23- Trials, Tribulations and Triumph –Penang
After three and half gloomy years of suffering and ordeal under the Japanese occupation, came freedom. The Allied Forces landed at Penang. The Japanese surrendered on 6th September 1945 and there was much rejoicing in welcoming a new era in Malaya.
When Captain George Tan heard the news of the surrender of the Japanese, he got in touch with Captain Tan Eng Soon, who had been working for the Japanese at a Cattle farm at Sungei Dua. Tan Eng Soon was one of the earliest converts in Penang. He became a Salvation Army officer in 1939. Both of them were eager to recommence the work of the Army even though there were no instructions from Headquarters. They found an empty house at 102 Burmah Road, which the Japanese had used as a geisha house. They put on their uniform, went to the Police Headquarters to see the Head of the Administration. They expressed their desire to begin Army operations in this empty house.
“Who is the owner?” ask Major Drake-Brockman the officer in charge.
“We don’t know” replied Captain George Tan, “but we feel that this is the place we need to start a Red Shield Club.”
The British major remained silent for a few minutes then instructed his assistant to prepare a requisition order for the building to be made available to The Salvation Army! So the Lord provided the building!
The enterprising captains had no money. The Japanese currency was as good as useless. However that did not deter them going round asking for donations of furniture, equipment, utensils and foodstuff. Then they rounded up Yeo Kok Chin, an ex-officer and others to clean up the place and even repainted it with donated paint.
They prayed for a vehicle. One morning, the two captains went to a motor repair shop hoping to find a used vehicle. They saw a car driven by Japanese. The captains stopped him and spoke to him in Japanese, but the poor fellow who was trying to escape to the mainland just handed the keys to the captain and fled for his life into the jungle! So now they had a vehicle! They made a license plate out of a piece of hardboard and wrote “SA 1”
Along the way they saw a group of young men pulling a handcart with two 44-gallon drum of petrol. They mistook our captains for the military police and fled for their lives leaving behind the stolen petrol. The captains returned the petrol to the owners who were so grateful that they gave our captains a large quantity as a reward! Later someone gave the Army a second car which they named it “SA 2”.
There is always music in The Salvation Army. Captain Tan Eng Soon suggested that they rent a piano. But they had no money. One day, the captains were driving along Pulau Tikus, when suddenly, Tan Eng Soon noticed some people wheeling a Grand piano along the road. He alerted George and both got out of the car and turning to the people with the piano asked, “Where are you taking the piano?” Without stopping to answer, they fled in different directions and left the piano to the captains! Well it was only about half a mile from the Red Shield Club, so with some help and a handcart, the piano was taken to the Club!
During the Japanese occupation, Tan Eng Soon at great risk to his own life had hidden the navy blue serge uniform belonging to Major Fred Harvey, and also the Army flag. He took that flag and placed it on the building! Triumphantly it waved in the breeze!
Lieut. Colonel Thomas Ward and Major and Mrs. Jewkes en route from Rangoon to Singapore had to stop at Penang. They entertained little hope of seeing the Army started by Major and Mrs. Harvey seven years earlier to be functioning. Some servicemen told them about the Red Shield Club about to be opened. This surprised them and they were taken to 102 Burmah Road where to their amazement and delight saw the two enterprising Chinese captains in uniform busy serving the people.
Major Frederick Harvey freed from Changi Prison was sent to re-establish the work in Penang. What a pleasant surprise for him to see the Army already functioning under the leadership of the two captains.
The Governor of Penang was elated to welcome Major Harvey and greeted him with the words “You’re just the man we want.” They gave the Major an office at Police Headquarters, plus a member of the staff from the Assessment Department to assist him in relief operations. People were soon queuing up for food parcels outside the Army centre.
The Red Shield Club house was used on Sundays for worship; Salvationists were delighted to be able to worship again openly even if it was at the Club House! A Salvationist brought out Harvey’s concertina which had had hidden during the war. Harvey returned to Singapore to be the General Secretary.
Captain and Mrs. Frank Bainbridge were appointed to take charge of the Penang Corps. He did prison work sponsored by the Rotary Club .He helped many to re-establish themselves back into society. Y.P.S.M Rueben Michael rented the premises of the Lutheran English School at Dato Kramat Road. Here the Army held Sunday school and conducted worship services. There was a thriving Y.P work under the leadership of YPSM Reuben Michael. His daughter Jacinta is now the Corps Secretary of Penang Corps.
Captain and Mrs. Bainbridge and the folk worked hard, raised funds and eventually the Army put up a new building, hall and quarters at 53 Perak Road. We thank God for the officers and comrades who despite trials and tribulations kept the Army flag flying triumphantly in Penang.
And to this Corps my wife and I were privileged to be appointed in November 1959.
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