Posted on 10/09/2006 6:50:33 PM PDT by dighton
Elizabeth Choy, who died on September 14 aged 95, risked her life supplying medicine, money and messages to British civilians interned in Singapore’s Changi Jail during the Second World War.
She and her husband, Choy Khun Heng, who were running a canteen, incurred further risk by sending in radio parts for hidden receivers on a daily ambulance run until the Japanese instituted a crackdown after a British-Australian commando raid sank seven Japanese ships outside the harbour in September 1943.
The Kempeitai, the Japanese military police, suspected that the raiders had acted on information sent out from Changi by a transmitter, and seized 57 internees on October 10, setting in motion what became known as “The Massacre of the Double Tenth”. Fifteen subsequently died from torture and maltreatment, but no transmitter was ever found.
Elizabeth Choy’s husband was arrested first, and when she was lured to the YMCA in the hope of seeing him, she found herself placed with 20 men in a cramped, bug-infested cage that had a single commode, which also had to be used for drinking.
Slapped, kicked, spat at and subjected to electric shock treatment, which left her reluctant to touch a light switch ever after, she refused to confess.
Although unable to suppress her screams or stop the tears rolling down her face, she insisted that she was merely helping those in need and always walked back to her cell with resolution. Eventually her courage and reputation for altruism impressed the Kempeitai, who released her after 193 days – though her husband, who was sentenced to 12 years, did not come out until the Japanese surrendered.
When they did, in 1945, Elizabeth Choy was invited by Lady Mountbatten to witness the official ceremony, where she was escorted by the governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, and his wife, to whom she had sent medicine in Changi. The Choys were invited to England to recuperate, and appointed OBE.
While her husband returned to his job and did not accompany her, Elizabeth Choy made the journey. She met Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth. Lady Baden-Powell awarded her the Girl Guides’ highest honour, the Bronze Cross, and the Rajah of Sarawak presented her with the Order of Sarawak.
The daughter of a Christian district officer, Yong Su-Moi was born on October 29 1910 at Kudat, British North Borneo. She became an Anglican at boarding school, where she took the name Elizabeth, and went to complete her education at Raffles College in Singapore; but her family could not afford the fees, so she started to teach, first at St Margaret’s School and then at St Andrew’s. Her lifelong interest in social work was stimulated by the learning difficulties she found among pupils from difficult home backgrounds.
In August 1941 she married Choy Khun Heng, a book-keeper employed by the Borneo Company. The couple set up house in Mackenzie Road, where she was to live for the rest of her life. She became a volunteer nurse with the Medical Auxiliary Service as the Japanese invaded Malaya; and when the attack on the island began in February 1942, the couple found their home looted after its back had been blown off.
Singapore’s citizens were ordered to report to police stations, where they were subjected to the sook ching, a clean-up operation to screen out anti-Japanese elements. Her teenage brother was one of those secretly massacred.
Since the Choys had lost their jobs, they set up their canteen at the Miyako hospital, a former mental institution, where they soon started a regular ambulance run for British civilian internees.
On returning to Singapore after her visit to Britain in 1945 Elizabeth Choy resumed teaching, and became involved in the political developments preceding independence.
From 1951 to 1955 she was nominated by the Governor to the Legislative Council, where she spoke frequently on behalf of the poor and needy, and campaigned for the development of social services and family planning. Her war-time experiences had inculcated in her the belief that civil development required effective protection from aggressors. She served as a second lieutenant in the women’s auxiliary of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, where she acquired the nickname “Gunner Choy”.
In 1953 she represented Singapore at the Coronation, and undertook for the Foreign Office a North American lecture tour to explain the aspirations of the people of Singapore and Malaya. To brief herself she insisted on travelling to the trouble spots of Malaya, which were grappling with Communist insurgents. Both her audiences and the press were captivated by her charm, eloquence and beauty as she affirmed the key values which the West shared with South East Asia.
Her teaching career at St Andrew’s continued until 1973, except for a four-year spell as principal of Singapore’s School for the Blind. After her retirement she improved her languages and travelled. She continued with social work and school visits into her nineties, impressing young Singaporeans with the need to maintain strong national defence.
Elizabeth Choy’s husband died in 1973; she is survived by three adopted daughters.
Wow. That was one fine lady.
They don't make em like that anymore.
RIP Elizabeth "Gunner Choy"
One tough cookie..
Very impressive woman.
May she be in heaven reaping the rewards.
bump
Ping.
Thanks.
De nada.
Here's a related story with a pic of her. Also another pic of a prisoner apparently being beaten while hanging on a cross "1943 - Double Tenth Massacre".
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/world_war2/v03n10_history.html
What an impressive and wonderfully brave woman! May she rest in peace.
Never heard of this amazingly brave woman until now. May she rest in peace.
Rest in peace. Prayers for her family.
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