“Kind friends look down upon my grave.” These words are an epitaph from long ago. They echo the sentiments of those far from home. Today, we stand before the St. John War Memorial. It is a place to remember those who served. It honors their sacrifices.
The St. John War Memorial stands as a solemn reminder. It commemorates those who died in service. These individuals were part of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. They were dedicated to helping others. Their stories are woven into the fabric of this city.
Consider the journey from Europe to Shanghai. Before the Suez Canal opened in 1869, it could take six months. Many passengers and crew members died en route. Some fell ill and could not return home. Cemeteries became necessary for foreigners in Shanghai.
In 1844, the British Consulate in Shanghai held a meeting. They decided to purchase land for a cemetery. The British government funded half the cost. The foreign community paid the rest. This act was seen as a humanitarian effort. The cemetery was initially near the Bund. However, it was too close to the growing city center. In 1846, it moved to a new location. This became the Shandong Road Cemetery. It was the first foreign cemetery in Shanghai.
From 1846 to its closure in 1868, 469 people were buried there. British and American graves predominated. But there were also people from almost every Western nation. Many were seamen. Missionaries were also a significant group. Merchants, traders, policemen, and doctors followed. Most died between the ages of 20 and 40.
The Shandong Road Cemetery became the main burial place for foreigners. By 1868, it was nearly full. The management committee could no longer afford to run it. They stopped accepting bodies. In the 1940s, the cemetery still had many tombstones. Weeping willows and gingko trees shaded the area. Graves were shallow due to the low-lying land.
Another cemetery opened in Pudong in 1855. It was the Pudong Sailors’ Cemetery. The first burial occurred in 1858. Eventually, 1,783 foreign sailors were buried there. In 1863, the settlement purchased a site near Avenue Joffre. This became the Baxian Bridge Cemetery. It covered 3.2 hectares.
Other cemeteries also appeared. The Bubbling Well Road Cemetery opened in 1880. It held over 5,500 foreign graves. The Jewish cemetery was donated by David Sassoon in 1879. The Bubbling Well Road Cemetery had Shanghai’s first crematorium. It was initially for foreigners who wanted their ashes sent home.
After 1949, the Chinese government removed the tombs in the city center. It is unclear where they were moved. Some say they went to the Pudong Sailors’ Cemetery. Many cemeteries became parks. The Bubbling Well Road Cemetery became Jing’an Park in 1954. The Baxian Bridge Cemetery became Huaihai Park in 1958.
The Shandong Road Cemetery is now the Huangpu District Stadium. The Pudong Sailors’ Cemetery is now Pudong Park. These transformations reflect Shanghai’s changing landscape. The foreign cemeteries contrasted with traditional Chinese burials. Chinese families often buried coffins randomly. They sometimes waited for a suitable feng shui site.
As we stand here at the St. John War Memorial. Remember the past. Think of those who rest far from home. Their stories remind us of sacrifice and service. They inspire us to honor their memory. May this memorial stand as a testament to their courage and dedication.