Michael Alderton (essarem) notes that this is a 28 June 1924 image of Generalissimo Sun and his Adjutant General Cohen at the first passing out parade of Russian-trained officer cadets from Canton’s Whampoa Military Academy.
Some six months later, Adjutant General M.A. Cohen had travelled from Canton to Hong Kong to board a ship bound for Vancouver, Canada. The Hong Kong press marked the occasion by announcing: 5 December 1924. Hong Kong. Among passengers departing today by the Empress of Australia for Vancouver include Gen. M.A. Cohen, A.D.C. to Dr Sun Yat-sen.
The above image titled The Doctor’s Shadow - 马坤和中山 is a 1995 reworking of the 1924 original courtesy Alan Flett.
Date picture taken
28 Jun 1924
Shows person / people
Comments
Adjutant General M.A. "Two-Gun" Cohen
Extracts from a Canadian immigration document, which was filled in following Adjutant General M.A. "Two-Gun" Cohen's 5 December 1924 departure from Hong Kong:
Canadian Ocean Arrivals form (30A).
Passengers to Canada from Hong Kong:
Vessel – Empress of Australia;
Class – First;
Passenger - Cohen, Morris Abraham;
Present Occupation – A.D.C. to Chinese President Sun Yat Sen;
Birthplace – London;
Citizenship – Canadian;
Religion – Jewish;
Object in going to Canada – Returning home on visit;
Previous Canadian address – Macdonald Hotel, Edmonton;
Port of last departure from Canada – Vancouver, 19 Nov 1922;
Why did you leave Canada – to go to China;
Money in possession of passenger – Gold$250-00;
Destined to – Vancouver Hotel, Vancouver.
Adjutant General M.A. "Two-Gun" Cohen
Extracts from the Vancouver press selected by Michael Alderton (essarem):
Dec 26, 1924. Vancouver. Sun Yat-sen’s Aide-de-camp In Vancouver. General Morris Abraham Cohen, former Edmonton loan broker, now an aide-de-camp in the revolutionary army of Sun Yat Sen, President of South China, arrived in Vancouver yesterday on the Empress of Australia. General Cohen some years ago became interested in the Chinese Nationalist League of Canada, an organization supporting the ideals of Sun Yat Sen, and he devoted most of his time to the cause of the League, finally going to Canton to join the personal staff of the great Chinese idealist, Dr Sun. He has been in China lending his business experience to the cause of the revolutionaries who seek to extend the rule of Sun Yat Sen over the whole of China. A Vancouver acquaintance reveals: “General Cohen is intimately known to me. He is British-born and speaks with a decided English accent. He is very shrewd and a good talker. He speaks Chinese fluently. Following his arrival in Vancouver, I met him and we visited Chinatown. As soon as the Chinese residents recognized who he was, they certainly showered him with attention, giving us a special dinner.”
For information regarding General Cohen’s March 1925 return to China see:
1925 - Two Gun Cohen (l), Mme. Sun Yat-Sen (centre left), Dr Sun Fo (r) on Nanjings Purple Mountain | Gwulo