Birthday: 29 November, year 1910.
Introduction:
She is a Hakka from North Borneo, and was known for being a war-time heroine during the Japanese occupation. In 1951, she was the only woman member in the Legislative Council. Elizabeth also
posed as an artist's model for the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, who did two
works of her entitled Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal. She
worked as a teacher and became the first principal of the Singapore School for the
Blind. She was also known for her qipaos and bangles, for which she
was nicknamed "Dayak woman of Singapore".
Early Life:
Elizabeth's
great-grandparents had been assisting German missionaries in Hong Kong and
their work had brought them to North Borneo, where they settled
up a coconut plantation. Her
father had been the eldest in a family of 11 children and after completing his
early education in China with some English education in North Borneo, he gained
employment as a civil servant. Her father married the
daughter of a priest from a well-respected family in North Borneo, was
transferred to Jesselton and later promoted to District Officer and moved on to
Borneo's interiors in Kalimantan.
Elizabeth was looked after by a Kadazan nanny and acquired
Kadazan as her first language.
Education:
Elizabeth's
father was later posted to Tenom, where there were no educational facilities, so
Elizabeth and her siblings were sent back to Kudat where her paternal
grandfather ran the village school, teaching in Chinese. Between 1921 to 1929, her higher education was taken at St Monica's School , an
Anglican missionary boarding school in Sandakan. The
teachers could not pronounce Chinese names, thus she adopted the English name
Elizabeth. In 1925, she and her aunt Jessie became the first girls to
sign up in North Borneo's inaugural Girl Guides Company. By 1927, she was
teaching the lower standards even while she was studying.
In
December 1929, she came to Singapore to further her studies at the Convent of
the Holy Infant . Jesus at Victoria Street. December 1930, she shone academically, obtaining the
Prize of Honor in her first year of school.
She resided with her fourth uncle at Selegie where he ran a music shop, the
original T. M. A. at High Street. In 1931, the
untimely death of her mother and the onset of the Great Depression
placed upon her the burden of raising her six younger siblings.
Thus, she went for a college education, even a possible
scholarship, to start work so she could finance the education of her younger
siblings.
Japanese Occupation:
During
the Japanese Occupation, she worked as a canteen operator with her husband at
the Mental Hospital which was renamed Miyako Hospital (the predecessor of
Woodbridge Hospital) where patients from General Hospital had been moved to. They
secretly brought food, medicine, money, messages and even radios to British
internees. Unfortunately,
they were caught by the Japanese and Elizabeth was arrested on 15 November
1943, following her husband's arrest on 29 October a few weeks earlier. Believing their activities were related to the Double Tenth incident, she was
interrogated by the Kempeitai but she never admitted to being a British sympathizer.
She
was released only after 200 days of starvation diet and repeated torture. Her
husband was released much later.
England Years:
After
the war, Elizabeth was invited to England as a celebrated war heroine noted as
the only female local to have been incarcerated for such an extended period.
She went there as part of the privileged few who were invited to Britain to recuperate
from the war but her stay extended three more years, totaling four years there. In her first year, she was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth. In her second year,
she took up Domestic Science at Northern Polytechnic and in her third year, she
taught at a London Council School. Intent
on studying art but without the finances for this venture, Elizabeth resorted
to posing for art instead.
This was where the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, made two sculptures of her - Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal. Elizabeth gave her a copy of Serene Jade to her daughters who, in turn, donated it to the Singapore Art Museum. her copy of Flawless Crystal sits in an art gallery in Leicester, Britain.
This was where the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, made two sculptures of her - Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal. Elizabeth gave her a copy of Serene Jade to her daughters who, in turn, donated it to the Singapore Art Museum. her copy of Flawless Crystal sits in an art gallery in Leicester, Britain.
Politics:
She later stood for elections in Queenstown but bowed out
from politics thereafter, believing she could do more for the country as a
teacher. In the 1950s, she joined the women's auxiliary of the Singapore
Volunteers Corps, and was instrumental in expanding the organization when she
recruited many of her friends and colleagues.
She hit the headlines in early 1998, when she included a
nude photograph of herself at a local art exhibition.
Values and References that we should embody from Elizabeth Choy:
E - Endure (she endured tortures from the Japanese)
L - Lovely type of woman who paid contribution to Singapore.
I - Inspiration (she inspired people to be a better person and be a more resilient one)
Z - Zephyr (meaning that she wants peace which symbolises desire for love and happiness and will sacrifice fortune to obtain object of affection)
A - Ambitious – (strongly desired of love and approval)
B - Brave in spirit, resilient
E - Expressing love and care for the people and for the country
T - Tremendous resilience shown during Japanese occupation
H - Helpful (she loves helping others at difficult times.)
Nicknames for her:
Gunner Choy - she received that nickname for undergoing training such as shooting when she join the Singapore volunteer corps for a short period and earn 2'nd lieutenant by the time she left.
Favorite quotes:
"THROUGH GOD'S LOVING POWER, PEACE AND HARMONY WILL REIGN ON EARTH, BRINGING HAPPINESS AND JOY TO ALL MANKIND".
"My values are
quite changed. I am no more materialistic, even to this day. Never mind if i
have no mansion, no diamonds, no necklaces...still I’m happy.”
“I would not confess to something I knew was untrue. It
would implicate others. It was not right and I could not do it. Not even if it
meant more physical abuse at the hands of my jailors."
"It’s good for
our young to learn more about Singapore – both its past as well as its present
let there be peace in the world".
She was unfortunately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006 and peacefully passed away on 14th of September 2006 at her Mackenzie Road home.
Her wake was held at the St. Andrew's Cathedral. It was the 1'st time in St. Andrew's 150-year history that a wake was allowed to be held to be held on the Cathedral premises.
Due to her contributions to the school, society and country,
they made an exception for the war heroine. She is also fondly remembered by
the Changi Museum as a war heroine and as a friend.
- Zhou, M. (1995). Elizabeth Choy: More than a war heroine: A biography. Singapore: Landmark Books.
- (Call no.: RSING 371.10092 ZHO)
- Intisari, IV (1), 15-74.
- (Call no.: RCLOS 959.5005 INT)
- A woman ahead of her time. (1998, February 15). The Straits Times.
- One must not be prudish. (1998, February 15). The Straits Times.
- Tan, T. (2006. September 15). War heroine
Elizabeth Choy dies at 96. The Straits Times, Prime News.
Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>War
Personalities>>War Heroes
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Choy, Elizabeth Su-Moi, 1910-2006
Women heroes--Singapore
Teachers--Singapore
Women politicians--Singapore
People and communities>>Social groups and communities
Law and government>>Political
process>>Leadership
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