A Short Biography of Eric H. Liddell (1902 – 1945)
He was educated from 1908 to 1920 at Eltham College, Blackheath, school for the sons of missionaries. Eric, with his older brother Rob, were left at their boarding school while their parents and sister, Jenny, returned to China.
During the boys’ time at Eltham College, their parents, sister and new brother Ernest came home on furlough two or three times and were able to be together as a family – mainly living in Edinburgh.
Although born in China and educated in England, Eric Liddell lived in Scotland at various times during his life.
In 1920, Eric joined his brother Rob at Edinburgh University to read for a BSc in Pure Science.
During this period he played rugby for Scotland and trained to run at the Olympics.
Athletics and rugby played a large part in Eric’s University life. He ran in the 100 yards and the 220 yards for Edinburgh University and later for Scotland. He played rugby for Edinburgh University and in 1922 played in seven Scottish Internationals with A.L. Gracie.
Eric Liddell was a gifted rugby player and played for the Edinburgh Univerisity 1st XV team.
As a result of having insufficient time for both running and rugby, he chose the former, aiming for the 100 meters in the Paris Olympics. When he learned that the heats were to be run on a Sunday, he switched to the 400 metre competition as he was not prepared to run on a Sunday.
He won a gold medal for the 400 metres and a bronze medal for the 200 metres at the Paris Olympics.
He also travelled briefly to the USA in 1924 to compete in an athletics tournament. He returned to Edinburgh after the Paris Olympics and he graduated from Edinburgh University.
Eric Liddell lived for a short time in Gillespie Crescent before moving to a house in Merchiston Place.
Recollections of Eric Liddell By Sir Arthur Marshall
We travelled back in a small slow ship of the American United Line called ‘The Republic’ – a ten day crossing. Eric Liddell entered in the fun and games on the boat, including the Fancy Dress Dance. Whilst he was very strict about religion. Eric and I became good friends and saw much of two American sisters, Freddie and Edith, who were travelling to ‘do Europe’, including the UK. They said they were going to be in Paris for the Olympic Games, and we said if we were there at the same time we hoped we could meet.
Harold Abrahams had set his whole life on winning the Olympic 100 Metres – it had become and obsession with him. Liddell’s achievement in winning the 1923 AAA 100 Yards in the record time of 9 7/10 seconds was a devastating blow to Abrahams and shook him to the core. To date Abrahams had been a consistent 10 seconds 100 yards winner but had only slightly broken 10 seconds on one or two occasions. He knew in the Olympics he would be up against overseas competition, particularly from the Americans, but this new and very serious opposition out of the blue and on his doorstep had come at a time when Harold had established his 100 yards supremacy in the UK. To achieve level pegging with Eric Liddell’s new record time, Harold had to improve his performance by two or three yards with the help of his trainer Sam Mussabini. It must have been a tremendous relief to Harold when it became known early in 1924 that Eric had decided to concentrate on the 400 metres and, because of his religious principles, would not compete in the Olympic 100 metres as first heats were always run on Sunday.
Eric had in turn become completely dedicated to winning an Olympic Medal within the restrictions of his faith. He was a famous Scottish international rugger player, and gave up his rugger to enable him to concentrate on his Olympic ambitions, which became very deep-rooted, and his work suffered. Winning an Olympic Gold Medal became a priority, second only to his religion, and the ambition to win this event became part of his religion.
Recollections of Eric Liddell By Sir Arthur Marshall
The silence at the start of the 100 metres and 400 metres was quite electric. Harold Abrahams won the 100 metres in a new Games record time.
In spite of all that has been said about Abrahams’ 100 metres, the 400 metres in some way provided the greatest thrill of the meeting with the world record being broken by Eric Liddell three times in two days. It was thought that Liddell had some chance of winning, but nobody thought Liddell capable of the amazing performance he achieved in the final. As far as the crowd were concerned they were well informed about Liddell’s dedication to his religion and his refusal to run in the first round of the 100 metres on the Sunday; they also knew of his determination to win this event. The occasion was enlivened by the support given to Liddell by the pipes and drums of the Cameron Highlanders.
The silence and pent-up excitement at the start of the race could be felt. Liddell went ahead at the start and maintained his pace throughout, finishing in what at the time was described as ‘a most lion-hearted manner’ winning by three yards from Fitch, an American. This was probably the greatest achievement of the VIIIth Olympiad, and superlatives were showered on Liddell by the press of the entire world. Liddell was short and not a pretty runner but just pounded along virtually at the same pace all the way, with a finish as if he was making a final dash for a try in a rugger match with an opponent bearing down on him and about to tackle from behind.
After Eric had won the 400 metres Gold Medal, Eric and I made contact with Freddie and Edith, the American sisters, and took them to a Tango Tea Dance in the Champs Elysees.
Footnote: Along with sacrificing his place in the 1924 Olympics 100m, Eric Liddell also gave up two other races in which Great Britain held high hopes of winning gold that year – the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m, whose finals also took place on a Sunday.
After the Olympics
1930 - 1932
During these periods Eric Liddell attended Morningside Congregational Church at the corner of Chamberlain Road and Morningside Road.
Morningside Congregational Church
From 1881 the old church was home to the Morningside Athenaeum Club before the Congregational Church purchased it in 1890.
In 1928 this church was demolished and a new one erected (which is now Morningside United Church).
Eric Liddell would have attended meetings in both buildings during his two extended stays in Edinburgh. The old church from 1920 to 1925 and the current building (Morningside United Church) from 1930 to 1932. He also preached at the church on a number of occasions.
On his return to China, he married Florence Mackenzie (of Canadian missionary parentage) in Tientsin in 1934. They had three daughters; Patricia, Heather and Maureen, who now all live in Canada.
Living in China in the 1930s was potentially very dangerous and in 1937 Eric was sent to Siaochang where he joined his brother Rob. He was now crossing the Japanese army lines.
In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous that the British Government advised British nationals to leave. Florence and the children left for Canada.
During 1941 – 1943 Eric stayed in Tientsin, then in 1943 he was interned in Weishien camp until his death in 1945.
The Eric Liddell Centre
The United Presbyterian Church built in 1879 became known as Morningside North parish Church. By 1980 the building was no longer in use and became the Holy Corner Church Centre.
This was an initiative of the three remaining churches at Holy Corner: Morningside United Church (a merger between the Congregational and Church of Scotland congregations and in joint membership of the United Reformed Church and Church of Scotland), Christ Church (Scottish Episcopal Church) and Morningside Baptist Church.
As the project developed the centre’s name was changed to The Eric Liddell Centre in recognition of his involvement in the life of one of the founding churches and the local community during his time living here.
Our Magic Circle: Reflections of Eric Liddell by His Daughter Maureen
Lecture by Lord Puttnam about Eric Liddell
Books inspired by Eric Liddell
Eric Liddell - Pure Gold
by David McCasland
The Flying Scotsman
by Sally Magnusson
In Japan the Crickets Cry
by Steve Metcalf
Eric Liddell – Something Greater than Gold
by Janet & Geoff Benge
Eric Liddell – Gold Medal Missionary
by Ellen Caughey
Running the Race - Eric Liddell
by John W. Keddie
Scotland’s Greatest Athlete – The Eric Liddell Story
by D. P. Thomson
Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure
by Langdon Gilkey
Eric Liddell (Christian Heroes: Unit Study Curriculum)
by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge
Eric Liddell – Running the Race
by John Keddie
Books written by Eric Liddell
Chariots of Fire
Edinburgh Film Locations for Chariots of Fire
One scene in the film depicts Liddell falling early in a 440 yard race in a Scotland–France dual meet and making up a 20-yard deficit to win; the actual race was during a Triangular Contest meet between Scotland, England and Ireland at Stoke-on-Trent in England in July 1923. Liddell was knocked to the ground several strides into the race.
He hesitated, got up and pursued his opponents, 20 yards ahead. He caught the leaders shortly before the finish line and collapsed after crossing the tape. This scene was filmed at Goldenacre Stadium on Inverleith Row in Edinburgh, the playing fields of George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh.
Other scenes filmed in Edinburgh include:
- Other International race meet in pouring rain, filmed at Inverleith Stadium on Ferry Road, Edinburgh playing fields of Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College in Edinburgh.
- Preaching in church on the day of the 100m Olympic final, filmed in Broughton St. Mary’s Parish Church in Bellevue Crescent, Edinburgh.
- Liddell’s chat to his sister Jennie with Edinburgh skyline behind, at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, below East end of Salisbury Crags, close to the end of Holyrood Park Road.
- Harold Abrahams and Sybil Gordon in restaurant, filmed in The Cafe Royal Bar & Restaurant in West Register Street, Edinburgh.
This photo from the Liddell family photo books shows Iain Charleston (Eric Liddell) with from l-r, Sue Caton, Iain, Jenny, Joan and Roseme Liddell.
Article from “The Week”, used with permission.
Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Chariots of Fire is the inspiring story of Eric Liddell, Harold Abrahams and the Olympic team of 1924, who brought Britain one of its greatest sporting victories. This internationally acclaimed film came back on the big screen in a brand new digitally remastered version in July 2012 as an official part of the London 2012 Festival celebrations.