26 - FAMILY GROWING UP IN SINGAPORE CENTRAL CORPS
The two older children were good and helpful as we settled into our appointment at the Corps. Every morning Gladys walked to school, along Orchard Road till she came to the Singapore Chinese Girls’ School at the turn to Emerald Hill Road. Her cousins, Elaine and Anne, were attending the same school, and being able to make friends easily, she was happy.
At first my brother-in-law, Bin Lay, would give Stephen a lift at Orchard Road, when he drove pass with Leonard to the same school at ACS Coleman Street. As our son liked to be early, he decided to walk instead. Then the school moved to Barker Road, so he travelled by bus.
When the two children were very small they each received their pocket money every Sunday of $1.00 per week. After paying ten cents at Sunday school the rest went into their piggy banks. As they grew older they were taught to give one tenth of whatever they got as their Sunday offering in the meetings. They had to manage the balance for the rest of the week. It was hard for our son as a number of his classmates came from affluent families. They tended to flaunt their wealth. As usual Stephen was very resourceful. Again he decided to walk to school – this time to save fares! However, he did not expect harassment from the boys of rival schools along the way – Monks Hill and Winstedt Schools. He grew up fast, learning to defend himself! I only came to know this in later years, so was spared some pain of a mother’s heart!
My only sister and her family lived in Cairnhill Circle which was nearby. My mother-in-law lived with her daughter and children, Lily and Alfred TAN at Toa Payoh. My husband’s elder brother and his wife, with their children, Bernice, Aloysius and Thomas lived in McPherson Road area. Younger brother Anthony and wife Agnes, lived in Teacher’s Estate with children, Adeline, Adrian and Andre. I well remember being blissfully happy as a family. The only fly in the ointment seemed to be a nagging fear I had that Poh Chin was not developing normally. I was chided for comparing her with her older siblings.
One day the General Secretary, Lt. Colonel Watson, made an appointment for me to see a paediatrician, Dr. WONG Hock Boon. He was the head of the Children’s Department of the Singapore General Hospital called the Mistri Wing. His diagnosis – Poh Chin was physically and mentally retarded. Delayed delivery at birth had caused brain-damage. She was now put under the care of Dr. Freda PAUL.
My husband and I were devastated! What did I do or not do which could have prevented her condition? At first I felt that caring for her would have to be my sole duty in order to make up to her. Slowly I learned to sort out my priorities. Poh Chin would never fully recover and there were my husband and the other children who also needed my love and care. We decided that in general Dad would give priority to The Army, while I would see to the family first. In this way we would keep our officer and marriage covenants. Praise the Lord, my husband has always been very supportive in everyway in our home and family life. In this way I was able to continue my duty in the Home League and sometimes take my turn on the platform.
The older children were very good in helping out at home. Gladys used to watch her cousins Elaine and Anne practising on the piano. We could see that she was longing to learn also. As a reward for babysitting her sister, she was sent to Foorman’s School of Music for lessons. She really enjoyed it and passed her first grade within months. The school allowed her to skip grade 2 and went on to do grade 3. We then offered to let Stephen have lessons as well. It was money well spent because they have used their talent in ministry for God in The Army and the wider Christian community. As for Gladys, she went on to finance herself up to LRSM by giving others piano lessons. Today she is still a piano teacher to earn her bread and butter.
My sister and her children used to attend the Gospel Hall at Bras Basah Road. Now that we were in Central Corps at Clemenceau Avenue she brought her children to our Sunday School at 3.00 p.m. and stayed on for the evening meeting at 6.00 p.m. Prior to this we usually had high tea of sorts. Almost every month there would be a birthday to celebrate or some festive occasion to commemorate. The cousins seemed to enjoy being together. In fact they used to sing as a group called Kinfolk.
On special occasions like Easter and Christmas we also invited Mr.WEE Sip Chee and his wife Helen with their two children, Cecilia and Constance to the corps and our home. Helen is the sister of my brother-in-law, GOH Bin Lay. He was very often away in Malaysia. The Wee family gave good support to The Army as well as always being very kind and gracious to our family.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
THIS IS MY LIFE -25
25 – HAPPY FAMILY IN SINGAPORE CENTRAL CORPS
I did my first four years of my officership in Malaya prior to marriage. After a break of one year together in Singapore we were sent back for 10 consecutive years, making a total of 14 years of service in Malaysia. The immigration officer kindly advised us to opt for Malaysian citizenship because Singapore might not survive as a nation!
On our night train journey from Ipoh to Singapore, the two older children had a bunk each, Stephen on the upper deck and Gladys on the lower. I had Poh Chin with me on a lower one opposite them. They were both good and helpful, although under ten years old.
Singapore Central Corps Hall was the main part of 207 Clemenceau Avenue which was also The Army’s headquarters (CHQ). However, the corps officers’ quarters was a big flat upstairs of the two storey house. This edifice was separated from the front building by a big courtyard. All the ceilings were very high and the floor of the ground level was polished red. A flight of stairs on the right led up to a wide landing with a similar red floor all along the front and also at the back of the flat. Slightly elevated was a wooden floor covering the rest of the apartment - a very spacious hall as the lounge and dining room. The bedrooms were along the left of the hall. Our son had one partitioned off from the front. Next was the bedroom shared by Gladys and her baby sister, Dora Poh Chin. We had the back room, next to the toilet and bathroom at the rear. Adjacent to this was our kitchen.
The original two rooms on the right of the hall had been sealed off to form part of a small flat, now allocated to our newly commissioned corps assistant, Lieutenant Sarojah KAKAN.
One of the first things I had to do was to register Gladys and Stephen for school. They were nearly 10 and 8 years old respectively. We called our children by their Chinese names because we knew their friends would call them by their western ones.
Poh Chin was only 7 months old, but I could not lug her with me. Mrs. Colonel Engel kindly obliged to babysit her. So I put our baby in a pram, with a pile of nappies and milk formula, then left them in the office of the TPWM.
It was relatively easy to get Gladys into Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS), thanks to my sister whose two older children, Elaine and Anne, were already studying there. I thought there would be no problem to get Stephen into Winstedt or Monks Hill - two government schools nearby.
However, I had to get permission from the Ministry of Education. My sister was on her way to ACS at Coleman Street with her son, Leonard, so I asked for a lift.
Anglo Chinese School (ACS) is one of the prestigious schools in Singapore. In those days parents would camp outside its premises overnight to ensure a place in the queue for registration. How much more difficult to expect a chance after registration had closed. However, while at ACS I was encouraged to see the headmaster; and by God’s providence Stephen was accepted, because the son of the Indian ambassador was returning home with his parents. Praise the Lord! He was and is and shall always be good to all who trust in Him!
My husband wrote us EVERYDAY - by snail mail of course. However, he was able to take up his appointment as CO of Central Corps in the first week of February 1970, just before the Lunar New Year.
All our predecessors were missionary officers. They would visit the corps comrades, with the OC and his wife in the morning, and with the GS in the afternoon. Having been away from Singapore for 14 years and being just appointed to Central Corps we simply compiled a list of the senior members of the corps according to their addresses. We were glad to have transport, travelling with them. However, the OC and his wife did not expect to visit some folk unknown to them! The GS wanted to visit comrades we had already seen that morning! What confusion! We knew better what to do the subsequent years!
We were familiar with the Central Corps hall as we were soldiers there prior to entering training. The huge front doors were painted bright red and had big brass rings which would have served as knockers originally. Not a nail was used but dovetailed into place. Embossed cement bamboo trees hid the pipes on the walls. The ornate roof and ceilings were supported by granite pillars shipped from China. The beams across the ceiling had carvings of dragons on them. General Arnold Brown was reputed to have said that one of those creatures spat on him as he walked pass!
I did my first four years of my officership in Malaya prior to marriage. After a break of one year together in Singapore we were sent back for 10 consecutive years, making a total of 14 years of service in Malaysia. The immigration officer kindly advised us to opt for Malaysian citizenship because Singapore might not survive as a nation!
On our night train journey from Ipoh to Singapore, the two older children had a bunk each, Stephen on the upper deck and Gladys on the lower. I had Poh Chin with me on a lower one opposite them. They were both good and helpful, although under ten years old.
Singapore Central Corps Hall was the main part of 207 Clemenceau Avenue which was also The Army’s headquarters (CHQ). However, the corps officers’ quarters was a big flat upstairs of the two storey house. This edifice was separated from the front building by a big courtyard. All the ceilings were very high and the floor of the ground level was polished red. A flight of stairs on the right led up to a wide landing with a similar red floor all along the front and also at the back of the flat. Slightly elevated was a wooden floor covering the rest of the apartment - a very spacious hall as the lounge and dining room. The bedrooms were along the left of the hall. Our son had one partitioned off from the front. Next was the bedroom shared by Gladys and her baby sister, Dora Poh Chin. We had the back room, next to the toilet and bathroom at the rear. Adjacent to this was our kitchen.
The original two rooms on the right of the hall had been sealed off to form part of a small flat, now allocated to our newly commissioned corps assistant, Lieutenant Sarojah KAKAN.
One of the first things I had to do was to register Gladys and Stephen for school. They were nearly 10 and 8 years old respectively. We called our children by their Chinese names because we knew their friends would call them by their western ones.
Poh Chin was only 7 months old, but I could not lug her with me. Mrs. Colonel Engel kindly obliged to babysit her. So I put our baby in a pram, with a pile of nappies and milk formula, then left them in the office of the TPWM.
It was relatively easy to get Gladys into Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS), thanks to my sister whose two older children, Elaine and Anne, were already studying there. I thought there would be no problem to get Stephen into Winstedt or Monks Hill - two government schools nearby.
However, I had to get permission from the Ministry of Education. My sister was on her way to ACS at Coleman Street with her son, Leonard, so I asked for a lift.
Anglo Chinese School (ACS) is one of the prestigious schools in Singapore. In those days parents would camp outside its premises overnight to ensure a place in the queue for registration. How much more difficult to expect a chance after registration had closed. However, while at ACS I was encouraged to see the headmaster; and by God’s providence Stephen was accepted, because the son of the Indian ambassador was returning home with his parents. Praise the Lord! He was and is and shall always be good to all who trust in Him!
My husband wrote us EVERYDAY - by snail mail of course. However, he was able to take up his appointment as CO of Central Corps in the first week of February 1970, just before the Lunar New Year.
All our predecessors were missionary officers. They would visit the corps comrades, with the OC and his wife in the morning, and with the GS in the afternoon. Having been away from Singapore for 14 years and being just appointed to Central Corps we simply compiled a list of the senior members of the corps according to their addresses. We were glad to have transport, travelling with them. However, the OC and his wife did not expect to visit some folk unknown to them! The GS wanted to visit comrades we had already seen that morning! What confusion! We knew better what to do the subsequent years!
We were familiar with the Central Corps hall as we were soldiers there prior to entering training. The huge front doors were painted bright red and had big brass rings which would have served as knockers originally. Not a nail was used but dovetailed into place. Embossed cement bamboo trees hid the pipes on the walls. The ornate roof and ceilings were supported by granite pillars shipped from China. The beams across the ceiling had carvings of dragons on them. General Arnold Brown was reputed to have said that one of those creatures spat on him as he walked pass!
THIS IS MY LIFE - 24
24 – HAPPY FAMILY IN IPOH BOYS’ HOME
Our immediate predecessor at the Ipoh Boys’ Home was a single Dutch lady, Captain Kitty Krueger. She must have felt lonely because she was often out leaving the staff to run the Home. There came a time when she lost control, having depended so much on a certain Eurasian bachelor house master who lived on the compound, Mr. Leicester. Anonymous letters found their way to the local press and IHQ, accusing the officer of absenteeism and negligence. So she was transferred.
Our family left Kuala Lumpur by train and arrived in the Ipoh on 4th July 1969. From the station we proceeded to Tambun, a small village where the SA Boys’ Home was and still is located. Rows of lovely orchids and a cage of colourful budgeries greeted us as we were driven up the driveway to a porch in front of the main two-storey building.
The ground floor had a room on the right side of the lobby used as the office. Behind the lobby were the dining room, kitchen and laundry. On the left side of the front lobby was a flight of stairs which led up to our quarters – a flat which was spacious, well furnished and kept by our predecessors who were all missionary officers.
Surrounding the house was a big compound with many fruit trees – durians, mangoes, rambutans etc. as well as rows of orchids. To the left of the main house were three long rectangular barrack-like buildings, two were furnished as dormitories for the boys and the last one as a multipurpose hall. To the right there was another similar building for the big boys’ dormitory.
We registered Gladys at a Convent Girls School which was not far from the Home.
My husband managed to enrol Stephen in the Anglo Chinese School for boys in Ipoh town. So, every morning our children travelled in the Home van with the boys on their way to the various schools. We had permission from CHQ to do so, refunding $10 per month as fares. However, they returned home on their own by public transport, and when possible my husband met them at the bus-stop.
My husband would spend time with the boys in their studies just as he did when we were in charge of the two Boys’ Homes in Kuching and Penang. Then he would go on his night round to pray with the small ones and tuck them into bed.
We thought the boys here were settling down after the storm, but one day stink bombs were thrown into his office! At night while on his round, stones were pelted at him. This went on for a few nights till he came home one evening, bleeding and hurt. Naturally my husband discussed the matter with Mr. Leicester. He seemed horrified that such a thing could happen.
In the course of my husband’s investigations, someone gave a lead. The house master was suspect. It seemed that he had a very cosy relationship with some of the boys and resented anyone coming between him and them. Perhaps he was working towards being in charge of the Home? It was alleged that he had been the instigator of all the previous rebellions in the Home! We could hardly believe it, because he was always very courteous and obliging. CHQ was informed but nothing could be done without concrete proof.
Meantime we tried to shield our children from this mutiny. Soon they were being harassed by some of the boys when travelling to school with them. Captain Ruut PIUTUNEN, of the Children’s Home, very kindly invited Gladys and Stephen to play with her children sometimes. I was stressed enough because Poh Chin was a very difficult baby to care for. She was always crying and more often than not vomited after a feed. We felt that perhaps all the tension in KL and now in Ipoh must be the cause. Later on we discovered that her problem was cerebral-palsy.
The officers and children from both Homes supported Ipoh Corps in Kampong Simee in the Sunday evening meeting. The Corps Officer was Lt. LOO Pho Khuan. There were hardly any “outsiders” except for one faithful Salvationist family, Mr. Peter and Mrs Ruth WOON with their children, Susan and James. now citizens of Canada. Ruth is the sister of Andrew ONG of Balestier Corps.
Just about the same time, Captain Peter & Mrs. Grace CHANG (Korea Territory) on CHQ received farewell orders. He had been sent to our command as Training Principal. After two sessions there were no more cadets. They were also in charge of Central Corps. However Hong Kong had cadets but no Training Principal. So CHQ moved us back to Singapore - to Central Corps.
At the end of December, a little more than five months in Ipoh, I left for Singapore with our three children, to get the two older ones registered for school in January 1970. My husband accompanied us by the afternoon train to KL where we changed to the night one which left at 9.30 p.m. for Singapore. He then got on the 10 p.m. train, back to Ipoh. (Incidentally his fares were personal.)
Meanwhile my husband remained in the Ipoh Boys’ Home till Captain and Mrs. TAN Thean Seng and Lay Saik arrived from Kuching to take over the reins.
Our immediate predecessor at the Ipoh Boys’ Home was a single Dutch lady, Captain Kitty Krueger. She must have felt lonely because she was often out leaving the staff to run the Home. There came a time when she lost control, having depended so much on a certain Eurasian bachelor house master who lived on the compound, Mr. Leicester. Anonymous letters found their way to the local press and IHQ, accusing the officer of absenteeism and negligence. So she was transferred.
Our family left Kuala Lumpur by train and arrived in the Ipoh on 4th July 1969. From the station we proceeded to Tambun, a small village where the SA Boys’ Home was and still is located. Rows of lovely orchids and a cage of colourful budgeries greeted us as we were driven up the driveway to a porch in front of the main two-storey building.
The ground floor had a room on the right side of the lobby used as the office. Behind the lobby were the dining room, kitchen and laundry. On the left side of the front lobby was a flight of stairs which led up to our quarters – a flat which was spacious, well furnished and kept by our predecessors who were all missionary officers.
Surrounding the house was a big compound with many fruit trees – durians, mangoes, rambutans etc. as well as rows of orchids. To the left of the main house were three long rectangular barrack-like buildings, two were furnished as dormitories for the boys and the last one as a multipurpose hall. To the right there was another similar building for the big boys’ dormitory.
We registered Gladys at a Convent Girls School which was not far from the Home.
My husband managed to enrol Stephen in the Anglo Chinese School for boys in Ipoh town. So, every morning our children travelled in the Home van with the boys on their way to the various schools. We had permission from CHQ to do so, refunding $10 per month as fares. However, they returned home on their own by public transport, and when possible my husband met them at the bus-stop.
My husband would spend time with the boys in their studies just as he did when we were in charge of the two Boys’ Homes in Kuching and Penang. Then he would go on his night round to pray with the small ones and tuck them into bed.
We thought the boys here were settling down after the storm, but one day stink bombs were thrown into his office! At night while on his round, stones were pelted at him. This went on for a few nights till he came home one evening, bleeding and hurt. Naturally my husband discussed the matter with Mr. Leicester. He seemed horrified that such a thing could happen.
In the course of my husband’s investigations, someone gave a lead. The house master was suspect. It seemed that he had a very cosy relationship with some of the boys and resented anyone coming between him and them. Perhaps he was working towards being in charge of the Home? It was alleged that he had been the instigator of all the previous rebellions in the Home! We could hardly believe it, because he was always very courteous and obliging. CHQ was informed but nothing could be done without concrete proof.
Meantime we tried to shield our children from this mutiny. Soon they were being harassed by some of the boys when travelling to school with them. Captain Ruut PIUTUNEN, of the Children’s Home, very kindly invited Gladys and Stephen to play with her children sometimes. I was stressed enough because Poh Chin was a very difficult baby to care for. She was always crying and more often than not vomited after a feed. We felt that perhaps all the tension in KL and now in Ipoh must be the cause. Later on we discovered that her problem was cerebral-palsy.
The officers and children from both Homes supported Ipoh Corps in Kampong Simee in the Sunday evening meeting. The Corps Officer was Lt. LOO Pho Khuan. There were hardly any “outsiders” except for one faithful Salvationist family, Mr. Peter and Mrs Ruth WOON with their children, Susan and James. now citizens of Canada. Ruth is the sister of Andrew ONG of Balestier Corps.
Just about the same time, Captain Peter & Mrs. Grace CHANG (Korea Territory) on CHQ received farewell orders. He had been sent to our command as Training Principal. After two sessions there were no more cadets. They were also in charge of Central Corps. However Hong Kong had cadets but no Training Principal. So CHQ moved us back to Singapore - to Central Corps.
At the end of December, a little more than five months in Ipoh, I left for Singapore with our three children, to get the two older ones registered for school in January 1970. My husband accompanied us by the afternoon train to KL where we changed to the night one which left at 9.30 p.m. for Singapore. He then got on the 10 p.m. train, back to Ipoh. (Incidentally his fares were personal.)
Meanwhile my husband remained in the Ipoh Boys’ Home till Captain and Mrs. TAN Thean Seng and Lay Saik arrived from Kuching to take over the reins.
Monday, August 2, 2010
THIS IS MY LIFE -23
23 – VISITORS to KL CORPS
With KL being halfway between Singapore and Penang we often had visitors, on Army business or furlough. The OC and Mrs. ENGEL (USA West) frequently dropped in when on their way to the north or when he attended National Council of Churches as leader of The Army. Official regular visitors were the General Secretary, Major Thelma WATSON (Australia South), the Public Relations Secretary, Brigadier Arthur SMITH (UK), the Finance Officer, Major KNACKE (Germany), and the Divisional Officer, Major Agnes MORGAN (New Zealand). Other guests were reinforcement Officers who passed through on their annual furlough up in Frasers Hill or the Cameron Highlands. Among them were Majors Elsie WILLIS (UK), Joyce MANTON (UK), Ruth NAUGLER (CANADA), Ivy WILSON (Wales), and Captains Cynthia WHITE (UK), Joan BAVIN. Ken & Betty SPIKIN, and Robert & Thelma WEBB. (all from Australia South)
Our only relatives who visited us were my sister, Pui Sim and brother-in-law, GOH Bin Lay with their older children – Elaine, Anne, Leonard and Catherine accompanied by their nanny, Ah Siong.
In 1968 Cadets LIM Teck Fung and his wife Grace plus Winnie ELISHA came on a campaign. The same year Major Morgan, the DO, was scheduled to stop at our home overnight on her way back to Singapore with Cadets LOO Pho Khuan and TAN Gaik Chooi (Penang Corps) after campaigning in Penang. The Major never made it, because 30 miles from KL a truck hit the car she was driving. We were informed of the accident by the police who found their way to our corps at 8 p.m. two hours after the mishap.
We had invited a Canadian missionary couple, Mr. & Mrs. ELLERGODT, to our home for dinner to renew acquaintance with the Major. Fortunately he had a car; he very kindly drove my husband to the hospital. The cadets escaped with minor cuts but Major Morgan was very seriously injured. The OC was informed and he came up from Singapore immediately, driven by the then Finance Officer, Captain Roy SMITH (UK). Our children slept but we hardly did. The Colonel kept on asking for cups of coffee. Early the next morning the three men officers went to the hospital but our comrade sister officer did not survive. After identifying the body, arrangements were made for a funeral in Singapore. The OC took my husband home with him to Sunset Way, even though he had the Captain at the wheel. He was really traumatised, just as much as our family.
As the Corps Officer my husband represented the Army in the National Council of Churches of Malaysia in Sarawak, Perak, and Penang and in Selangor, serving as chairman in the last two states mentioned. In KL he was very involved in the Grady Wilson campaign in 1968. In this way he made many contacts for The Army in the ecumenical circle. For the same reason I was persuaded to give the message in the Women’s World Day of Prayer held at the Catholic Cathedral in KL.
On 26th April 1969 our third child, Dora LIM Poh Chin, came after a prolonged delivery at the University Hospital in Petaling Jaya. I was not allowed to breastfeed her for the first two days because she was kept in an incubator for hyperventilation. I was not aware of the significance of her condition, even when she seemed to cry very much and often vomited after a feed. I took her back to the hospital for our post natal check ups, but her records were found missing! The doctor had to ask me information to fill in another set of records regarding the circumstances of her birth!
Captain and Mrs. Robert WEBB (in charge of Children’s Home in Singapore) called on us with their children, Geoffrey, Carolyn, Julie and Russell, on their way home from furlough in the Cameron Highlands. When Mrs. Thelma Webb carried Poh Chin, Julie was anxious, asking her mum if she knew what to do! That night Gladys and Stephen joined the Webb children sleeping on the floor in the lounge.
Less than three weeks after the birth of Poh Chin, on 13th May 1969, racial riots broke out in the KL because the opposition parties won a big number of seats in the general elections. As most of the residents in our estate were Chinese the men formed vigilante groups to fight off any invaders. However, my husband was exempted but told to stay indoors. Trouble soon spread to Penang and Singapore. Curfew was imposed. The government declared a state of Emergency throughout Malaysia. It was a nerve-wrecking time! In the midst of the turbulence, we received farewell orders - to Ipoh Boys Home. There was a crisis in the Home too! Letters were sent to the press instigated by a rebel member of the staff.
It was very stressful for my husband, trying to visit our people and shop for the family between curfews. He also had to pack our luggage into boxes, then wooden cases. The two older children helped by lowering baskets of small items I had sorted out, from upstairs to the air well downstairs. They had fun!
As part of our farewell the Home League ladies organised a “full-moon” party to celebrate Poh Chin’s first month! The appropriate response was for us to reciprocate by distributing a gift box with red rice cakes, roast pork, red coloured eggs and pickled ginger to each family. Mrs. Winnie Kwan very kindly helped us by shopping, boiling and dying the 100 eggs, as well as hosting the party in her spacious home. Somewhat reluctantly we left KL Corps on 4th July 1969.
With KL being halfway between Singapore and Penang we often had visitors, on Army business or furlough. The OC and Mrs. ENGEL (USA West) frequently dropped in when on their way to the north or when he attended National Council of Churches as leader of The Army. Official regular visitors were the General Secretary, Major Thelma WATSON (Australia South), the Public Relations Secretary, Brigadier Arthur SMITH (UK), the Finance Officer, Major KNACKE (Germany), and the Divisional Officer, Major Agnes MORGAN (New Zealand). Other guests were reinforcement Officers who passed through on their annual furlough up in Frasers Hill or the Cameron Highlands. Among them were Majors Elsie WILLIS (UK), Joyce MANTON (UK), Ruth NAUGLER (CANADA), Ivy WILSON (Wales), and Captains Cynthia WHITE (UK), Joan BAVIN. Ken & Betty SPIKIN, and Robert & Thelma WEBB. (all from Australia South)
Our only relatives who visited us were my sister, Pui Sim and brother-in-law, GOH Bin Lay with their older children – Elaine, Anne, Leonard and Catherine accompanied by their nanny, Ah Siong.
In 1968 Cadets LIM Teck Fung and his wife Grace plus Winnie ELISHA came on a campaign. The same year Major Morgan, the DO, was scheduled to stop at our home overnight on her way back to Singapore with Cadets LOO Pho Khuan and TAN Gaik Chooi (Penang Corps) after campaigning in Penang. The Major never made it, because 30 miles from KL a truck hit the car she was driving. We were informed of the accident by the police who found their way to our corps at 8 p.m. two hours after the mishap.
We had invited a Canadian missionary couple, Mr. & Mrs. ELLERGODT, to our home for dinner to renew acquaintance with the Major. Fortunately he had a car; he very kindly drove my husband to the hospital. The cadets escaped with minor cuts but Major Morgan was very seriously injured. The OC was informed and he came up from Singapore immediately, driven by the then Finance Officer, Captain Roy SMITH (UK). Our children slept but we hardly did. The Colonel kept on asking for cups of coffee. Early the next morning the three men officers went to the hospital but our comrade sister officer did not survive. After identifying the body, arrangements were made for a funeral in Singapore. The OC took my husband home with him to Sunset Way, even though he had the Captain at the wheel. He was really traumatised, just as much as our family.
As the Corps Officer my husband represented the Army in the National Council of Churches of Malaysia in Sarawak, Perak, and Penang and in Selangor, serving as chairman in the last two states mentioned. In KL he was very involved in the Grady Wilson campaign in 1968. In this way he made many contacts for The Army in the ecumenical circle. For the same reason I was persuaded to give the message in the Women’s World Day of Prayer held at the Catholic Cathedral in KL.
On 26th April 1969 our third child, Dora LIM Poh Chin, came after a prolonged delivery at the University Hospital in Petaling Jaya. I was not allowed to breastfeed her for the first two days because she was kept in an incubator for hyperventilation. I was not aware of the significance of her condition, even when she seemed to cry very much and often vomited after a feed. I took her back to the hospital for our post natal check ups, but her records were found missing! The doctor had to ask me information to fill in another set of records regarding the circumstances of her birth!
Captain and Mrs. Robert WEBB (in charge of Children’s Home in Singapore) called on us with their children, Geoffrey, Carolyn, Julie and Russell, on their way home from furlough in the Cameron Highlands. When Mrs. Thelma Webb carried Poh Chin, Julie was anxious, asking her mum if she knew what to do! That night Gladys and Stephen joined the Webb children sleeping on the floor in the lounge.
Less than three weeks after the birth of Poh Chin, on 13th May 1969, racial riots broke out in the KL because the opposition parties won a big number of seats in the general elections. As most of the residents in our estate were Chinese the men formed vigilante groups to fight off any invaders. However, my husband was exempted but told to stay indoors. Trouble soon spread to Penang and Singapore. Curfew was imposed. The government declared a state of Emergency throughout Malaysia. It was a nerve-wrecking time! In the midst of the turbulence, we received farewell orders - to Ipoh Boys Home. There was a crisis in the Home too! Letters were sent to the press instigated by a rebel member of the staff.
It was very stressful for my husband, trying to visit our people and shop for the family between curfews. He also had to pack our luggage into boxes, then wooden cases. The two older children helped by lowering baskets of small items I had sorted out, from upstairs to the air well downstairs. They had fun!
As part of our farewell the Home League ladies organised a “full-moon” party to celebrate Poh Chin’s first month! The appropriate response was for us to reciprocate by distributing a gift box with red rice cakes, roast pork, red coloured eggs and pickled ginger to each family. Mrs. Winnie Kwan very kindly helped us by shopping, boiling and dying the 100 eggs, as well as hosting the party in her spacious home. Somewhat reluctantly we left KL Corps on 4th July 1969.
THIS IS MY LIFE -22
22 – KL CORPS DEVELOPMENT
As we were in a new housing estate there was no wet market built yet. Every morning a few small trucks ladened with assorted produce would park along the sides of the road. We ladies did our shopping or “marketing” then. It took me a long time to come home with my grocery because I used to stop and chat with the ladies, inviting them to Home League. In the evenings, our family would walk round the estate, exploring our environment. We also stopped to chat with the people who seemed friendly, inviting them to the Sunday Worship.
My husband used to play his concertina every Sunday afternoon at the front door of the hall. This attracted the children to crowd round. They were then invited into the hall; and soon a Sunday school was started.
It was not easy to get adults to attend the Sunday meeting because they were either already church goers or of other faiths. The ladies seemed more keen in a weekday fellowship gathering. Thus a Home League meeting was held on every Tuesday afternoon. This was quite popular because all of us were new to the place and keen to make friends. Many of the ladies were also very interested to visit each other’s home to learn cooking various dishes. This I had to limit to once a month.
One very enthusiastic Home League member was Weenie KWAN. She brought more than five friends to become members; for this she was awarded the Home League President’s Badge! The Home League was certainly a good outreach programme to introduce people to The Army to find the Lord. The following year our corps won the Command Home League Banner of Progress!
In October, Lieutenant TAN Thean Seng was ordained, commissioned and appointed as the Assistant Corps Officer. He was very welcomed reinforcement, especially for door-to-door visitation all along the Old Klang Road and surrounding districts with pamphlets listing our meetings and activities. The two men officers did this most afternoons, walking in the heat of the sun as the corps did not own a vehicle, not even a bicycle!
Their hard work paid off as many contacts were made as a result. Another successful outreach was the weekly youth group held every Friday evening. Perhaps the draw card was our offer of free private tuition for the members.
Dr. David MUTTU of Reddy Clinic in Petaling Jaya had been one of the Army’s donors when the Public Relations Secretary on CHQ went collecting in the big towns and cities in Malaysia. He asked Brigadier Arthur SMITH from the UK Territory who was serving in this position at this time, what more he could do for The Army. The Brigadier informed him of our transfer to KL so he offered us free medical treatment. He continued doing so for all officers appointed to the corps till he passed away. He belonged to the Methodist Church but became good friends, bringing his children to the corps first Christmas party, and provided ice cream for all present.
One day my husband met on the bus an elderly Scottish gentleman by the name of John ROBERTSON. He had been a rubber planter for years and was now living as a retiree in a bungalow in our estate with his Thai wife, a very staunched Buddist. Though he did not attend our meetings often he became a good supporter, and sponsored my husband to join the British Council Library, and supported us on special occasions. However, through regular visitation Mrs. Nowan ROBERTSON joined the Home League, bringing another Thai lady, Mrs. GODDART. Long after Mr. Robertson passed away his wife remained a faithful Home League member and supporter.
My husband and I enrolled ourselves at a night class in Assunta School in Petaling Jaya to study Bahasa Kebangsaan – Malaysia’s National language, Malay. One night a week Lt. Tan stayed home to do his probationary lessons and also babysat for us at the same time, while we were out. One of our classmates was June LIM living in Petaling Jaya. We visited her and her mother; who became good friends of The Army, supporting our special events, though they remained Anglican Church members. Through their generosity the corps received an organ and a ceiling fan.
At the corps’ first anniversary celebrations meeting, our hall was filled to capacity. We had to borrow chairs from one of the boys whose father owned a coffee shop nearby. Friends and neighbours brought goodies for the fellowship tea which followed. Mrs. H. S LIM, donated one hundred home-made curry puffs. We were very thankful to God for the wonderful support given by everyone.
With KL being halfway between Singapore and Penang we often had visitors, on Army business or furlough. The OC also visited frequently when he attended National Council of Churches as leader of The Army.
As we were in a new housing estate there was no wet market built yet. Every morning a few small trucks ladened with assorted produce would park along the sides of the road. We ladies did our shopping or “marketing” then. It took me a long time to come home with my grocery because I used to stop and chat with the ladies, inviting them to Home League. In the evenings, our family would walk round the estate, exploring our environment. We also stopped to chat with the people who seemed friendly, inviting them to the Sunday Worship.
My husband used to play his concertina every Sunday afternoon at the front door of the hall. This attracted the children to crowd round. They were then invited into the hall; and soon a Sunday school was started.
It was not easy to get adults to attend the Sunday meeting because they were either already church goers or of other faiths. The ladies seemed more keen in a weekday fellowship gathering. Thus a Home League meeting was held on every Tuesday afternoon. This was quite popular because all of us were new to the place and keen to make friends. Many of the ladies were also very interested to visit each other’s home to learn cooking various dishes. This I had to limit to once a month.
One very enthusiastic Home League member was Weenie KWAN. She brought more than five friends to become members; for this she was awarded the Home League President’s Badge! The Home League was certainly a good outreach programme to introduce people to The Army to find the Lord. The following year our corps won the Command Home League Banner of Progress!
In October, Lieutenant TAN Thean Seng was ordained, commissioned and appointed as the Assistant Corps Officer. He was very welcomed reinforcement, especially for door-to-door visitation all along the Old Klang Road and surrounding districts with pamphlets listing our meetings and activities. The two men officers did this most afternoons, walking in the heat of the sun as the corps did not own a vehicle, not even a bicycle!
Their hard work paid off as many contacts were made as a result. Another successful outreach was the weekly youth group held every Friday evening. Perhaps the draw card was our offer of free private tuition for the members.
Dr. David MUTTU of Reddy Clinic in Petaling Jaya had been one of the Army’s donors when the Public Relations Secretary on CHQ went collecting in the big towns and cities in Malaysia. He asked Brigadier Arthur SMITH from the UK Territory who was serving in this position at this time, what more he could do for The Army. The Brigadier informed him of our transfer to KL so he offered us free medical treatment. He continued doing so for all officers appointed to the corps till he passed away. He belonged to the Methodist Church but became good friends, bringing his children to the corps first Christmas party, and provided ice cream for all present.
One day my husband met on the bus an elderly Scottish gentleman by the name of John ROBERTSON. He had been a rubber planter for years and was now living as a retiree in a bungalow in our estate with his Thai wife, a very staunched Buddist. Though he did not attend our meetings often he became a good supporter, and sponsored my husband to join the British Council Library, and supported us on special occasions. However, through regular visitation Mrs. Nowan ROBERTSON joined the Home League, bringing another Thai lady, Mrs. GODDART. Long after Mr. Robertson passed away his wife remained a faithful Home League member and supporter.
My husband and I enrolled ourselves at a night class in Assunta School in Petaling Jaya to study Bahasa Kebangsaan – Malaysia’s National language, Malay. One night a week Lt. Tan stayed home to do his probationary lessons and also babysat for us at the same time, while we were out. One of our classmates was June LIM living in Petaling Jaya. We visited her and her mother; who became good friends of The Army, supporting our special events, though they remained Anglican Church members. Through their generosity the corps received an organ and a ceiling fan.
At the corps’ first anniversary celebrations meeting, our hall was filled to capacity. We had to borrow chairs from one of the boys whose father owned a coffee shop nearby. Friends and neighbours brought goodies for the fellowship tea which followed. Mrs. H. S LIM, donated one hundred home-made curry puffs. We were very thankful to God for the wonderful support given by everyone.
With KL being halfway between Singapore and Penang we often had visitors, on Army business or furlough. The OC also visited frequently when he attended National Council of Churches as leader of The Army.
THIS IS MY LIFE -21
21 – HAPPY FAMILY IN KUALA LUMPUR
I went to England for the Centenary Congress on a Malaysian passport but not long after my return to Penang, Singapore seceded from the union and I became a Singaporean again!
Whilst we were stationed at the Penang Boys’ Home, my husband was told to scout around Kuala Lumpur to find a suitable place to start an Army Corps in the Capital of Malaysia. He used to travel by night train, walked all over the city during the next day, and returned by another night train. He did this a few times, till he discovered a new housing estate, off Old Klang Road, called United Garden. It was between the capital and Petaling Jaya. Not far from the main road were three rows of shop houses. The end units of each row were separated by a narrow lane. He identified the last unit of the first row along Jalan Pertama for Kuala Lumpur Corps.
The General Secretary, Colonel Thelma WATSON arranged to meet my husband in Kuala Lumpur to sign a two-year lease with the owner. Brigadier B. TJEERTES, officer in charge of the Lee Kuo Chuan Home for the Elderly at 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore raised the money for the rent at $380.00 ringgit per month for that period.
Our stay in the Boys’ Home was about one and a half years only when the family was on the move again. The Officer Commanding Lt-Colonel George ENGEL, was very keen to get the corps started. Almost immediately he and Mrs. Lt. Colonel Florence Engel came one day in August 1966 to officiate the opening. Beside our family, there were only three other people - Brothers Neo Ah How and Chau Chin Lye, originally from Penang, and Jimmy Lim from Singapore, all were working in the city.
The front of the shop house served as our hall. Backing the road and pavement were 30 wooden upright chairs, arranged in 5 rows. Facing the congregation was a Mercy Seat donated by the Ipoh Boys’ Home under the charge of Captain Ken and Mrs. Betty SPIKiN. There was no elevated platform, only a lectern and three chairs behind the Mercy Seat at the back of the hall.
The back portion of the building downstairs had two small rooms on the left. The space on the right was opened to the sky so we had a little garden of pot plants. At the far end was a toilet; a back door led out to the back lane. We had planned to start a kindergarten in the corps, but our premises did not
meet the criteria. This project was shelved till The Army moved to the present location, Overseas Union Garden.
Our home was upstairs with two front bedrooms, and a sitting room at the top of the staircase. A doorway from the lounge led to a narrow corridor running to the back of the building. On the left side of this passage were a bathroom, the kitchen, and a small room we used as the dining area. The right side of the corridor opened to the sky, corresponding to the space downstairs behind the hall. Right at the back was another small room with a a toilet and a bathroom. However there was no back stairs to exit the building.
Poh Ai attended a Government Primary School with English as the medium of instruction and Bahasa Kebangsaan as the second language. A private pick-up taxi came for her each morning and brought her home, to and from Old Klang Road. Stephen started attending a kindergarten not far from home, always walked there by himself. They were good children, stayed home and played on their own when we were out on business. They also helped after meals, she did the washing up and he did the drying of the crockery and cutlery.
A former resident of the Ipoh Children’s Home was working in Kuala Lumpur. She had kept in touch with Captain Moira WRIGHT who was at one time looking after her. Judy was getting married at the registry because Ken HAMMOND from UK was not attending any church and she thought there was no Army corps in KL. The Captain quickly introduced us to her and we lost no time in visiting them. Within a few weeks of the opening of the corps, my husband conducted the first Army Wedding in the shop house hall! We brought down a small red carpet from our quarters which served as the pulpit! Everyone loves a wedding. This was no exception. Curious neighbours crowded outside the hall to watch.
A reception was held at the Cricket Club in the city. Major Agnes MORGAN (the first corps officer I served under) the then Divisional Officer, happened to be passing through KL corps, helped to keep an eye on our children. She was asked if they were her grandchildren; after a slight hesitation she answered in the affirmative!
I went to England for the Centenary Congress on a Malaysian passport but not long after my return to Penang, Singapore seceded from the union and I became a Singaporean again!
Whilst we were stationed at the Penang Boys’ Home, my husband was told to scout around Kuala Lumpur to find a suitable place to start an Army Corps in the Capital of Malaysia. He used to travel by night train, walked all over the city during the next day, and returned by another night train. He did this a few times, till he discovered a new housing estate, off Old Klang Road, called United Garden. It was between the capital and Petaling Jaya. Not far from the main road were three rows of shop houses. The end units of each row were separated by a narrow lane. He identified the last unit of the first row along Jalan Pertama for Kuala Lumpur Corps.
The General Secretary, Colonel Thelma WATSON arranged to meet my husband in Kuala Lumpur to sign a two-year lease with the owner. Brigadier B. TJEERTES, officer in charge of the Lee Kuo Chuan Home for the Elderly at 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore raised the money for the rent at $380.00 ringgit per month for that period.
Our stay in the Boys’ Home was about one and a half years only when the family was on the move again. The Officer Commanding Lt-Colonel George ENGEL, was very keen to get the corps started. Almost immediately he and Mrs. Lt. Colonel Florence Engel came one day in August 1966 to officiate the opening. Beside our family, there were only three other people - Brothers Neo Ah How and Chau Chin Lye, originally from Penang, and Jimmy Lim from Singapore, all were working in the city.
The front of the shop house served as our hall. Backing the road and pavement were 30 wooden upright chairs, arranged in 5 rows. Facing the congregation was a Mercy Seat donated by the Ipoh Boys’ Home under the charge of Captain Ken and Mrs. Betty SPIKiN. There was no elevated platform, only a lectern and three chairs behind the Mercy Seat at the back of the hall.
The back portion of the building downstairs had two small rooms on the left. The space on the right was opened to the sky so we had a little garden of pot plants. At the far end was a toilet; a back door led out to the back lane. We had planned to start a kindergarten in the corps, but our premises did not
meet the criteria. This project was shelved till The Army moved to the present location, Overseas Union Garden.
Our home was upstairs with two front bedrooms, and a sitting room at the top of the staircase. A doorway from the lounge led to a narrow corridor running to the back of the building. On the left side of this passage were a bathroom, the kitchen, and a small room we used as the dining area. The right side of the corridor opened to the sky, corresponding to the space downstairs behind the hall. Right at the back was another small room with a a toilet and a bathroom. However there was no back stairs to exit the building.
Poh Ai attended a Government Primary School with English as the medium of instruction and Bahasa Kebangsaan as the second language. A private pick-up taxi came for her each morning and brought her home, to and from Old Klang Road. Stephen started attending a kindergarten not far from home, always walked there by himself. They were good children, stayed home and played on their own when we were out on business. They also helped after meals, she did the washing up and he did the drying of the crockery and cutlery.
A former resident of the Ipoh Children’s Home was working in Kuala Lumpur. She had kept in touch with Captain Moira WRIGHT who was at one time looking after her. Judy was getting married at the registry because Ken HAMMOND from UK was not attending any church and she thought there was no Army corps in KL. The Captain quickly introduced us to her and we lost no time in visiting them. Within a few weeks of the opening of the corps, my husband conducted the first Army Wedding in the shop house hall! We brought down a small red carpet from our quarters which served as the pulpit! Everyone loves a wedding. This was no exception. Curious neighbours crowded outside the hall to watch.
A reception was held at the Cricket Club in the city. Major Agnes MORGAN (the first corps officer I served under) the then Divisional Officer, happened to be passing through KL corps, helped to keep an eye on our children. She was asked if they were her grandchildren; after a slight hesitation she answered in the affirmative!
Friday, June 25, 2010
THIS IS MY LIFE - 20
20 – THE SALVATION ARMY CENTENARY IN LONDON
Prior to all the changes we had in Kuching I received news that Captain Goh Siong Kheng and I were chosen to represent the Singapore and Malaya Command at the Centenary Congress in London in June 1965. Therefore, not long after our arrival to Penang Boys’ Home I left by Quantas Airways, stopping briefly at Bangkok and Rome. My husband managed very well looking after 50 boys beside our own two children. Gladys Poh Ai was five years old and Stephen Thean Hock was three. I asked our kids what they would like me to bring home for them. Our daughter requested a check book and our son some ice-cream!
Captain Goh had gone on ahead because she also attended the International College for Officers to which my husband had been two years earlier. Most of the overseas delegates to the congress stayed at the International Training College at Denmark Hill. I was in a cadet’s room. a small cubicle, in House 8. It was really cold, especially at night. My teeth literally chatted! The Williamson sisters from New Zealand gave me a hot water bottle, but I was too scared to use it in case it burst on me! An innocent abroad indeed!
Major Cecil Watts came to the college and took me to Sutton where he was stationed with Mrs. Watts. They gave me a rose in a red vase which I treasured for years. Major & Mrs. Arthur Hall, former corps officers of Singapore Central and Divisional Officer, had invited Captain Goh and myself to visit their corps in Sunderland Milfield to take part in their corps meetings on the one free Sunday we had before the centennial celebrations. They sent us two train tickets but for some personal reasons she did not go. So a Captain Miller from Kinston, Jamaica who was another delegate to the ICO, went with me by British Rail.
It was all very exciting to attend such a big event. A fellow Shepherd from Indonesia, Captain Ong Beng Chiang (later named Lilian Adiwinoto and rose to be a Commissioner) asked me to take care of another officer, Captain Roos Mundung who later became Mrs. Commissioner Tondi. We were both scheduled to give our testimony at the Youth Rally in Wembley. Another of my duties was to read the Bible in the Sunday Evening Salvation Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall when General Frederick Coutts’ message was based on the story of blind Bartimeus recorded in Mark’s Gospel.
To catch the P & O boat back to the Far East and beyond, Captain Goh and I were among fifty or so Salvationists, who travelled on the Himalaya.
We left before the end of the celebrations, but we had our own meetings on board! Everyday of the three week journey we had some form of meeting. The majority of the group were from Australia and New Zealand. A Kiwi Divisional Commander, Lt-Colonel and Mrs. Fred Searle took charge, acting as chaplains on board.
When the ship stopped at Bombay Captain Goh and I met up with Major Joseph & Mrs. Florence Jordon formerly stationed in the Ipoh Boys’ Home, now running the Red Shield Hostel. Captain Douglas & Mrs. Jean Kiff who had served in Singapore and then Malaya in various appointments in bygone years, invited Captain Goh and myself to their quarters for a meal. He was now the Financial Secretary. The whole contingent was taken around a few Army centres.
Captain Goh and I disembarked at Penang. By then there were still more than 30 Salvationists travelling further. I was immediately involved in the plans my husband and the Penang Corps Officer, Brigadier Ivy Wilson, had arranged. There was a home-cooked lunch and a visit to the island’s tourist spots, ending at the Boys’ Home. Colonel Searle asked what he could do for a project to help us. The Home had no refrigerator. On his return to New Zealand he made an appeal among his people. The second donor offered to buy one outright. Such generosity!
Prior to all the changes we had in Kuching I received news that Captain Goh Siong Kheng and I were chosen to represent the Singapore and Malaya Command at the Centenary Congress in London in June 1965. Therefore, not long after our arrival to Penang Boys’ Home I left by Quantas Airways, stopping briefly at Bangkok and Rome. My husband managed very well looking after 50 boys beside our own two children. Gladys Poh Ai was five years old and Stephen Thean Hock was three. I asked our kids what they would like me to bring home for them. Our daughter requested a check book and our son some ice-cream!
Captain Goh had gone on ahead because she also attended the International College for Officers to which my husband had been two years earlier. Most of the overseas delegates to the congress stayed at the International Training College at Denmark Hill. I was in a cadet’s room. a small cubicle, in House 8. It was really cold, especially at night. My teeth literally chatted! The Williamson sisters from New Zealand gave me a hot water bottle, but I was too scared to use it in case it burst on me! An innocent abroad indeed!
Major Cecil Watts came to the college and took me to Sutton where he was stationed with Mrs. Watts. They gave me a rose in a red vase which I treasured for years. Major & Mrs. Arthur Hall, former corps officers of Singapore Central and Divisional Officer, had invited Captain Goh and myself to visit their corps in Sunderland Milfield to take part in their corps meetings on the one free Sunday we had before the centennial celebrations. They sent us two train tickets but for some personal reasons she did not go. So a Captain Miller from Kinston, Jamaica who was another delegate to the ICO, went with me by British Rail.
It was all very exciting to attend such a big event. A fellow Shepherd from Indonesia, Captain Ong Beng Chiang (later named Lilian Adiwinoto and rose to be a Commissioner) asked me to take care of another officer, Captain Roos Mundung who later became Mrs. Commissioner Tondi. We were both scheduled to give our testimony at the Youth Rally in Wembley. Another of my duties was to read the Bible in the Sunday Evening Salvation Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall when General Frederick Coutts’ message was based on the story of blind Bartimeus recorded in Mark’s Gospel.
To catch the P & O boat back to the Far East and beyond, Captain Goh and I were among fifty or so Salvationists, who travelled on the Himalaya.
We left before the end of the celebrations, but we had our own meetings on board! Everyday of the three week journey we had some form of meeting. The majority of the group were from Australia and New Zealand. A Kiwi Divisional Commander, Lt-Colonel and Mrs. Fred Searle took charge, acting as chaplains on board.
When the ship stopped at Bombay Captain Goh and I met up with Major Joseph & Mrs. Florence Jordon formerly stationed in the Ipoh Boys’ Home, now running the Red Shield Hostel. Captain Douglas & Mrs. Jean Kiff who had served in Singapore and then Malaya in various appointments in bygone years, invited Captain Goh and myself to their quarters for a meal. He was now the Financial Secretary. The whole contingent was taken around a few Army centres.
Captain Goh and I disembarked at Penang. By then there were still more than 30 Salvationists travelling further. I was immediately involved in the plans my husband and the Penang Corps Officer, Brigadier Ivy Wilson, had arranged. There was a home-cooked lunch and a visit to the island’s tourist spots, ending at the Boys’ Home. Colonel Searle asked what he could do for a project to help us. The Home had no refrigerator. On his return to New Zealand he made an appeal among his people. The second donor offered to buy one outright. Such generosity!
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