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:
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.
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