Elizabeth Choy - Singapore's War Heroine, Politician and
Teacher (1910 - 2006)
Better known in Singapore as a war heroine, Mrs
Elizabeth Choy and her husband were jailed and tortured
by the Japanese Military Administration Department for
helping to pass food, medicine and messages to British
prisoners of war during the Japanese Occupation. Her
psychological resilience helped her to endure the
interrogations by her Japanese captors. After the war,
Mrs Choy was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
in recognition of her valour during the Japanese
Occupation of Singapore.
In her reflection on the lessons learnt from the war,
she said, “My values are quite changed. I am no more
materialistic, even to this day. Never mind if I have no
mansion, no diamonds... still I’m happy.”
Mrs Elizabeth Choy also made history by becoming
Singapore's first woman in the Legislative Council in
1951. She entered the political arena in 1950 when she
contested unsuccessfully at the Municipal Elections as
an Independent candidate. On recounting how she got into
politics, she said, “I was persuaded by a very
prominent Singaporean by the name of V P Mendis to stand
for this election... He told me Singapore was an
emerging country working towards self-rule and
independence. And he said with my experience I must help
to promote the political growth of Singapore. I was
reluctant. But after much persuasion, I agreed to stand
as an Independent candidate in the Cairnhill
constituency."
Foremost, Mrs Elizabeth Choy was a natural and dedicated
educator for 40 years. She started teaching first at St.
Margaret's School and later St. Andrew's School; and was
the first principal of the Singapore School for the
Blind in 1956. For her years of service in education,
she was awarded the Long Service Award by the Singapore
Government in 1973. She retired at St. Andrew's in 1974.
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Mrs Elizabeth Choy with Minister for Culture, Mr S
Rajaratnam enjoying a performance by the children from
Singapore School for the Blind during a Christmas party
at the Radio Singapore, 1959. |
She imparted to her students more than theoretical
knowledge, but life values as well. This was conveyed to her
when she returned to St. Andrew's as Guest of Honour on
Founder's Day in 1979, where she received a note which
wrote, "Mrs Choy, you taught me love, patience, kindness
and consideration to others." Such was the influence of
this "saint", as some remember her as.
For her life-long commitment to social work, Mrs Elizabeth
Choy won a Golden Heart Award from the Golden Years
Fellowship in 1997.
A lesser known fact was that Mrs Elizabeth Choy joined the
Singapore Volunteer Corps for a short period when she was in
the Legislative Council, and earned the rank of 2nd
Lieutenant by the time she left. On why she was nicknamed
"Gunner Choy", "(I underwent training such as) shooting.
Gunner. That's why I was called Gunner Choy. And mapping
out… Like the control tower that type. And marching."
Her colourful life has indeed imparted many valuable lessons
which will be remembered by many whose lives she has
touched.
Information extracted from the Oral History Interview of
Mrs Elizabeth Choy
Accession No: 000597
Information extracted from the Oral History Interview of
Mrs Elizabeth Choy
Accession No: 000862
Information extracted from the Oral History Interview of
Mrs Elizabeth Choy
Accession No: 002827
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