21 February 2022
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Olympic athlete Eric Liddell died in a Japanese internment camp - On this day in history
Olympic athlete Eric Liddell, the 'Flying Scotsman' died on 21 February 1945, in a Japanese internment camp.
'The flying Scotsman' Eric Liddell, inspiration for the film Chariots of Fire, died on 21 February 1945 whilst being held prisoner in a Japanese internment camp during World War Two.
Liddell was an Olympic athlete, and winner of the 400 metres at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Following his successful career as an athlete, he became a Christian missionary in China, as his parents had before him. He was captured in China in 1943 and died at the Weihsien Internment Camp five months before it was liberated.
Eric Liddell timeline
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- 16 January 1902 - Born in Tianjin, China
- 1908 - Left China for boarding school in England
- 1921 - Enrolled to study science at University of Edinburgh
- 1924 - Withdrew from the 100 metres race at the Paris Olympics, because the race was held on a Sunday, something against his Christian beliefs - he went on to win Gold in the 400 metres
- 1925 - 1943 - Served as a missionary in China
- 1943 - Interred at the Weihsien Internment Camp with members of the China Inland Mission
- 21 February 1945 - Died at the camp of a brain tumour and malnourishment
