Group photograph of crew of H.M.H.S. 'China', including John Leask

My Grandfather John Leask served aboard H.M.H.S. 'China' during the 1st World War as a Helmsman (Quartermaster.) From November 1914 'China' served as a Hospital Ship in and took part at the Battle of Jutland, where smaller Hospital Ships were used to collect casualties from the fighting ships and transfer them to the larger Hospital Ships in the Firth of Forth. As Helmsman he was in charge of one of the launches and rescued the casualties of battle, amongst whom were some Germans. This did not surprise us as before the war he served in the Merchant Navy and had made several trips to Hamburg, where he made good friends with a German family who visited his family home in Leith. My Grandfather is in the lower first row, right hand side.

我的祖父约翰·利斯克（John Leask）曾于第一次世界大战期间在英国皇家医疗舰“中国号”（H.M.H.S. 'China'）上担任舵手（航务军士）。1914年11月起，“中国号”以医疗舰身份执行任务，并参与了日德兰海战（Battle of Jutland）。在此次海战中，小型医疗舰负责从作战舰艇上转运伤员，并将其移交至驻泊在福斯湾（Firth of Forth）的大型医疗舰。作为舵手，他指挥一艘交通艇，营救了多名海战伤员，其中还包括一些德军士兵。这一情况并未出乎我们的意料：战前他便就职于商船队，曾多次前往汉堡，并在此结识了一户德国家庭，该家庭还曾到访他位于利斯的家中。我的祖父位于合影第一排最右侧的位置。