CLC (Chinese Labour Corps) at Loos

[historian9]

Saturday's Times carried an article by Ben Macintyre about the lack of memorial to the CLC and their work on the Western Front. There is an illustration which I think has the Tower Bridge at Loos in the background. Judging by the perspective of the painting, that would be Hill 70 in the far background. Can anyone please share what the painting depicts and whether there is more to the scene than edited for the article.

May thanks

[kenf48]

 

 

2 hours ago, historian9 said:

Can anyone please share what the painting depicts and whether there is more to the scene than edited for the article.

 

The picture is a contemporary print published from the Times History of the War and entitled 'The Charge of the Scottish Regiments at Loos' (what it has to do with the CLC is beyond me as they were not recruited until 1917.)

 

Basically a stock photo (Getty Images) lifted from a picture library to illustrate an unrelated WW1 article.  The engraver was W.H. Davis.  There are many examples on the web e.g.

https://picclick.co.uk/World-War-One-ANTIQUE-PRINT-Charge-of-Scottish-232898386559.html

[historian9]

Thanks Ken

[Marilyne]

17 hours ago, historian9 said:

lack of memorial to the CLC and their work on the Western Front.

 

Does he know there is a very nice memorial to the Chinese workers in Poperinge?? 

 

M.

 

[kenf48]

1 hour ago, Marilyne said:

 

Does he know there is a very nice memorial to the Chinese workers in Poperinge?? 

 

M.

 

 

The link to the article in the The Times not sure if you will be able to access it as it's a subscription site

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/this-forgotten-army-stains-britains-history-pq0xct2c6

 

I will let you make up your own mind but imo the article is inaccurate in many respects memorials in F&F get no mention, he merely states,

"Among Britain’s 40,000 war memorials, there is not one to the CLC. These workers have no descendants in Britain because they were denied the right to settle here. Most of their records of service were destroyed in the Blitz. They continued their dangerous work long after the Armistice, yet they have been painted — in one instance quite literally — out of history."

 

The article is a response to the CWGC Special Committee Report to Review Historical Inequalites in Commemoration which is discussed elsewhere on the GWF.