By Yuling Chen, EDITOR
Nick Townsend from the UK had prepared for a year for his travel of “finding”, and he realized his hope on March 25.
Nick Townsend (Photo from the respondent)
With two books and a map, he traveled far away across the ocean to Chongqing, hoping to find the resting place of Louis Rivett, his schoolfellow that died in the War of Resistance. Nick told the media, “The history should remember that story.”
Hand-drawn map (Photo from the respondent)
Seeking the resting places of over 1,000 schoolfellows across the world
During the War of Resistance, the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU for short) – a special international volunteer team, came to China. They supported China’s resistance against Japanese aggression through medical assistance, material supply, and medical organization. From the relevant information, the FAU, established in 1914, was striving to save the sufferers of war across the globe.
From 1942 to 1946, the medical material supply provided by the FAU accounted for over 80% of the total from abroad. The team members set clinics for the public, built new medical centers, and renovated hospitals, providing medical assistance for thousands of Chinese people.
In about 1945, Louis Rivett boarded the ocean steamer bound for China. He was a graduate from Charterhouse School, one of the top universities in the UK and with 400 years of history. In Chongqing, he served in the FAU under the management of Jack Jones.
Unfortunately, he died of illness on August 31, 1946, in Chongqing at the age of 29. And people buried him on a hill near Chongqing Friends High School.
As one of his schoolfellows, Nick traveled to Chongqing to find the resting place of Louis and mourn him.
A one-year-long preparation reduced the error range within 100 meters
“I have prepared for one year to find that cemetery,” Nick said. He found the targeted destination in the school archives that people had buried Louis on a hill near that school.
In addition to resources from the archives, Nick also found much historical information about FAU.
Nick said: “I have compared the hand-painted map of 1949 and the standard map of today’s Chongqing. That school and its ground still exist.”
Under the help of British Consulate-General Chongqing, Nick, with two books and one Chongqing map (1949 version), started his search in this city. “It is a pity that I failed to find the accurate site of his resting place, but I have reduced the error range within 100 meters.”
On March 25, Nick plugged in two small memorial symbols on the nearest site, recording information like names and dates of death.
On March 25, Nick plugged in two small memorial symbols on the nearest site, recording information like names and dates of death. (Photo from the respondent)
In the future, Nick, together with other schoolfellows, will find the resting places of other alumni. They will also commemorate them and record their stories.
Nick felt pleasantly impressed with the two-day search in Chongqing. “It is a good city, and the two days are very delightful. I like the river, history, and even the hotpot of Chongqing, and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for those who had helped me.” Nick said.
Source: CQCB