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!

THIS IS MY LIFE - 19

19 – HAPPY FAMILY IN PENANG BOYS’ HOME

In 1965 The Army built a small two-storey house as quarters for the officers in charge of the Penang Boys’ Home in Sungai Pinang Road. It was situated on the left side of the driveway from the front gate into the compound of the Home. The office was a room on the right and the door on the left led to our lounge and dining area. Behind was the kitchen beside which was a flight of stairs to the second level. There were three bedrooms upstairs.

There were about 50 boys of ages six to late teens in the Home. Madam Low Ah Kew was a live-in cook who also did the big laundry. A former resident, Meng Cheong, worked as a general helper and driver. He was really good, with a great sense of ownership of the place. The Home ran a chicken farm as a means of income. One of my husband’s duties was to deliver eggs and poultry!

In conjunction with the Home was a primary school for over-aged children. About half of our boys were able to attend the government schools, but quite a number had to stay in. In addition to these boys residing in our Home, some children from elsewhere were also enrolled with us. To cut costs, Brother (now Lt-Colonel) Tan Thean Seng taught primary one and two; I took 3 and 4, while a Mrs. Lee was the teacher for 5 and 6.

Gladys started attending the Methodist Kindergarten in Logan Road. Initially I felt as if I had lost my daughter! I kept on wondering how she was getting along. It is not easy to let go of one’s child, especially for the first time. I guess she must have felt a little lost at first but she soon got over it. Children do adjust better than adults. Stephen seemed happy enough to play by himself at home, as long as he had his toy cars.

Major Ivy Wilson was the Corps Officer of Penang Corps. My husband supported the corps by taking responsibility for the band and songster brigade. I sang with the treble section. She used to direct the traffic with her right hand whilst carrying Stephen in her left arm as the corps band marched to and from the Open-air meeting every Sunday evening.

Home League Secretary was my position in the corps. Every week my husband would alight me and our children at the corps on his delivery round. Then he would pick us up later, and also give lifts to some of the ladies, like the mothers of Lt-Colonels Tan and Loo, Madam Ah Chee and Sundari on the way home.

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Preston, a young Scot and his Penang-born wife, Wee Si Lin, with their little daughter, had moved to Ipoh where he found a job. She had also been a Home League member in Penang. One day Major Wilson decided to visit the family in Ipoh. She drove an old car, taking Stephen and me for a day’s outing. On the way we stopped by a shady spot where we had a picnic lunch which I had prepared. We also stopped by the Ipoh Boys’ Home to see Captain and Mrs. Ken Spikin and their family, Karen and Brenda.

A few months later Esther JOHN was appointed as the Assistant Corps Officer to Penang Corps. At the end of her training as a cadet in New Zealand she was commissioned in January 1966. After some time a young man called Stephen Rengasamy started attending the corps. He became a soldier, went into the Training College in Singapore and they got married.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

THIS IS MY LIFE- 18

18 – HAPPY FAMILY IN KUCHING BOYS’ HOME

Towards the latter part of 1964 we were asked to hold on at the Kuching Boys’ Home in addition to our responsibilities at the corps, while Captain and Mrs. Webb went for their homeland furlough in Australia at the end of their five-year term. Captain Janos Wasagam would stay at the corps quarters as the assistant.

The Webb family had just moved into their new quarters, built by the government for the superintendant. They were in there only for a few months. We moved into this brand new two storey building adjacent to the Home in the same compound. Originally the ground floor was a void deck, not walled up and partitioned into offices as it stands today.

During the week from Monday to Friday I went to the kindergarten with our two children. Captain Wasagam would have the place all opened to receive the kindergarten children. She also helped me at Home League and visitation of the corps comrades and friends. Once a week we even cycled to night class to study the National language – Bahasa Melayu.

We had about 50 boys in our care, ranging from preschoolers to teenagers. A housemaster, Wong Ah Nyian, and his wife, Chor Fah, the cook were the only lived-in staff members. Two young women came in daily to help take care of the little boys. In the evenings I would “open clinic” to give first-aid. Very often it would be only mosquito bites, a cut or two, at worse a boil.

Most of the boys went to school in the morning; others learnt a trade in the carpentry workshop, or helped in the vegetable garden and fish pond to supplement the kitchen requirements. My husband helped the bigger boys with their school homework in the evenings.

A couple of months later, a telegram came to say Captain and Mrs. Webb would not be returning to the Kuching Boy’s Home but at the end of their homeland furlough would be proceeding to the Singapore Children’s Home. We were to relinquish our corps duties, but stay on at the Boy’s Home full time. Major Vataya and Captain Piutunen were appointed to the corps.

We supported the corps as soldiers, my husband was the bandmaster and I was busy with the Home League. Between us we also translated for the corps officers.

One day a lady resident from the section for the elderly in the Children’s Home, also a soldier of the corps was promoted to glory. My husband conducted the funeral. A couple of our boys made a wreath from some wild flowers. She had no relatives; we with the older boys and a few elderly ladies from the Home were the mourners.

Before we could unpack our last box of our luggage, we were told to leave Kuching for Penang, this time to the Boy’s Home there. Captain Will and Mrs. Marjorie Davies with their daughters, Maureen and Jillian, were returning home to the England at the end of their term. A Dutch lady officer, Major Scherpenisse, serving on CHQ in Singapore was appointed pro-tem to Kuching Boys’ Home to await the arrival of Captain Keith and Mrs. Doreen Sharp from the UK with Paul and Estelle their two children. So we left Kuching on the Rajah Brook to Singapore then off to Penang by train.

There were a couple of young English National Servicemen who would visit the Home when off duty. They loved to play and have their meals with the boys. They must have been were lonely and missed their home and family! They always ended the day in our home for supper before going off to their barracks. Very often they seemed reluctant to leave. One of them used to stay till midnight, well past my bedtime! We did not realise what this meant to them till they made contact and told us in recent years.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

THIS IS MY LIFE- 17

17 – HAPPY FAMILY IN KUCHING CORPS

I had farewelled from Kuching Corps in mid 1957. Later the same year the corps moved to its present premises – a purpose-built complex. The main entrance opened into a lobby with toilets on the right. The hall was a spacious area with a middle isle and heavy wooden pews on both sides. The platform was of concrete with steps at each end. Both sides of the dais also had doors leading into the Y.P. Hall which was used during the week as a kindergarten for forty children.

The officers’ quarters was another building behind, separated by a fence. The front door opened into the sitting room. To the right were two bedrooms with a bathroom in between. To the left was our dining area leading into the kitchen with a door out into the backyard.

Every Sunday began with a Directory class at 9 a.m. attended mainly by the boys who walked from the Boys’ Home. The Holiness Meeting was at 10 a.m. supported by the officers and children of both Homes. Sunday school was at 3 p.m. with children coming from the surrounding area. Open-air meeting was at 5p.m. after which we marched back to the hall for the evening Salvation Meeting at 6 p.m. It was a Chinese speaking corps, but we sang in English as well. My husband and I took turns to lead or give the message. The speaker would also give a summary of the sermon in English for the non-Chinese members in the congregation.

The corps had a very busy corps programme for the week. Between my husband and I we taught the children of the kindergarten. As Poh Ai was nearly two years old then she enjoyed being in the kindergarten. Thean Hock remained in his cot by the front window of the children’s room. From there he could hear and see us in the class. He was a very good and contented baby and we could pop in and out easily.

Monday afternoon was our free time if there were no official business or meetings. Being in charge of the Scouts and Guides, my husband attended the meetings for Boy Scout leaders (Akela), and I went to those for Girl Guide leaders (Brown Owls). I also took courses to qualify as a Guide leader. These usually took place on a Monday afternoon and evening.

When possible our family would spend Monday afternoon with Captain and Mrs. Webb and their children - Geoffrey and Carolyn - at the Museum garden. While the adults chatted, the children enjoyed themselves playing together. Before returning to our respective homes, a special treat was a Chinese meal at Fook Hoi, a coffee shop situated opposite the General Post Office. With kids on tow, both families travelled by bus. On their own, the men would cycle everywhere. Alternatively we would visit each others’ home for the afternoon and evening, to celebrate birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Home League was held on a Tuesday afternoon, with Mrs. Captain Thelma Webb serving as Treasurer. Junior and Senior Soldiers’ meetings were held on Wednesday night. These were supported by the officers and the boys of the Home. On a Thursday afternoon Major Willis kindly arranged for the Girls Home van to transport our family to the Girls’ Home. I would hold our weekly Brownie and Guide meetings while my husband visited the residents of the Home with our children. After dinner with the Home officers, there were the spiritual meetings for the Junior and Senior Soldiers. By the end of the day we were more than grateful for a ride home. The Youth Group, Torchbearers, met on Friday evening; and the cubs and scouts had their meetings on Saturday afternoon. Visitation had to be done some time in this busy schedule.

The officers of each centre took turns to hold the fort while the rest went for the Anniversary celebrations in Singapore. When it was our turn to stay behind, we would then take our annual furlough that year somewhere in Sarawak. On one occasion we went to Santubong, a fishing village. The journey would take more than three hours by motor boat, depending on the tide. Poh Ai was three and Thean Hock was only one year old! We were told to bring as much as possible because there were hardly any shops there. Our accommodation was one of a few wooden bungalows on a hill with bare essentials. We put two arm chairs together as a bed for each of the children. However, they loved playing in the water and we enjoyed fresh fish everyday.

One weekend the Webb family came to visit us, but could only travel with the tide, so they arrived about 2 a.m. The two loaves of bread they brought were as welcomed as they were! What a wonderful day we all had together! We were young and adventurous then!

A year later, in mid March 1963, on the weekend after Thean Hock had his first birthday; Daddy had to leave for the International College for Officers in London. He left on a Saturday for Singapore, then boarded the ship Orcades. Arrangements were made for Ee Hong, a sixteen year old girl living nearby, to stay with me during the few months he was away. In those days the P & O boats took about three weeks to London from Singapore. My beloved was very good, writing me EVERYDAY, just as he did when were we were courting!