130 likes | 531 Views
Elizabeth Choy 29 November 1910 – 14 September 2006. Elizabeth Choy. She was known as a war heroine humanitarian politician teacher. War Heroine.
E N D
Elizabeth Choy 29 November 1910 – 14 September 2006
Elizabeth Choy • She was known as a • war heroine • humanitarian • politician • teacher
War Heroine • During the Japanese Occupation, Mrs Choy secretly helped British prisoners of war by passing them food, medicine, money, messages and radios. • Was imprisoned and tortured by Japanese Military Police.
"I was put into a cell only 10 by 12 feet (4m by 5m) big. There were more than 20 people crammed inside. Packed like sardines, we knelt from morning till night. Some of us suffered serious sores on our knees. I was the only female among them. Inside the cell was a tap and underneath it, a hole meant for toilet purposes. There was no privacy to speak of -- our daily business was conducted there in full view of everyone. The stench coming from our perspiration, human waste and stagnant water fouled up the small cell and was suffocating.”
Our captors beat us up, subjected us to electric shocks and pumped us up with water as part of the interrogation routine. The feeling of having one’s belly pumped full of water and then seeing the water gushing out of the body was hardly bearable.
War Heroine • Never gives up • Showed extraordinary courage and strength
Humanitarian • A person who is concerned with improving bad living conditions and preventing unfair treatment of people
Humanitarian • Said no when asked whether she wanted her torturers executed • Concerned about the welfare of the other prisoners
Politician • Singapore’s 1st female legislator in 1951 • Served for 5 years • Stood for elections in Queenstown • Retired from politics in 1955
Teacher 1933 • St Margaret’s School • St Andrew’s School 1956 • Helped set up the School for the Blind • Served as principal 1960 • St Andrew’s School 1970s – Retired from teaching
Learning Points • Resilience • Courage • Compassion • Showing care and concern for our people