On 8th July, Maria Hertogh died at the age of 72. Those of my generation can recall the riots that broke out in December 1950 causing much damage to property, vehicles and loss of lives. Eighteen people were killed and 173 were injured in the rioting.
The riots were the result of a dispute between Maria's Dutch biological parents and Aminah the woman who had looked after Maria during the war when the parents were imprisoned in Indonesia by the Japanese. The Judge decided that Maria should be returned to her parents, but Aminah disputed the claim stating that Maria had been given to her for adoption. Aminah's supporters and sympathisers felt that the judge was biased in his decision.
Riots broke and the rioters targeted the Europeans and Eurasians. You can read the story in the Internet. I want to highlight the story as told to me by Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey, the Officer Commanding at that time. They later became Commissioners, his last appointment as an International Secretary at IHQ.
Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. Harvey had just left office of The Salvation Army Headquarters at 30 Oxley Road. He turned into Orchard Road and saw crowds of rioters screaming and yelling and looking out for Europeans to attack. One Malay man, obviously the leader stopped the Colonel's car, saw the couple in Salvation Army uniform and immediately shouted to the others not to attack them. "Ini orang baik" he shouted, meaning "These are good people." This chap then climbed on to the bonnet of the car, sat on it and ordered the Colonel to drive back to office for safety. They could not go home and spent the night at Headquarters.
The Harveys would have been killed that day had it not been for this man who knew The Salvation Army and the work we were doing for the people. He might have been one of the beneficiaries, we don't know. But one thing we know the Lord was there to get this Malay man to protect our leaders. It's a miracle and God is still working miracles today!
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