BCS Chinese Labour Corp Talk & Gallery Exhibition

This year ESEA Heritage Month Event, BCS will be showing the amazing achievement of the Chinese Labour Corp. The largest group of foreign labourers to assist the Allies during the First World War with 140,000 men from the Chinese province of Shandong working behind the front lines in northern France from 1916 and yet largely forgotten in British History.

To showcase the work of the Chinese Labour Corp, we will be exhibiting & supporting up and coming British Chinese artist, Kaler Q Huang with a series of paintings weaving together archival images of the Chinese Labour Corps during the First World War. Integrating with Chinese culture, his painting are uniquely painted on silk with other porcelain sculptures and watercolour which studies how the Labour Corp were perceived, providing the starting point for reflections on the role of the artist and the values of our own society. Also helping our own community, the paintings will be housed in the Camden Chinese Community Centre which helps the elderly Chinese & ESEA community in the area. The Exhibit will be available to the general public from 11am to 4pm.

In the afternoon, we have invited the Meridian Society with speaker, Wenlan Peng who will give a talk of the Chinese Labour Corp, and showing a short video celebrating the history the Chinese Labourers, their efforts in contributing during the war and how disgracefully the British Government repatriated the Chinese Workers back to China between 1918 to 1920 before the war ended with no recognition of their effort. There will also be a Q&A at the end with Wenlan Pang.

Date: 6th Sept 2026
Venue: Camden Chinese Community Centre
9 Tavistock Pl, London WC1H 9SN

Time: Gallery Exhibition by Kaler Q Huang
- 11am to 4pm

Chinese Labour Corp Talk & Video with Meridian Society
- 2pm to 3.30pm
Q&A
- 3.30pm to 4pm

Nearest Tube: Euston (Northern & Victoria), Russell Square (Piccadilly)

THIS EVENT IS FREE. BCS do not believe we should charge money for events that showcase the proud history of Chinese History.

Come & learn the Chinese Labour Corp & British Chinese history & be proud of the contribution Chinese & ESEA people have shaped British History.

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Host or Publisher BCS British Chinese Society