Royal Scots spread heroic rescue of British POWs by Chinese fishermen to wider audience

The Royal Regiment of Scotland (the Royal Scots) made an announcement on Aug. 12, 2025 that the award-winning documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" would be available to stream online in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting from Aug. 15.

According to the announcement, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), the Royal Scots have decided to give more people who haven’t seen the film the opportunity to watch it and learn about this important part of history.

Retired British soldier Brian Finch, who has been committed to collecting historical documents related to the Lisbon Maru, speaks during a special screening of the documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

83 years ago, the Japanese cargo ship Lisbon Maru was transporting British prisoners of war (POWs) when it sank off the coast of east China's Zhejiang Province. More than 800 lives were lost, but local Chinese fishermen rescued 384 POWs, an extraordinary act of humanity that remains a powerful link between China and Britain.

In another similar post earlier this month on Facebook, the Royal Scots highlighted the role of Chinese fishermen in rescuing British POWs and provided a vivid summary of the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Lisbon Maru. The post stated, "about three to five miles away were some islands towards which a swift current was running, but the islands appeared to be rocky and dangerous. Some men reached the islands, but many were lost on the rocky coast. Others were picked up by Chinese junks and sampans, which put out from the islands."

"These Chinese treated the men with great kindness, giving them food and clothing from their meagre supplies and looking after them until the Japanese landing party came to recover them," it added.

The post prompted an outpouring of interest, with descendants and relatives of British POWs and history enthusiasts exchanging archival records, photographs, and film references in the Facebook group "Lisbon Maru Relatives and Friends." Some of them expressed hope to see more film and television productions that recreate the history of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.