THIS IS MY LIFE - 14

14 - PEARL OF THE ORIENT
My husband and I were very excited to be appointed to Penang Corps. The island had been one of those which claimed to be the Pearl of the Orient.
On my first visit I was enchanted by the scenery. Perhaps it was also the first time I ever left Singapore to visit Malaya as one of the two women cadets of the Shepherds Session who were sent to Penang for a campaign whilst in training. My husband had not been there before and I tried to describe it to him.

The Army hall and quarters were the first purpose-built premises in the Command. Located in a lovely residential area, not far from the prison, with its superintendant living nearby we felt very secured. The building was a compound house in the shape of the letter L upside down. From the main gate a left turn on a driveway would lead to the front of the hall. However, straight from the road on same driveway would lead to the quarters. Take a left turn and ahead was the garage, but on the right was the front door to the sitting room. From the garage there were two side doors, the right one opened to the balcony into the quarters, while the other led to a little office behind the corps hall.

We left Singapore by the night train and changed to the day express at Kuala Lumpur the next morning. I was then sick with nausea and we wondered what the matter was with me. We disembarked at Butterworth on the mainland, caught a ferry to the island and met by Major Roy Page, the Manager of the Penang Boys’ Home. It was a relief to arrive at our destination to unpack our luggage. My husband found the place as idyllic as I had discovered. We thought we were in paradise, at least the annex to heaven!

After a good night’s rest I was sick again the next morning! I was very miserable, so went to see a doctor. The nurse thought I looked too well to need consultation and I was too shy to say I wanted a pregnancy test! The doctor confirmed that a baby was on the way. We were very happy indeed.

The Sunday schedule of Penang Corps began with Directory Class at 9 a.m. attended mainly by the boys from the Home; Holiness Meeting at 10 a.m. Sunday School at 3 p.m.; open air meeting at 5 p.m. followed by the march to the hall for the Salvation Meeting at 6 p.m. We were greatly supported by Major and Mrs. Roy and Connie Page, the Home Officers and the boys from the Home; Corps Sergeant Major (CSM)Geoffrey Oakley, stationed at the Royal Australian Air Force base with his wife Norma and two sons, Graham and Warren; Corps Treasurer Robert Khoo, Corps Pianist Neo Ah Howe, and others including Mr. & Mrs. Mathews, Anna, Lucy and Sunny. Joseph was a pre war Salvationist; though he did not understand much English he was faithful in attending the Sunday morning meeting bringing flowere for the hall. He was gardener to the residents of some lovely bungalows on the island. There was a small band and a songster brigade with Mrs. Page as the Songster Leader. Almost the whole Sunday School was made up of Tamil children living with their parents in the prison staff quarters nearby.

We had a good friend in Major James Tait, Red Shield officer for the Australian troops stationed in Malaya. He would always arrange to be at the meetings on Sunday and ever willing and ready to conduct a meeting when requested.

During the week my programme included a Home League meeting with about a dozen ladies; for my husband it was a Religious Knowledge class at the school attached to the Boys’ Home during school hours; and in the evening he held Corps Cadet Class in the corps. On a Saturday afternoon, he would cycle off to the home of Brother Michael at Bayam Lepas and the Mathews family at Glugor for the outpost Sunday School and adult meeting while I had meetings with the Sunbeans (Brownies) and Life Saving Guards (Girl Guides). Loo Lay Saik (now Lt-Colonel Mrs. Tan) first joined Penang Corps through this section. Saturday evening was pub-booming (selling the War Cry in the bars or coffee shops and restaurants.)

Generally we travelled together by bus because the corps owned one bicycle only. It was very useful, like when my husband visited the outposts, carrying his concertina behind, or when I went to the market.

Another aspect of our ministry was to offer hospitality to Army personnel en route to their destinations when their ships docked. At first we were just as interested as the visitors to enjoy the tourist spots such as Penang Hill, Botanic Gardens and the Snake Temple etc. Towards the end of our three year term, I found it tiring, (with two young children) time consuming and expensive too, especially when some visitors would bring their newfound friends among their fellow travellers. In those days only the stipulated number of people advised by CHQ and officially listed cost of their meals only could be legitimately charged. However, we did get good cooperation from some Home officers, who took their turn to entertain those known to them.

Two months after our arrival in Penang, my sister Pui Sim announced her marriage to GOH Bin Lay on 19th January 1960. We dared not ask permission for both of us to be away from duty. Besides, we could hardly afford the fares. So only I attended the wedding.