LOST AND FOUND
IN HONG KONG
The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day
Current Exhibitions
CUHK Library
University Library, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2024.09.23 - 2025.01.24 11:00 - 19:00
1944.5.28 | D-9
First entry and first sentence in the diary
‘Bade farewell to the gunnery school commodore today, went to London in the afternoon to catch the Glasgow train along with seven others, beyond excited, though we only know that we are to train on a ship; as for the ship’s name or location, we haven’t the faintest idea.’
Photo credit: Mr Huang Shansong
In 2015, a tenement building in Hong Kong faced demolition. Before it was pulled down, an accidental discovery was made in one abandoned unit - an aging diary marked only by the year “1944” on its front page was found.
The diary in question belongs to Lam Ping-yu. During the tumultuous years of World War II, he and 23 other Chinese naval officers were chosen for training in Britain, subsequently taking part in the largest amphibious invasion in history: the D-Day Landings. On that momentous day, nearly 160,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of France, heralding the commencement of a significant counteroffensive and laying the groundwork for ultimate victory. Within the pages of his diary, Lam vividly chronicles a little-known chapter of history: Chinese soldiers not only fought valiantly in Asia but also engaged in pivotal battles across Europe.
What brought him to Europe? After thorough research, we now possess a comprehensive understanding. As this year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we have the opportunity to delve into this long-forgotten diary and explore the remarkable journeys of Lam and his companions. Even more intriguingly, this narrative frequently unveils unexpected glimpses of Hong Kong, breathing life into its historical connections.
