Anglia Research Assists in Honouring WWII POWs in The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru

We are proud to have provided expert genealogical research for the new documentary film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, tracing relatives of WWII POWs for the film, now screening locally.

The film recently premiered in UK cinemas to considerable national media attention, including coverage on ITV News, and will now be shown in Suffolk.

The documentary recounts the tragic story of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese transport ship carrying over 1,800 British and Commonwealth prisoners of war during the Second World War.

In 1942, unaware of the prisoners on board, a United States submarine torpedoed the vessel off the coast of Zhoushan, China. The film captures the harrowing aftermath, as hundreds of men were trapped below deck, and highlights the extraordinary bravery of local Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to rescue survivors.

Drawing on rare archival material, survivor testimonies, and expert analysis, the documentary offers a moving tribute to those who suffered and those who showed remarkable courage.

As a Suffolk-based genealogical research firm, the producers approached us to assist in tracing living relatives of the prisoners who had been on board. Many of the prisoners were drawn from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk regiments. Our team successfully located families across the UK and as far afield as New Zealand. Several of the relatives traced through our research were subsequently able to attend the film’s premiere, contributing to the historical record and personal narrative surrounding the tragedy.

A special screening of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru will be held at Offton & Willisham Village Hall in Suffolk on 11 April 2025, with proceeds supporting the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association.

Tickets are priced at £5 and can be purchased via www.ticketsource.co.uk (search for Offton & Willisham Village Hall) or by emailing bookings@owvillagehall.co.uk.

For further details about our involvement in this important project, please see our previous article about an exclusive screening in London last year.