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1897
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Born at Springfield, Canterbury, New Zealand
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1916
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Fought in World War One
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1920
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Worked on farm in Taranaki, New Zealand until economic problems forced him to walk off the land
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1927
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Left for China via Australia
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1927
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Arrived Shanghai. Worked as a fire inspector and factory inspector in the international settlement
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1929
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Helped the China International Famine Relief commission. Adopted Alan (Duan Simou).
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1932
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Helped with flood relief in Hubei. Adopted Mike (Li Xue).
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1934
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Joined international political study group in Shanghai. An 'underground' radio installed in his house to link with the Red Army
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1938
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Initiated the Gung Ho Movement for Industrial Co-operatives in unoccupied China. Became secretary-general of Association of Chinese Industrial Co-operatives. Travelled widely to seek support.
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1942
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Spent more time on Bailie school projects to train Gung Ho cadres. Worked with George Hogg who became the Dean of the defunct school in Shuangshipu, Shaanxi.
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1943
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Found site and led the advance party to set up the Shandan Bailie School in Gansu Province.
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1945
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Became headmaster of the school after the sudden death of Hogg from tetanus.
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1952
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Attended Asia Pacific Peace Conference in Beijing.
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1953
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Became Headmaster of the Lanzhou Oil and Technical school. Moved to Beijing to represent the New Zealand Peace Council on the Asia Pacific Peace Liaison Committee.
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1954
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Published several books on China. Attended Peace Conferences in Stockholm and Helsinki.
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1960
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Returned to New Zealand for the first time in 23 years.
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1961
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Attended Conference against atomic and hydrogen bombs in Japan.
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1962
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Visited Cuba at the invitation of Che Guevara.
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1964
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Writing and travel in China.
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1971
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Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Literature at University of Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand.
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1972
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Wrote numerous poetical and prose works.
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1976
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Visits to flood and earthquake stricken areas of Henan and Liaoning.
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1977
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80th birthday celebrated in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Attended by Deng Xiaoping.
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1978
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Travel and writing.
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1982
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Conferred honorary citizenship of Beijing.
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1985
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Conferred honorary citizenship of Gansu Province. Awarded Queens Service Order (QSO) by the New Zealand Government.
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1987
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Died. Ashes scattered in Gansu near Shandan.
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