LiMMA in Action
All the people, activities, events, fundraising and research which are at the core of LiMMA
Spring Festival Celebration
At the Chinese Embassy
Saturday 21st February saw LiMMA at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, as guests of H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and Madam Hua Mei.
Following speeches from the Ambassador, Chairman of LiMMA Anthony Jones, Major (Retired) Brian Finch and the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU), artists from Zhejiang and Shaanxi provinces took to the stage. There were dancers and drummers, solo performances on traditional instruments, the suona and pipa, a ribbon dance, face changing and the Embassy choir. All very entertaining and fun and then we enjoyed some delicious Chinese food too.
In the spirit of the day, LiMMA Steering Group members, Jean Clements and Mandy Stubbs had made some beautiful horses, which they shared with our hosts. Stories, magazine articles, letters and photographs were also shared. Everyone concerned that if they had or knew something, it might be useful to other families.
A wonderful day spent with old friends and making new ones. A great opportunity to see and talk to likeminded people, ensuring that all of our loved ones, who were on the Lisbon Maru are always remembered, honoured and never forgotten.
Throughout the day, people were commenting on how much effort we, as the Lisbon Maru Family, are putting into ensuring that no man is left behind and every single one of them is at the forefront of what we do to remember them. Everyone spoke about the men with great sadness, but they also said they really value finding other relatives. The happiness within the group was evident, but so too was their determination that not one man, whether they survived the sinking, or not, will be forgotten.
Thank you to all LiMMA members, relatives and friends.
Your LiMMA Steering Group
Who's who?
The LiMMA Steering Group are pictured from left to right: Paul Williams (Education Secretary), Leigh Gray (Events Secretary), Mandy Stubbs (Membership Secretary), Gerry Borge (Vice Chairman), Ken Williams (Archivist), Anthony Jones (Chairman), Geoff Haviland (Group Advisor), Jean Clements (General Secretary) and Rob Golding (Treasurer). Plus Trish Wooding and Alan Tucker (I.T. Support).
Ken & Paul are the grandsons of Corporal Edwin Husband.
Leigh is the great niece of Private James Alfred Maynard.
Mandy is the granddaughter of Leading Stoker Arthur William Bright.
Gerry is the son of Private (Drummer) John Borg and nephew of Private Duncan Edwin Cameron.
Anthony is the grandson of Telegraphist Thomas Theodore Jones.
Geoff is the son of Telegraphist Charles Stephen Haviland.
Jean is the niece of Private Kenneth Townson Hodkinson.
Rob is the son of Lance Corporal William Golding.
Trish is the great niece of Private Duncan Edwin Cameron.
Forthcoming Events
Friday 2nd October 2026
The Lisbon Maru Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is the major focus of the year for LiMMA. For 2026 we plan to follow the same format as this year, with a service held at the NMA, followed by an informal get together.
Sunday 8th November 2026
After a well received invitation to march at this year's Remembrance Sunday in London, our plan is to march again as part of the Royal British Legion Memorial Service at the Cenotaph in 2026. We have an allocation of 30 places, so even more relatives will be able to join us next year. We also hope to secure a plot in the Field of Remembrance outside St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey. Watch this space!
Annual Memorial Service
At the National Memorial Arboretum
Every year on October 2nd, the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association (LiMMA) organises a Service of Remembrance for the POWs aboard the Lisbon Maru.
The annual gathering is an important opportunity to honour and remember those we lost and to connect with others, who share this heritage. Everyone is welcome and we sincerely hope you can join us in future years.
For the 2025 service a group of around 70 gathered in front of the Lisbon Maru Memorial for a simple, respectful, inclusive ceremony which lasted approximately one hour.
A Scottish Memorial
LiMMA Steering Group member Gerry Borge met Kirsteen Sullivan MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow at her constituency office in August after which Kirsteen said: "In May, I spoke in Parliament about the remarkable story of Gerry's father's and uncle's service with the Royal Scots in the Far East during the Second World War. It was a privilege to meet Gerry in my constituency office this week. When Parliament returns on 1st September, I will be leading an adjournment debate on the Lisbon Maru, a story too often forgotten, yet one that deeply affected many Scottish families and deserves to be remembered."
The adjournment debate on 1st September 2025 can be seen on parliamentlive.tv, during which Kirsteen asks for support for a memorial in Scotland.
This is an on-going action for LiMMA and a particularly important one for those families who reside in Scotland and/or whose relatives on the Lisbon Maru came from Scotland. Not forgetting how many of the men on board served with the Royal Scots.
Commemorations
VJ80, Remembrance, Repatriation and more
Throughout August LiMMA members took part in VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations around the UK. For more details of these events, please see the VJ Day Commemoration page.
This year members of the Lisbon Memorial Association (LiMMA) took part in the march to the Cenotaph for the first time. For more details and photos of LiMMA's attendance at Remembrance Sunday, please see the Remembrance Sunday page.
LiMMA Steering Group member Rob Golding, who is also the Area Co-ordinator for the Hampshire Children of Far East Prisoners of War group (COFEPOW) attended the Southampton repatriation commemorations in August. Read his full account of the day's events on the Repatriation Commemorations page.
Researching Your Relative
Tips on finding out more
As the LiMMA community and general interest in our forbearers grows, many of you are most likely saying that I want to know more, and rightly so! The information that LiMMA currently holds relating to the POWs and the units and locations which they were associated with is increasing daily resulting in an immediate requirement to set up a central data store. This will eventually provide a valuable resource for relatives to research documents relating to the event.
In the meantime members of the LiMMA Steering Group have provided some useful information for those wishing to find out more about their relatives.
LiMMA in Parliament
On 15th May 2025 Kirsteen Sullivan MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow raised the tragedy of the Lisbon Maru sinking in response to a letter from LiMMA Steering Group member Gerry Borge. She said:
"My constituent Gerry Borge shared with me the story of his father's and uncle's service with the Royal Scots in the Far East during World War Two. Next Tuesday, a memorial will be unveiled in the Zhoushan islands to commemorate the death of over 800 allied servicemen who were captive on the sunken freighter Lisbon Maru, and hundreds of survivors rescued by Chinese fishermen who braved the seas. Gerry will be in attendance, representing his family members who survived. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on remembering those who perished in the tragedy, and the bravery of the rescuers?" The speech can be seen on parliamentlive.tv.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
Available online
The documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" is available for streaming in the UK and Ireland. To stream the film, please follow this link:
https://www.odysseychinesecinema.uk/search.html?q=sinking+of+the+lisbon+maru
Community Cinema Showings
The aim continues to get the film shown in community cinema across the United Kingdom and Ireland to raise funds for the LiMMA. To find a cinema near you please visit the Cinema for All website using this link:
https://mycommunitycinema.org.uk/find-a-cinema/.
Enter your postcode and find your nearest community cinema. You can then propose the film and if they are interested, you can share with them a link to the booking form:
https://us3.list-manage.com/survey?u=33fa1e2bfd775a341fcd076ab&id=b2c8c5500e.
Fundraising
LiMMA pin badges are now available for you to own!
We also have Handknitted Poppies in a variety of colours, complete with a presentation card. Choose from red, white or purple.
As well as Handmade Resin Poppy Necklaces, which are individually made, so may vary slightly in their design.
Please click on the photos below to expand and view the items.
We suggest a minimum donation of £5 per item please.
All proceeds are donated to LiMMA.
Should you wish to purchase any of these items, please contact Jean Clements on missjeangarside@googlemail.com
