In 1928, Eric Liddell won the 200m and 400m races in an international sports event held in Dalian. In November 1929, at an international athletics competition held at the Minyuan Stadium in Tianjin by the British Concession Authorities, Eric, still in excellent shape, defeated Otto Färber, the German running champion and then the 500m world record holder, to win the gold medal. This was the last gold medal Eric ever won in his life. In June 1991, Eric’s three daughters donated this gold medal, along with a silver shield, to Tianjin No. 17 High School where their father had once taught, as a permanent commemoration. Today, this gold medal is displayed in a glass case in the school’s second-floor exhibition hall. Also exhibited is the Chinese book “Christian Discipleship,” translated by Eric from the English version of the same name. Eric’s parents had been missionaries around Tianjin for thirty years. In 1929, after his father,
James Liddell, retired, the family moved back to England, but Eric stayed on in Tianjin to continue his work. In June 1932, he was ordained as a minister by the Scottish Congregational Church. In 1933, in an interview with a journalist, a Canadian reporter asked, “Are you really happy dedicating your life to your current work? Don’t you miss the flashing magnesium lights, the throngs of people, the cheering crowds, the loud applause, and the precious champagne?” Eric replied, “Of course, sometimes one naturally thinks about all of that, but I prefer what I am doing in China, because the value in it far exceeds everything you have just mentioned. You see, this glory is an imperishable crown.”
On March 27, 1934, at the age of 32, Eric Liddell married Florence Mackenzie, the daughter of a Canadian missionary and the pianist of the Union Church on Gordon Road in the British Concession in Tianjin (located in today’s Heping District, Zhejiang Road). Their new home was at No. 38 Chongqing Road (Cambridge Road No. 70 during the old British concession period), where a commemorative plaque today marks it as their former residence.
After their marriage, their first daughter Patricia and their second daughter Heather were born in 1935 and 1937, respectively. With the clouds of war gathering over the Far East, Eric sometimes felt discouraged in the face of danger. Once, he complained to God, “Why did You bring me to China?” His wise wife encouraged him, “Eric, you know that competing on Sundays is not right, so not going to the place where God wants you to go is also wrong. You have no choice; you must go.” Her words strengthened his conviction, and despite the difficult situation, Eric chose to stay in China. He cherished his family life, and even though he once went to preach in the southern part of Hebei Province, he spent much of his time in Tianjin with his family. But all this was soon shattered by the Japanese invasion of China.
After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Eric stood firmly with the Chinese people in resistance and participated in the rescue of wounded soldiers and refugees. In 1939, he returned to Scotland to enlist in the fighter pilot squadron to resist the Nazis. Although he was not accepted, he was determined not to sit comfortably “behind a desk.” Instead, he returned to Tianjin to share the hardships with the Chinese people. He repeatedly risked his life to save soldiers and civilians wounded in the war, sending them to hospitals and watching over them day and night. For this, he suffered abuse from the Japanese military and was even injured by them.
In 1941, as the war situation became increasingly critical, the lives and property of Westerners in China became more and more insecure. The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries advised their citizens to leave China. For the safety of his family, in May of the same year, Eric Liddell sent his pregnant wife and two daughters to Toronto, Canada, for refuge. However, he remained in central and southern Hebei Province to continue his missionary work, treat wounded soldiers, and provide relief to refugees. Shortly afterward, his wife, Florence, safely gave birth to their third daughter, Maureen. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Eric Liddell was imprisoned by the Japanese in the Weihsien Internment Camp (in today’s Weifang City, Shandong Province), losing all contact with his family. He never had the chance to meet his youngest daughter. He passed away in the camp.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that led to the outbreak of the Pacific War. After that, Japan began to treat Westerners in China as enemies. For safety reasons, Eric Liddell and other Western missionaries moved into the British concession. In early 1943, the Japanese forces occupied Tianjin, and all foreigners were forced to stay there. In March of that year, the Japanese authorities decided to transfer the nationals of enemy countries in Tianjin to Shandong in batches, where they were detained as hostages in the Weihsien Internment Camp. Eric Liddell was listed in the first batch of those to be transferred, and each person was only allowed to carry two pieces of luggage. At 7:30 p.m. on March 30, all the hostages were gathered in the old British barracks in Tianjin, where Japanese soldiers carefully inspected their luggage one by one. At 9:00 p.m., following a command from the Japanese, they picked up their luggage and trudged through the streets to the train station to board the southbound train. At that time, they had no idea where they were going, nor could they know what kind of fate awaited them.
At 3:30 p.m. the following day, Eric Liddell and his group arrived at the Weihsien train station in Shandong. They were then transferred to Japanese trucks and, after a bumpy ride of more than three miles, reached their destination—the Weihsien Internment Camp. This camp was originally the site of “Chefoo School,” founded by American missionaries, but was converted by the Japanese into a concentration camp for prisoners of war. In addition to this group from Tianjin, other Western nationals were also transferred from various places, including all the teachers and students of the “Chefoo School” founded by the China Inland Mission in Yantai, along with other missionaries and their children, totaling about 1,800 people (with over 2,250 detained in total at different times).
During his imprisonment, Eric Liddell did not succumb to the harsh conditions. Instead, he became a beacon of light in the darkness. His Christian love, cheerful personality, and sense of humour brought peace, hope, and joy to the gloomy internment camp. He cared for the children separated from their parents like an uncle, becoming their spiritual support. He taught them knowledge. When teaching chemistry without a textbook, he composed his lessons from memory. The children affectionately called him “Uncle Eric.” Rev. James Hudson Taylor III, great-grandson of Hudson Taylor, was also imprisoned in the camp while his parents were elsewhere. He had a father-son-like relationship with Eric Liddell, who became a role model for his lifetime of service. Rev. Taylor said, “Looking back on my time in the Japanese internment camp, Eric Liddell became a ‘big brother’ to us youngsters. I was only fourteen or fifteen years old then, but the impression he left on me was profound. I believe that I am standing here today because Eric Liddell gave me tremendous help during that extremely difficult time.”
Due to his sense of humour, optimism, adherence to principles, and fair-mindedness, Eric Liddell was elected as the chairman of the camp’s Recreation Committee. He organised various activities for the youths, and his enthusiasm and energy were contagious. He encouraged his fellow inmates to hold theirhigh and fight against the pessimistic emotions of hunger, cold, fear, and despair. He also voluntarily cared for the elderly and sick in the camp, earning the love and respect of many. Due to the long-term detention and harsh living conditions, many people fell ill or even had mental breakdowns. Eric Liddell gently and humorously comforted and encouraged everyone, helping to resolve conflicts. He was also actively involved in various committees, handling matters related to education, finance, accommodation, and supplies. He often guided everyone to recall beautiful memories and look forward to the future: “Once we get out of this camp, we will . . .” He transformed the darkest internment camp into a holy chapel, often sharing the gospel and his faith with others, even praying for the Japanese who captured him.
Notably, when Western countries and Japan reached an agreement to exchange prisoners, Eric Liddell was listed on the first batch of those to be released. However, he gave up this chance to escape and chose to stay in the camp to help others. His favourite hymn, which he often sang and taught others to sing, was “Be Still, My Soul,” brought comfort and encouragement to many.
Due to the long period of imprisonment and malnutrition, Eric Liddell’s health deteriorated significantly. In early January 1945, he contracted influenza and sinusitis. Despite treatment by a doctor, his condition did not improve and even worsened, with frequent headaches, body numbness, and occasional fainting. Sometimes his speech was broken, and the numbness in his right leg was so severe that he could barely walk. Given the limited medical conditions, the doctor could do nothing more. Nevertheless, Liddell continued to encourage, care for, and visit others. Even in the days before his death, he prayed for two nuns who had passed away. On the evening of February 21, 1945, after another visit to the sick, he suddenly began coughing and gasping for air. He was carried to his room, where he drifted in and out of consciousness. He then began to convulse. Held in the arms of Nurse Annie, he softly uttered his final words: “Complete surrender,” before slipping into a final coma. At 9:20 p.m. that night, Eric Liddell completed his 43-year earthly journey and returned to his heavenly home, resting in the Lord’s embrace. As expressed in his favourite hymn, “Be Still, My Soul”: “Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend, through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.“ After his death, the doctors conducted a pathological examination of his head and found that he had an inoperable tumour deep in his left brain—a brain tumour.
Eric Liddell’s sudden passing brought sorrow and grief to everyone in the camp. On February 24, all the inmates, from the elderly to the children, held a simple yet solemn memorial service for him. At his funeral, people vied to carry his coffin. After his burial, they erected a cross beside his grave. Unable to find paint, they used black shoe polish to write his name “Eric Liddell” on the cross. Though the cross was simple and crude, it shone with the glory of Jesus Christ. This disciple of the Lord followed in His footsteps, carrying his cross to serve the Lord throughout his life, radiating an extraordinary light, revealing a remarkable life—a life that glorified God, delighted in God, and loved others as oneself. This life made him worthy of an eternal, incorruptible crown.
Two years after World War II ended, Nurse Annie, who had cared for Eric Liddell in his final moments, was so moved by his example that she returned to China to continue missionary work, allowing the seeds sown by the martyr’s blood to continue to blossom and bear fruit in China. (End)
translated by Elder Liu Kerh Li