Historical Photographs of China

Figures involved in the migration of families from China to North Borneo, Tianjin (天津)

Figures involved in the migration of families from China to North Borneo, Tianjin (天津)

Identifier

NA27-08

Notes

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: NA27-08. Sir West Ridgeway’s Chinese labour scheme with the British North Borneo Company. Gordon O’Neill was an Ireland-born medical officer who spent thirty years living in Tianjin, having been decorated by the Chinese government. In the 'Comacrib Directory of China 1925' he is listed as a medical practitioner in Tianjin, a medical officer at the Chinese Government Railways in the same city, the vice-president of the Overseas Club and Patriotic League, president of the North China Automobile Club. In December 1941, the ship in which he was travelling to Australia was captured by Japanese forces and he was interned in Shanghai, leaving during a civilian exchange in 1942 (‘Dr G. O’Neill’, 'The Mercury', 08-05-1944, p. 4). The ‘Civil Governor Liu Jo Tseng’ is probably Liu Ruozeng (劉若曾, 1860-1929), the acting head of the Civil Government in Zhili province, 1913-1914. In the 'Directory & Chronicle for China, Japan, Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Siam, Netherlands India, Borneo, The Philppines, & c. for the Year 1912, 'W. E. Southcott is listed as a merchant with the W. Forbes & Co. in Tianjin, the honorary treasurer of the Municipal Council at the British Concession, Chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce, as one of the directors of the Tientsin Gas and Electric Light Co. From an album in The National Archives entitled ‘MISCELLANEOUS 20. Photograph album. Photographs depict scenes of emigrants from China leaving under British supervision to British North Borneo in the 1920s. (CO 1069/794)’. Crown copyright image reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England. The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of the information provided. This image may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, UK. Telephone: 020 8392 5225. Fax: 020 8392 5266. Infringement of the above condition may result in legal action. See NA27-01 and NA27-09 (other photographs including people in this group).

Caption in album or on mount

Reading from left to right, Dr G O'Neill, Mr Herbert Sheppard, Captain Woo, His Excellency the Civil Governor Liu Jo Tseng, Mr W E Southcott, Mr Kuo and Mr Tu.

Location

Tianjin

Estimated Date

1914

Material

Paper

Media

Black and white photograph

Repository

The National Archives, London