Chinese Labour Corp Banner

"My grandfather, Jim Maultsaid, enlisted in the British Army in 1914. After injury in the Battle of the Somme, he was taken away from the field of battle. He recuperated and returned to service as acting captain of the 169 Company, Chinese Labour Corp in France. The Chinese Labour Corp comprised of over 96,000 Chinese workers who were largely recruited from the Shandong Province in China in 1917. These workers were contracted to do the logistics work in the closing stages of World War I, essentially running supply lines and then ultimately clearing up after the Armistice. This would involve clearing munitions, burying bodies, dismantling tanks and trains. This banner was created by members of the 169 Company and was presented to my grandfather at the end of his service with the Corp. To the best of our knowledge, it is unique insofar as no other officer was presented with anything like this and he took it as a very special gesture. The reason he was given it was because he treated members of the Company very well and with respect. Today, the people who worked as part of the Chinese Labour Corp are referred to as the, “The forgotten of the forgotten,” as their role in the Great War has been largely marginalised. Fortunately, a monument in London is currently being created and my grandfather’s words will be inscribed on the monument reading “Bravo, the boys from land of the dragon. Bravo indeed."