𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝟐.
In October 1942, 129 members of the Hong Kong Signal Company with 1,700 other POWs and 700 Japanese soldiers were steaming for Japan on the freighter Lisbon Maru. She was torpedoed by US submarine Grouper and left to sink.
The Japanese soldiers were taken off and the POWs were left in the holds with the hatches battened down. Some broke out, overpowered the armed guards and began to swim the 4 miles to land. However, 828 men, including 50 Royal Signals, either drowned or were murdered while in the water.
Through rare archival footage, survivor testimonies, and expert interviews, this documentary uncovers the harrowing journey. It also highlights local Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to rescue as many POWs as they could.
Check the locations & timings for Everyman Cinema showings this weekend by clicking below:
https://www.everymancinema.com/film-listing/1000009842-the-sinking-of-the-lisbon-maru/
Fang Li’s New Documentary Shines Light on Lisbon Maru Tragedy
Royal Signals Museum
18th June 2025 · 1 min read
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