Original photograph (2001) taken by Richard Crispin.
Michael Alderton (essarem) notes: My layman’s impression of this burial site is that it is an old, rather egalitarian, tightly packed, highly regulated and austere looking Jewish cemetery completely surrounded by a high brick wall. However, in spite of the overall uniformity and dignified sombreness of its surroundings, General Cohen’s tall, black tombstone, topped with the blessing hands symbol of the Kohanim and graced with a heartfelt inscription penned in Chinese characters by the grateful hand of Mme Sun Yat-sen, somehow manages to stand out clearly. I personally remember the General Cohen of my Hong Kong childhood as being a very caring, rather serious-minded and impeccably dressed elderly Jewish gentleman who was treated with admiration, affection and respect by all, including my own father, Paul D. Alderton, who knew him well. Upon contemplating this Sino-Judaic tombstone, I feel that these must have been the exact sentiments of his co-religionists who had laid him to rest, as well as those of Mme Sun Yat-sen who, on behalf of a grateful nation, had graciously composed a poignant epitaph in honour of this great man’s memory.
A literal translation, from Chinese to English, of the Mme Sun Yat-sen (Soong Ching Ling) inscription reads: Mr Mah Kun’s tomb. Soong Ching Ling kneels.
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Maj. Gen. M.A. "Two-Gun" Cohen
Original photograph (2001) taken by Richard Crispin.
Michael Alderton (essarem) notes: My layman’s impression of this burial site is that it is an old, rather egalitarian, tightly packed, highly regulated and austere looking Jewish cemetery completely surrounded by a high brick wall. However, in spite of the overall uniformity and dignified sombreness of its surroundings, General Cohen’s tall, black tombstone, topped with the blessing hands symbol of the Kohanim and graced with a heartfelt inscription penned in Chinese characters by the grateful hand of Mme Sun Yat-sen, somehow manages to stand out clearly. I personally remember the General Cohen of my Hong Kong childhood as being a very caring, rather serious-minded and impeccably dressed elderly Jewish gentleman who was treated with admiration, affection and respect by all, including my own father, Paul D. Alderton, who knew him well. Upon contemplating this Sino-Judaic tombstone, I feel that these must have been the exact sentiments of his co-religionists who had laid him to rest, as well as those of Mme Sun Yat-sen who, on behalf of a grateful nation, had graciously composed a poignant epitaph in honour of this great man’s memory.
A literal translation, from Chinese to English, of the Mme Sun Yat-sen (Soong Ching Ling) inscription reads: Mr Mah Kun’s tomb. Soong Ching Ling kneels.
Maj. Gen. M.A. "Two-Gun" Cohen
Extracts taken from:
Register of Deaths in the District of Salford, Manchester.
Date and place of death – 7 September, 1970. 173 Broughton Lane, Salford, Manchester.
Name and surname – Morris Abraham Cohen.
Place of birth – London.
Occupation – An army general (Chinese army) retired.