The Lieutenand became a rickshaw puller

Christmas is always a cause for celebration!   It is a time of bell ringing and carol singing, a time for shopping, decorating and exchanging present.  People are in a happy mood in celebration of the coming of Christ into the world over two thousand years ago.

However, the Christmas of 1941 struck a sombre note.   The peace and tranquillity of Singapore were threatened.    Enemy troops were advancing towards Malaya and on 8 December 1941 the invasion of Malaya began.   Instead of the ringing of bells, there was the raining of bombs;   peace on earth was replaced with pain for humanity;  no carols but crying, no “Silent Night”, but screaming sirens!

The Salvation Army hall in Penang was open every day serving refreshments to the people.   Many who lost loved ones and property came to the Army hall to receive temporary shelter, counsel and comfort from the officers and Salvationists.   When the fall of Penang seemed imminent, Mrs Major Mabel Harvey and her son Arthur were evacuated to Singapore for a final destination of Australia, remaining there for the duration of the war.

People were leaving the island for the mainland in droves, using a ferry because in those days there was no bridge.   They were full of fear, fleeing to the countryside for safety or to Singapore, the so-called “impregnable fortress.”   The Japanese eventually overran the countryside with the fall of Singapore to follow on Chinese New Year 15 February 1942.  Meanwhile in Penang, Major Harvey gave his young Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang permission to leave with the others, but the response from Lieutenant Foo was clear:   “No, you stay and I’ll stay!”   And he did stay to share in the baptism of fire!

Bombs began falling in the crowded streets of Georgetown destroying buildings, leaving half the city in flames and hundreds killed and injured.   Penang fell to the Japanese on 15-16 December 1941.   It was doomsday for the Pearl of the Orient!

Major Frederick Harvey and Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang remained in Penang.   There was much relief work to be done and they had no time to think of themselves, forgetting about their own safety in selfless abandon.   They used their car to pick up the wounded in the streets to transport them to hospital.

One day while doing their rescue operations a bomb fell near their car.   They jumped out and lay on the side of the road.   Though the car was hit the two officers escaped unharmed.   Divine protection was granted them because there was still much work to be done continuing with their ministry of saving people.

The enterprising Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang commandeered a rickshaw and pulled this vehicle himself!    He was in the full uniform of those days:   white drill tunic with long sleeves, high stand-up collar and long trousers.    Officers wore such uniforms every day.   He pulled this rickshaw all over the city of Georgetown to pick up the wounded and convey them to hospital, working day and night, stopping to eat and having a short rest only when ordered by Major Harvey to do so.    When he saw crying children who had been separated from parents who were either killed or missing, he put them in his rickshaw and ferried them to safer places.   He nursed the wounded in the streets and then took them to hospital.    He comforted the dying and buried the dead.    It was a strange Christmas with no reindeer to pull Santa, But Lieutenant Foo pulling his rickshaw as an ambulance vehicle to save lives.

Hundreds of refugees had flocked to the Paya Terubong evacuation camp under the supervision of Major Harvey.   When Foo Kia Pang went back to the camp he found the cooks had deserted and fled.   Without worrying about the loss of the cooks, he went round and got other people to cook at this camp ensuring that the hungry were fed.   The Major and Lieutenant worked tirelessly throughout the period of bombing till the British surrendered.   After that the Japanese took Major Harvey prisoner.

Yes, we celebrate Christmas in peace.   Although there are no bombs raining on us our world is far from peaceful.   The disaster of 11 September in America is fresh in our minds.   It is a stark reminder that satanic forces are still at work wreaking havoc all over the world causing untold suffering to humanity.   Our nations are vulnerable and we must prepare for any eventuality.   But just like the Christmas of 1941, the hope of Christmas remains as found in the old Christmas carol:

 But with the woes of sin and strife

  The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
  Two thousand years of wrong.
And man at war with man, hears not
 The love song which they bring
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
 And hear the angels sing.

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”   (Luke 2:14).    May we look to God and pray this prayer,  “Let there be peace on earth.”

 

 

Our appointments in Penang.

My wife and I arrived in Penang on 13^th November 1959 to take charge of Penang Corps. We had no children although she was pregnant at that time.  And on 8th May Mother’s Day our first child, Gladys was born at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital Burma Road. The doctor waived the delivery fees of $50.00, a lot of money in those days.

Major and Mrs. Edward Roy Page were in charge of the Boy’s Home and Primary School. They also ran a very big chicken farm in the same compound. The Home supplied eggs to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. Major and Mrs Page were very supportive as soldiers of the Penang Corps. Mrs. Page was the Songster Leader.

We ran two outposts one at Bayan Lepas near the airport in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Michael. Their daughter Jasinta  and her husband Lim Kim Ann are active soldiers of Penang Corps today. Every other Saturday, I would cycle from Perak Road to Bayan Lepas to do the meeting. In those days Corps did not have motor vehicles, except two bicycles! The children from the neighbourhood attended the meetings. Among them was Jack who is now soldiering at Kuala Lumpur Corps. When we were Corps officers of Singapore Central Corps (1970- 1974) Jack was working in Johore and used to attend Central once a month.

We had another outpost at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews at Glugor. Their daughter Lucy used to attend the Corps.

On Saturday afternoons, my wife would see to the Girl Guides (we called them Guards in the Army) and Brownies. Among the girls who joined the Guides was a girl named Pat Loo, now retired Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Tan Thean Seng. Corps Cadet Tan Thean Seng was one of our soldiers who used to go with my wife to sell War Crys at Penang Road  once a month on a Saturday night in the restaurants. I would go what we called “pub booming” on my own another Saturday night. One of us had to be home to look after our child Gladys.

Once a week I would cycle to Sungei Pinang to conduct chapel service at the Army’s Primary School where Mrs Major Page was the headmistress.

In 1962 our second child, Stephen, was born. Six weeks after his birth we farewelled and travelled all the way from Penang to Kuching to take over Kuching Corps. The journey took one whole week. We first travelled by train to Kuala Lumpur, then to Singapore. From them we had to wait for the weekend boat which left on Friday and arrived on Monday in Kuching on 1^st of May 1962. Officers were not allowed to go my plane. Even the Officer Commanding when visiting Kuching had to take the weekend boat from outside Clifford Pier. We took the launch from the Pier to connect with the cargo boat to take us to Kuching.

We spent three years in Penang Corps and for the last six months had an additional appointment of the Kuching Boys’ Home when Major and Mrs. Robert Webb returned to Australia for homeland furlough.

 

PENANG CORPS (part 2) Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs

 

After three and half gloomy years of ordeal and suffering under the Japanese Occupation, freedom finally came.  In mid-1945 the Allied Forces landed at Penang.   The Japanese surrendered 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.  Eng Soon was one of the earliest converts in Penang, becoming 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.   Putting on their uniforms, they went to the Police Headquarters to see the Head of the Administration, expressing their desire to begin Army operations in this empty house.

“Who is the owner?” asked 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 and others to clean up the place and repainting 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 a 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 licence 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 drums of petrol.   They mistook our captains for the military police and fled for their lives, leaving behind the stolen petrol.  The captains retuned 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 “SA 2”.

There is always music in The Salvation army.    Captain Tan Eng Soon suggested that they rent a piano, even though they had no money.  One day, the captains were driving along Pulau Tikus, when suddenly, Eng Soon noticed some people wheeling a Grand piano along the road.   He alerted George, and they both got out of the car.   Turning to the people with the piano, he asked, “Where are you taking the piano?”   Without stopping to answer, they fled in different directions, leaving the piano with 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 brought to the Club!

During the Japanese Occupation, Tan Eng Soon had, at great risk to his own life, 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 with little hope of seeing the Army started by Major and Mrs Harvey seven years earlier, functioning.    Some servicemen told them about the Red Shield Club about to be opened.   Surprised, they were taken to 102 Burmah Road where, to their amazement and delight, they 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!

Adjutant and Mrs Frank Bainbridge were appointed to take charge of the Penang Corps.  He did prison work sponsored by the Rotary Club, helping many prisoners to re-establish themselves back in society.   YPSM Reuben 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 youth ministry under the leadership of YPSM Reuben Michael.   His daughter still attends the Corps to this day!

The Army remained here till a new hall was built at 53 Perak Road.   We thank God for the officers and comrades who, despite trials and tribulations, have kept the Army flag flying triumphantly in Penang.

Today a young and enthusiastic couple, Captains Andrew and Fiona Lo are responsible for the Corps (church) and Children’s Home.

 

 

 

Penang – Pearl of the Orient

 

Penang is a beautiful island.   My wife and I were privileged to serve in two appointments, at different times, on this “Pearl of the Orient.”   Our two older children were born there during our term as the pastors November 1959 to May 1962 and later from 1965-1966 in charge of the Boys’ Home with a chicken farm where I learned to perform my fowl deeds!   Charles King in his biography of Frederick Harvey wrote

“Adjutant and Mrs Harvey were appointed to commence the Army’s work on the island of Penang in 1938On their departure from Singapore the Adjutant was presented with an Army flag on an eight-foot pole, made in one piece, to take with him!   Evidently it was not intended that he should arrive incognito.  For a month the Harveys distributed handbills printed in Chinese, Malay and Tamil, and visited door-to-door, talking to the inhabitants in the Malay language.   Then open-air meetings began – just the two of them, aided by six year old Arthur, who handed out invitations to the meetings.

For a hall and quarters Adjutant Harvey acquired a former YWCA building.  The ground floor housed the hall, with quarters upstairs.  Opening day arrived, the doors were flung wide open and one old European gentleman walked in.   The Harveys had their first congregation!   They gave him a drink and prayed with him, then waited to see what the evening meeting would bring.  That night 12 came – the Army’s first corps (church) in Penang was established.

Many children in Penang were unable to attend school, so the Harveys commenced their own.   Within a few days there were 150 pupils, and the school was recognised by the education authorities.   Soon there were two corps, the second being opened at Jelutong, in an old rubber factory.   This had been turned into flats, occupied by Chinese folk.   But then one of the residents hanged himself there and the building acquired the reputation of being haunted.   Adjutant Harvey, undaunted by the tale, rented the entire building for just one dollar a year.”  (Taken from “Frederick Harvey” by Charles King.)

Lim Seong Cheng was one of the early day converts.  He came from a strong Buddhist family;   in fact his father was the chairman of the Buddhist Association, Penang.  Seong Cheng felt emptiness within him and searched in vain for peace from different religions.   One day someone gave him a copy of St. John’s gospel.   He read it avidly and found the Lord and later became a Salvationist, much to the opposition and anger of his father.

When war broke out in 1942 Corps Sergeant Major Lim fled to the hills for safety.   Major Harvey, as he was by then, heard that Lim was seriously ill.   The Major rushed there and found him, but it was too late.  Lim had gone to meet the Lord.

After the war, at the opening of a new hall (the one that was replaced by the present building) Frederick Harvey discovered that sitting in the gathering was Lim Seong Cheng’s father.   Still a Buddhist, he had come to present the platform chairs in memory of his son.

Years later, when my wife and I were in charge of Penang Corps, a couple came to the meeting – the husband a Scot and the wife a local Chinese.   The next Sunday they came again and both knelt at the Mercy Seat and were converted.   Later they expressed their desire to be soldiers.

 The day came when both were invited to the platform to be ‘sworn in’ as soldiers.   Standing there, she noticed one of the chairs on the platform had a plaque on it indicating that it was given in memory of Lim Seong Cheng.   She turned to me and said, “That’s my father.”   What a pleasant surprise!

During the war thousands of people in Penang were killed or made homeless by the bombing raids.   Two thousand refugees were housed in a camp and Major Harvey was placed in charge.

Suddenly an order was issued for all overseas women to leave the island.   Mrs. Harvey, accompanied by her ten-year-old son Arthur, left for Singapore.   From there they were evacuated to Australia where they remained throughout the occupation of this land.   Major Harvey could have fled the island, but chose to remain in Penang.  He was arrested by the Japanese invaders and sent to Penang Prison where he endured severe ill treatment for 13 months prior to his transfer to Changi Prison in Singapore.

After the occupation, Fred Harvey returned to Penang where he found two national officers – Captains Tan Eng Soon and George Tan Koon Hoe.   They had collected the necessary furniture, equipment and food to commence a Red Shield Club, catering to the needs of the troops.   There was much relief work to be done.   It was five months after the liberation before the Harveys were reunited and able to take homeland furlough in England.

Penang now has a beautiful building which we can be proud of.   However, the Army needs people to love and serve the Lord and His people, whatever the cost.   It is our prayer that our comrades in Penang will remain true and faithful to Him, so that many people will find Jesus Christ to be “the Pearl of Greatest Price”.