15.4.5

The Story of Chinese Labourers

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The Story of Chinese Labourers

Chinese labourers also contributed to the French and British war effort through skilled and unskilled labour. However, they were widely discriminated against.

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Establishment of the Republic of China

  • In 1911 AD, the Republic of China was established following the overthrow of the Chinese royal family.
  • The Chinese offered troops to fight for the allies at the start of the war
    • They hoped to be recognised as a strong country and build up trade links.
    • However, Britain and France rejected the offer of soldiers.
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France accepts the Chinese offer

  • In 1915 AD, the Chinese once more offered manpower, however this time it was for labourers and not soldiers.
  • France accepted this offer but the British still refused.
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The British change their minds

  • The heavy losses in 1916 AD changed the minds of the British.
    • 20,000 troops were killed on the first day of fighting at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 AD and both sides continued to have heavy losses.
  • The British recruited Chinese labourers as additional manpower.
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Chinese recruitment

  • From 1917 AD onwards, Britain recruited 94,146 Chinese labourers from the provinces of northern China.
    • However, this figure doesn't include the additional 40,000 men recruited by France or the men employed in other regions like Mesopotamia (Iraq).
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Medical examinations

  • Once the Chinese had arrived in Britain they were medically examined for 21 different conditions, such as tuberculosis, trachoma (eye disease) and dental disorders.
  • If they passed the medical inspections they were disinfected and also had their head shaved.

The Story of Chinese Labourers

Chinese labourers undertook many different tasks on the Western Front.

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What did the Chinese labourers do?

  • By 1917, the first Chinese recruited by Britain arrived in France.
  • The labourers undertook many different tasks on the Western Front.
    • The majority were involved in 'unskilled' work like digging trenches.
    • They were seen as very adaptable.
    • More skilled labourers were involved in maintaining tanks, repairing motorcycles, artillery and railway lines.
    • They were very capable workers and became specialists in many of these jobs.
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Preparations for the battle of Cambrai

  • The Chinese labourers were heavily involved in the preparations for the battle of Cambrai.
  • They helped to prepare the tanks for the battle.
    • In total, they prepared 474 machines and built 110 tank towed sledges to transfer the machinery to the front line of the battle.
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Discrimination

  • Despite the vital work the Chinese undertook on the Western Front, they were discriminated against.
    • Such as having their heads shaved, being kept segregated from the British troops and often experiencing racism.
    • They were regularly housed in huts far from the British and even their hospitals were sealed off from other troops.
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Leaving the Western Front

  • The Chinese were some of the last to leave the Western front.
  • They were involved in clearing the area after the fighting had ceased following the armistice in November 1918.
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Chinese deaths

  • It is estimated that nearly 3,000 Chinese labourers died during their employment during the First World War.
    • This could be much higher as very few are remembered on official memorials.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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