Chinese Labour Corps, First World War

Summary

This video explores the history of the Chinese Labor Corps (CLC) during World War I, focusing on their journey through Canada to France. The CLC, consisting of young men from China's Shandong province, were recruited to support the Allied war effort by constructing infrastructure like roads and railways, often in dangerous conditions. Many suffered hardships, including harsh travel conditions and mistreatment, with some dying during transit. The video reflects on the legacy of these laborers, the memorialization of their contributions, and ongoing efforts to properly honor them with memorials.

Takeaways

• 😀 William Head was once the site of a quarantine station where Chinese laborers were processed before being sent to France during World War I.
• 😀 The quarantine station included fumigation chambers where Chinese laborers were medically inspected, deloused, and fumigated before being transported.
• 😀 The Chinese labor corps (CLC) was created through collaboration between the British and French to provide labor during World War I, as the Allies faced significant setbacks.
• 😀 Over 120,000 Chinese laborers were recruited for the war effort, with 80,000 coming from Britain and 40,000 from France.
• 😀 The laborers were mainly young men from the economically depressed Shandong province of China, seeking opportunities and survival.
• 😀 Many Chinese laborers died during transit and are buried at William Head, where efforts are ongoing to identify and properly memorialize their graves.
• 😀 CLC members wore brass bracelets with unique numbers, which were often used to identify them rather than by name.
• 😀 The Chinese laborers contributed significantly by building infrastructure like roads and railways, often working near the front lines, which was extremely dangerous.
• 😀 A historical photograph from 1917 captures a whipping incident involving Chinese laborers, symbolizing the harsh treatment they endured during their time in Canada.
• 😀 There is ongoing discussion about how to properly memorialize the Chinese laborers, with ideas for memorials inside or outside the prison, though public accessibility is a concern.

Q & A

What was the original purpose of William Head before it became a federal penitentiary?

William Head was originally a quarantine station for Chinese laborers arriving in Canada on their way to France during World War I.

Why were Chinese laborers brought to France during World War I?

The British and French governments sought to recruit Chinese laborers to assist with the war effort due to setbacks suffered by the Allies, particularly in terms of manpower.

What were some of the conditions the Chinese laborers faced at the quarantine station?

The laborers were medically inspected, deloused, and fumigated in a fumigation unit before continuing their journey. Many faced cramped, harsh conditions during transport.

How many Chinese laborers were recruited for the war effort, and how were they transported?

The British recruited 80,000 laborers, and the French took 40,000. They were transported across Canada by rail and shipped through the Suez Canal to France.

What was the secrecy surrounding the movement of Chinese laborers during World War I?

The movement of Chinese laborers was kept secret to prevent the German forces from learning about this labor force being brought to France.

What were the living conditions like for the laborers during their transport to Canada?

The laborers were transported in sealed railway cars, with some of them freezing to death due to the cramped and harsh conditions during the journey.

What were some of the tasks the Chinese laborers performed once they arrived in France?

The laborers worked on docks, built roads, railways, and trenches, and worked in factories, often in dangerous conditions close to the front lines of the conflict.

What is the significance of the graves at William Head and their connection to the Chinese laborers?

There are graves at William Head that are believed to be the final resting places of some Chinese laborers who died during their transport or while working in Canada and France.

What is the current effort to memorialize the Chinese laborers who died?

There is an ongoing effort to properly identify and memorialize the Chinese laborers by confirming their identities and placing headstones with their names and contributions to the war.

What challenges exist in creating a memorial for the Chinese laborers at William Head?

The main challenge is the location of William Head being inside a prison, making it difficult to have a public memorial. Discussions are ongoing about the best way to memorialize them, potentially outside the gates of the institution.