CHINESE LABOUR CORPS

That this House commemorates the centenary of the First World War, pays tribute to the 96,000 men of the Chinese Labour Corps, of whom the first arrived in France in April 1917; notes their extraordinary sacrifices in support of front line allied troops, and that over 2000 died; further notes that they dug trenches, buried the dead, cleared shells, built and operated military railways, maintained and supported tanks and aircraft which were decisive in Britain's war effort, and helped build the cemeteries around the Somme after the War; regrets that their contribution was largely overlooked afterwards and has never been properly commemorated; and welcomes the planned permanent memorial to their toil and sacrifice in ABP's new business district at Royal Albert Dock in the London Borough of Newham.