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.
Monday, August 2, 2010
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!
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