Agnes Smedley was a supporter and publicist for Gung Ho movement.To mark the 60th anniversary of her death, a bust was unveiled at the Lu Xun Museum by China Society for People’s Friendship Studies and Beijing Luxun Museum in Beijing on 30 November, 2010.

    Below are the main points of the speech delivered by Michael Crook, chairman of ICCIC, on Agnes and Gung Ho.

Agnes helped to link up important founders of Gung Ho:

- Agnes took Rewi Alley to Soong Ching Ling's house in 1933 and introduced the two to each other. Soong Ching Ling subsequently became a strong supporter of the Gung Ho movement, and became Honorary Chair of ICCIC at its founding in 1939;

- Agnes invited George Hatem and Rewi Alley to her house in Shanghai. The two became lifelong friends. Upon its revival in 1987, Rewi served as Chairman of ICCIC. Upon his death, he was succeeded by George Hatem (according to the historical document, Mr. Yan Bo became the Chairman after Rewi, and George Haterm was Vice Chairman--editor).

- Agnes was a close friend of Gen Evans Carlson, who did so much to publicise Gung Ho, (and is generally credited with introducing the word Gung Ho into the English language.

Agnes publicise the Gung Ho movement

in her book Battle Hymn of China, Agnes wrote stirringly about the cooperative movement, winning great sympathy and support for Gung Ho in China and abroad. Michael concluded his speech by reading a delightful excerpt from the book describing a women's cooperative. (picture attached) 

 After the meeting, the new and old friends enjoyed the lunch together in nearby resturant, the atmosphere were passionate.

The following is a brief obituary of Agnes written by her life-long friend Huang HUa, Honorary Chairman of ICCIC, shortly before his death in November 2010.  

Agnes Smedley

(1892－1950）

Agnes Smedley was born in a poor worker's family in the state of Missouri, the United States of America. She came to China at the end of 1928, Smedley became acquainted with Soong Ching Ling, Lu Xun, and other progressive personages in Shanghai and took an active part in the Left-wing Cultural Movement. After her arrival in Yanan in 1937, she travelled extensively all over the country and reported on the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression both at the front and in the rural areas behind enemy lines. At the same time, she devoted great efforts to organizing international aid to help the Chinese people's resistance war.

Smedley was a prolific writer. Among her published were Battle Hymn of China and the Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh. In these works, she eulogized the great Chinese people's revolution and war of resistance. She also wrote an autobiographical novel, entitled Daughter of Earth.

Agnes Smedley lived and worked in China for nearly 12 years. She died in London on May 6, 1950. In accordance with her will, the Chinese people buried her ashes in Beijing's Babaoshan Cemetery, Beijing. Comrade Chu Teh inscribed her name on the tombstone.

Huang Hua

November 2010