Commissioner Herbert Lord

Commissioner Herbert Lord - A Man of Faith and Courage

The ship docked at Singapore Harbour. Among the passengers disembarking was Brigadier Herbert Lord. There was no welcoming party to meet him.
 
This man of faith and courage made his way to the YMCA Stamford Road with one mission in mind: to pioneer the work of The Salvation Army in Singapore.

His previous twenty years spent in Korea proved invaluable to him in adjusting to a new culture here. Immediate contact was made with the local people, government officials and prominent citizens.

“The journey of a thousand leagues begins from beneath your feet,” said Lao-tze. Not one to allow grass to grow beneath his feet, Lord moved forward to start the Army. He had to acquire buildings, raise finances, find people, but he faced these challenges with faith and courage.

On the last Sunday in May 1935, the first Army meeting was held in a rented building at 47 Killiney Road. Reinforcements arrived and social homes were established. With faith and courage, they reached out to the poor, the needy, the prostitutes, the prisoners and the marginalized. From Singapore he sent officers to pioneer work in Malaya.

When war started in Europe, Herbert Lord began making preparations for emergencies. The officers were sent for training to be ARP Wardens and St. John’s Nurses. Headquarters became the focal point of an ARP Post and a reception for the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. A large Red Shield Canteen was set up in Queen Street. With faith and courage he hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.

As the fall of Singapore became imminent, the Governor of Singapore Sir Shenton Thomas requested Lord to return to Singapore from New Zealand where he was having his furlough. When he landed at the airport it was the target of the worst raids by the enemy. He was welcomed literally by a baptism by fire! Chaos and fear reigned in the country. Electricity and water were cut off. His own faith and courage inspired his officers and soldiers.
When Singapore fell, Herbert Lord with a number of his officers, were taken prisoner, spending three and a half years in Changi Prison. Even there, his faith and courage continued to encourage and inspire his fellow prisoners.

In 1946, Herbert Lord was appointed to Korea again, this time as the Territorial Commander. The peninsula was divided into North and South Korea. With faith and courage, working against great odds, he soldiered on.
When hostilities broke out he once again found he was taken prisoner, this time by the communists. Forced to take part in the infamous Death March, he saw his fellow prisoners, men, women and children collapse and die on the way. Man’s inhumanity to man was seen at its worst.

One gloomy, cold night, 4 November 1950 on the road to Cha Song, faith and courage almost failed him. He was physically exhausted and near to breaking point. He was assailed by doubts and the devil almost triumphed. Had he been wrong all those years serving God? In that valley of death, he recalled Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies….” Then there came to him the old chorus. “In my heart today, there’s a melody in my heart today.”

God had spoken! He became conscious of the divine presence and provsion. His mind cleared, his spirit revived, faith and courage returned. He was now able to minister to others again.

Thank God for men and women of faith and courage like Herbert Lord who gave of themselves, made sacrifices, endured much suffering for the sake of the people they served. Their lives inspire and challenge us to keep the Army flag flying. Let us by the grace of God, move into the future with faith and courage to continue serving God and our fellow beings.