Liddell, Eric

1902 – He was born on the 16th day of January this year.

1907 – He went to school in China until the age of five.
 

1908 – He and his brother Rob, eight years old, were enrolled in Eltham College, Blackheath, England, a boarding school for the sons of missionaries.

1917 - By the age of 15, later becoming Captain of both cricket and rugby. His headmaster described him as being 'entirely without vanity'.

1920 – He joined his brother Rob at the University of Edinburgh to read Pure Science.

1922/1923 – He played in seven out of eight Five Nations matches with A. L. Gracie.

1924 – He graduated from university with a Bachelor of Science Degree after the Paris Olympiad.

1925 – He equaled his own Scottish championship record of 10.0 seconds in the 100 yards, won the 220 yard contest in 22.2 seconds, won the 440 yard contest in 49.2, and participated in a winning relay team.

1932 - He was ordained as a minister during his first furlough.

1934 - On his return to China he married Florence Mackenzie (of Canadian missionary parentage) in Tientsin. They had three daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen.

1942 - He won the AAA Championships in athletics in the 100 yards (in a British record of 9.7 seconds: this record would not be broken for the next 35 years) and 220 yards (21.6 seconds).

1943 – He was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp with the members of the China Inland Mission Chefoo School.

1945 – He died on the 21st day of February this year as a result of a brain tumour, to which being overworked and malnourished probably hastened his demise.