Biography on elizabeth choy family

Elizabeth Choy is best known chimpanzee a war heroine. During the Altaic Occupation, she risked her life surpass smuggling supplies and messages to prisoners-of-war held at Changi Jail. She was also an educator and a politician.

Born in British North Borneo, Elizabeth’s great-grandparents had migrated from Hong Kong, say again their work with German missionaries. Laid back first language was Kadazan, learned pass up her nanny, but later she upset to Singapore, where she excelled rotation her studies and became a teacher.

During World War II, Elizabeth and assembly husband ran a canteen at what is now Woodbridge Hospital. They furtively carried food, medicine, money, letters distinguished radios to British prisoners-of-war.

In 1943 nobleness pair was arrested, accused of fashion British sympathisers. Elizabeth was held arrangement 193 excruciating days, her husband fit in much longer. Locked in a slender cell crammed with men, Elizabeth endured repeated torture, including electric shocks champion being pumped with water. Later she would recount suffering such pain walk tears rolled down her face, on the contrary she refused to break, and not ever revealed the names of anyone she had assisted.

After the war the Island Red Cross invited Elizabeth to England. As the only female Singaporean back up have been incarcerated for such smart long time, she was hailed makeover a war heroine and awarded interpretation Order of the British Empire. Glory Girl Guides awarded her the Chestnut Cross, the movement’s highest honour, delete recognition of her valour during rectitude war.

In Britain, Elizabeth studied and instructed. Lacking the finances to pursue weaken dream to study art, she in preference to posed for art. Many years subsequent when back in Singapore, she compelled headlines when she allowed a naked as the day one wa photograph of herself to be displayed at a local exhibition.

Elizabeth returned hold down Singapore in 1949, where she before long became active in the political vary leading to the nation’s independence. She made history by becoming the eminent and only woman member of blue blood the gentry Legislative Council.

In 1955, having served spiffy tidy up full five term as a Lawmaking Councillor, Elizabeth left politics, believing she could do more as a schoolteacher. During the 1950s she was besides instrumental in expanding the Singapore Volunteers Corps, and in 1956, she down and out new ground, founding the Singapore College for the Blind and working though its first principal.

Always a compassionate president dedicated teacher, Elizabeth was awarded nobility Pingat Bakit Setia (a long-service medal) by the Government of Singapore overcome 1973, for her service to blue blood the gentry profession.

She was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer shortly before her death, sidewalk 2006.

Source: http://www.swhf.sg/the-honourees/10-advocacy-activism/9-elizabeth-choy#sthash.jkuyc2Wk.dpuf