteer in the First World War. In 1917, Livingstone found himself embarking on a strange journey that took him to China, where he would inspect,and ultimately travel back to Canada with, men who became known as the Chinese Labour Corps. Once in Canada, the Chinese under Livingstone's care travelled across Canada in secret trains bound for Halifax. All news about the trains and the men was censored. On board crowded ships, the men crossed the U boat infested Atlantic. They were then put to work to keep the war machine in motion digging trenches, hauling supplies, repairing military vehicles, and the grisly job of cleaning up the battlefields. About 300,000 Chinese labourers were recruited by the British,French, and Russian allies during the First World War. Nearly 84,000 of them passed through Canada on their way to France. Livingstone and other officers kept diaries and journals, and wrote letters home telling of their experiences with the Chinese. From these first person accounts as well as historical records and from rare letters written by Chinese labourers themselves, author Dan Black offers for the first time a full account of Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps a story that had mostly been unknown until now.

Harry Livingstone's Forgotten Men: Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps in the First World War Reviews

  • Evelyn Galloway

    Dan Black has given light to a genuine life changing journey for all involved. At a pivotal time in world history Black found just the right balance between historical information, personal observations, and experiences. His thoroughly researched account of this unknown secret mission is powerful.

    HARRY LIVINGSTONE'S FORGOTTEN MEN CANADIANS AND THE CHINESE LABOR CORPS instantly draws the reader into the inception of this mission and every man who played a part. Harry Livingstone's call of patriotism, the Chinese laborer's desire to improve their human condition, and the world's desire to bring WWI to a successful
    conclusion involves an interesting twistthe recruitment of 300,000 Chinese laborers.

    There are no better keys to unlocking history than through journals, diaries, letters, and personal connections to real time events. Dr. Harry Livingstone, much like his Grand Uncle the famous explorer Dr. David Livingstone, kept written records of his experiences with the CLC. Harry and many others have given voice, a century later, to these no longerFORGOTTEN MEN.

  • D. Freeman

    well researched piece of important Chinese history not well reported
    humanistic view not sugar coated
    fine historical work well written
    fair to Chinese facts and Western point of view

  • Sheila Ehmann

    History written in a manner that is not only entertaining but enlightening. Hard to believe the Chinese were moved across Canada with such secrecy, but they were. My grandparents lived two blocks from the CPR Western Terminus and never knew of it, even though several trains passed through in daylight hours. Very easy to read with lots of anecdotal parts to keep it moving along.much like the trains.