This is my story - 43

43 – Additional appointment – training of cadets

The Singapore and Malaysia Command heavily depended on missionary (or reinforcement officers as they are called now) to run Headquarters and the various centres. It has always been the policy of The Salvation Army to train local people to take over from the overseas personnel.

Before the war The Salvation Army had two sessions of cadets (students of our Training College) The Training Principal was Adjutant Etta Bird a Canadian officer. On 13th February 1942, two days before the fall of Singapore, she with Mrs. Major Wilkinson left the island on the SS Gian Bee. It was bombed by the Japanese and the two officers were among the victims who perished.

Lieut. Colonel Herbert and the officers worked hard to get nationals to serve full time. He started the first session of Cadets called the “Enthusiasts Session” in 1938 which comprised seven cadets. This was followed in 1939 by the “Hold Fast Session” with five cadets. The Army was about to begin the third session in 1940 when war broke out, so he commissioned the two candidates without training as Lieutenants. So before the war the Army had a total of fourteen national officers.

After the war, Colonel and Mrs, Herbert Lord were transferred to Korea as the Territorial Leaders. The General Secretary Major Charles Davidson was appointed to Japan as the Chief Secretary. (Mrs. Davidson was promoted to Glory in Scotland during the war.) International Headquarters appointed Lieut. Colonel John Wainwright as the new Officer Commanding. He and his wife had never seen overseas service or serve outside their own culture. On hindsight, perhaps had the General kept Colonel Lord a little longer in the Command as the leader or had they appointed Major Davidson to take charge, the national officers might not have left the Army. Our people had been through the war and three and a half years of Japanese occupation. The atmosphere was still tense, and our people needed emotional support.

Conditions were very difficult and money was scarce. Besides, the Government was in need of social workers and many of our officers (both national and missionary) found it difficult to resist the temptation to join the Social Welfare which offered material security.

By the time, when my wife and I were candidates for officership in the early 50’s there was only one national couple who remained, namely Captain and Mrs. Tan Eng Soon. She (Mrs. Tan nee Doris Ee) was never trained as an officer. He met and married her in Penang during the war. So in actual fact Captain Tan Eng Soon was the only officer out of the total number of fourteen. It was tragic.

The first post-war session, 1954 was the “Shepherds Session” comprising four cadets. My wife and I formed half the session! We were both single then and not even dating! (See Chapter 17 – “Concertina and Courtship”)

This was followed by the “Faithful Session” in 1956 with seven cadets. Six resigned for different reasons. Major Janos Wasagam is the only one who remained faithful and is now enjoying her retirement.

There was a long wait of ten years before the Training College reopened with three cadets – Tan Thean Seng, Loo Lay Saik and Florence Ee who formed the “Messengers of Faith” session in 1966. After that another cadet, Esther Rengasamy, was sent to New Zealand for training.

Before the war (1935-1942) there were fourteen national officers. After the war from 1954 to 1969 the Army commissioned twenty five officers making a total of thirty nine national officers altogether. It is sad that so many resigned from officership for different reasons.

Captain and Mrs. Peter Chang came from Korea to train two sessions of cadets - in 1968 the “Undaunted Session” and 1969 the “Victorious Session.” Up till then the residential period for each session of training was nine months.

One day the Officer Commanding Lieut. Colonel James Sloan called me into his office and expressed his desire to reopen the doors of the Training College. The Candidates’ Board had accepted four cadets. Then he continued to say that he wanted me to add to my responsibility at Central Corps the role of the Training Principal, as he did not have anyone to appoint full time to training work. He and the Headquarters’ staff would give their full support in the training programme. I was tasked to draw up a programme and curriculum for the next session.

So on 18th September 1973, five cadets entered the Training College to form the “Soldiers of the Cross Session.” The cadets were Andrew Periasamy, Richard Gunasekeran, Ann Ho Sau Choo, John Umasanthiram and Tong Yat Lan.

The Financial Secretary Major Frederika de Fretes took over the additional responsibility of Home Officer. My wife and I took over the bulk of the teaching. Mrs. Lieut. Grace Sloan taught Salvation Army Doctrine. The Officer Commanding Lieut. Colonel Sloan and the General Secretary Major Will Krommenhoek did most of the lectures and of course conducted Spiritual Days and In-Sunday meetings. Mrs. Major Krommenhoek conducted many lessons on Women’s ministries.

I had planned the curriculum to cover one year, but during the session, International Headquarters announced the introduction of the two year residential session. This was good in that I could spread the lessons out somewhat, but it was quite a challenge to rearrange the curriculum to extend the session by another year. Thus we began our two-year residential training from that time onwards. I received excellent co-operation from the officers. Everyone was ready to chip in to help.

Reinforcement officers were given an allowance for domestic help. An exception was made for us because of the dual responsibility we were holding. Besides we had a handicapped child, Poh Chin with us who needed full time care and attention. So we had the privilege of employing a Malay lady to work part time. This enabled my wife to spend time at the Corps and also help in the college. Our two older children were very co-operative and did much to share the load of household duties.

We were kept extremely busy, but enjoyed our work at the Central Corps and Training College. Our local officers were extremely helpful. The youth were at the Corps almost everyday and ever willing to help out with the chores. The Home League ladies were most helpful in cooking and preparing meals for special events like Home League Helping Hand Project, Annual Soldiers’ Rally and quarterly Family Fellowship.