THERE was a mention recently of the many thousand of Chinese who came to Europe in WWI and rendered invaluable service.

Warfare in WWI was predominantly static and heavy artillery churned up lines of communication, etc, behind the lines. It was here that the Chinese gave superb assistance in repairing shell holes, many at the cost of their own lives, to which a Chinese cemetery in France bears testimony. Others served in the UK.

I am reminded that, as late as the 1950s, a collection of wooden huts at the west end of the RAF storage depot at Milton, including Ossies Canteen, was known as the ‘Chinese Camp’. I believe that descendants of these men are still in the area.

DAVID BARNARD Cherwell Avenue Kidlington