An English Schoolboy in War-torn China
Walford Gillison talks to Rana Mitter about his childhood in China.

Walford Gillison, a missionary son born in Wuhan, was a neutral during China’s war with Japan. He was semi-imprisoned after Pearl Harbor, but a full POW in Yangzhou from March 1942. In his book, he describes everyday life in an over-crowded camp with 600 people. He recounts the food shortage, lack of privacy, steaming summers and below-zero winters. Health was achieved thanks to the dedicated medico-nursing staff in a make-shift hospital. Education was achieved thanks to amazing teachers using minimal equipment. His release was delayed for seven weeks due to political turmoil outside the prison gates. Walford Gillison eventually became a surgeon in the West Midlands before retirement.
Date: 10 March 2022, 13:00 (Thursday, 8th week, Hilary 2022)
Venue: Online
Speakers: Walford Gillison, Prof. Rana Mitter (University of Oxford)
Organising department: Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Organiser: Professor Rana Mitter (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: information@chinese.ox.ac.uk
Host: Professor Rana Mitter (University of Oxford)
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AkTXh2nPRweJ0FNuGTFGww
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Clare Orchard