Remembering legendary Bethune

People from home and abroad have paid tribute to the legendary Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune, who treated patients alongside Chinese people in their fight against Japanese invaders during World War II, while marking his 85th death anniversary recently.

Bethune, a member of the Canadian Communist Party, arrived at Yan'an in Shaanxi province in 1938 as the head of a medical team amid the raging Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

He set up a mobile hospital and operated on soldiers close to the battlefield, saving the lives of thousands. However, his life was cut short at the age of 49, a year after his arrival in China. He died of blood poisoning on Nov 12, 1939.

A commemoration event was held at North China Military Martyrs Cemetery in Shijiazhuang of North China's Hebei province in December to honor Bethune for his selfless service and upholding the spirit of internationalism. His remains were relocated to the cemetery in 1953.

Around 100 people, including soldiers, students and individuals from various walks of life, attended the event themed "Memories Through Time and Space". They bowed before the surgeon's tomb and presented flower baskets.

Michael Crook, chairman of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, also attended the event.

"My father met Norman Bethune in Spain during his recovery from battle injuries. Influenced by him, my father aspired to come to China, where he met my mother and later had me," he said.

Crook's parents, David Crook from the United Kingdom and Isabel Crook from Canada, helped train a large number of foreign-language professionals for China for decades.

In 1936, David Crook went to Spain to join the International Brigades — soldiers recruited and organized by the Communist International to fight in the then Spanish civil war.

"When he was wounded he went to Madrid to recover. There he met Dr Bethune, who also spoke in English," Crook recalled.

It was 1937, and just at the time a great book introducing China and the Communist Party of China, titled The Red Star over China, written by American journalist Edgar Snow, was published in the UK. The English-speaking members of International Brigades, the Canadians and British, who used to hang around together developed an enthusiasm in reading The Red Star over China, according to Michael Crook.

"I think that was one of the reasons why many International Brigades fighters decided to come to China (those days)," Crook said.

"My father came to China in 1938 when the chances matured, as he was moved by the heroic deeds of the CPC after reading The Red Star over China. Dr Bethune also left for China in 1938," he added.

Initially, Bethune stayed in the areas ruled by the Kuomintang before entering the liberated areas led by the CPC-led Eighth Route Army.

He encountered financial difficulties for his further travel, and a patriotic overseas Chinese learned of the situation and provided financial assistance to make the trip possible, according to Crook.

"After that, he entered the front line and became a household name in China for his heroic deeds,"Crook said.

"It is noteworthy that Bethune was not the only Canadian health worker who helped the Chinese people fight the war."

Crook mentioned Dr Robert Baird McClure, a Canadian doctor and medical missionary who arrived in China in 1923, serving as surgeon and medical educator.

"All of them helped and contributed to the Chinese People's War of Resistance, laying a good foundation for the friendship between China and Canada."

Shen Xin, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, also praised the role of Bethune in sowing seeds for subnational friendship between the two nations.

"Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1970,China-Canada relations enjoyed great developments, and exchanges and cooperation have been very dynamic. Canada was once an ideal travel destination for many Chinese," Shen said at a symposium marking Bethune's death anniversary in November.

He added that China "has never stopped practicing Dr Bethune's dedication to public welfare and to the betterment of global health", noting that over the past few decades, China has sent foreign medical aid teams to 76 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Oceania, treating 300 million patients.