Work of the Gospel in Singapore and Malaysia (Malaya)

Willie Jackson and Ben Brownrigg were the first workers to go to Singapore, arriving there in late October 1929. These two continued there until Bert Cameron and Lindsay Stratford came on the 12th July, 1932. Lindsay joined Willie Jackson in Singapore and Ben Brownrigg accompanied Bert to Penang at which town they arrived on the 29th July, 1932. They were the pioneers.

On arrival Bert and Ben left their things at the Railway Station and cycled around the city some 40 miles according the meters on their cycles until they finally found 7 Bangkok Lane. The first two months were spent in making seats for meetings.

George Boon arrived in Singapore from New South Wales in approx. April 1934. George joined Willie Jackson in Singapore. Lindsay Stratford then went North and joined Bert Cameron in Penang. Ben Brownrigg, who was sick, returned home to New Zealand. During the first 6 years in Penang, the Bakers, Sandoshams and Gawthornes professed.

In 1934, Bert Cameron and Lindsay crossed over to Butterworth. There they met Mellor Sandosham who professed at the end of 1936. Mellor attended his first fellowship meeting in Jan.

1936. Mrs. Gawthorne Senr. professed in 1937–38; Lizzie and Ruth in 1939 and Cooper Sandosham in 1940. About that time Granny Plum, an aged English lady, also professed.

Alex Mitchell and Arthur Shearer arrived in Singapore from Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] in Feb. 1937. Alex had laboured in Ceylon from Jan. 1928 with Jack Trigg. However, Arthur joined Alex a little later. George Boone returned to Australia in 1936. Willie Jackson returned to Queensland in early 1937.

Lucian Garth, native born in Ceylon, professed in 1934. He came to Singapore in the end of 1938 to join in the work of the Gospel.

Lindsay Stratford left Penang at the end of 1939 and went to Burma to help, seeing John Look had fallen sick with Bright's disease. John sailed for home on the 7th February, 1939, a very sick man. Lindsay remained in Burma until July 1940 and then returned to Penang. Lindsay had a home visit to Australia in 1938-9.

Archie Wilson from New Zealand arrived in Malaysia in 1940 and joined Arthur Shearer in Kuala Lumpur. These two were the first in Kuala Lumpur, except that Alex Mitchell spent quite a brief time there just before. Mr. Pun Kong Fatt professed in Alex's first meeting. Arthur and Archie continued the mission until the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941. Many members of the Indian community attended their meetings, but none reached the place of decision before the outbreak of war. However, in 1941, a 13-year-old Chinese girl professed, she being a member of the Chinese home where the brothers lodged in Pudu Road.

Arthur and Archie evacuated to Singapore in the face of the Japanese advance. With Alex Mitchell they were interned in Changi for the duration of the war.

Lindsay Stratford left Penang and took refuge in Singapore. But not long the Japanese were also knocking at the gates of Singapore. Lindsay was determined to escape to Australia. He was doing some driving for the military in Singapore, leaving the vehicle with Mr. Chee Kong Lim who was one of the professing friends, Lindsay boarded a ship for Australia in endeavour to escape. Lindsay was never seen again by any of the workers or friends. The ship that Lindsay sailed on was bombed and sank.

There is a reaper whose name is death,
And with His sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain it a breath,
And the flowers that grow between.

Bert Cameron was at first kept a house prisoner in Gawthorne's home, Penang. After 12 months Bert was removed to the Penang jail, then a few days later he was sent 600 miles by train to Singapore. With Bert was Granny Plum, a 92-year-old English lady who had professed, as well as other prisoners. They were escorted by an armed guard. Granny Plum survived the internment and on being liberated was given a special certificate of merit by Lord Louis Mountbatten.

As they travelled down to Singapore in one of the last coaches of their train, there was a little group of Chinese friends and Lucian Garth the worker, who being an Asian was not interned. They were there giving quiet, loyal, loving, moral support to the two prisoners.

THE ATOMIC BOMB was dropped over Hiroshima in August 1946, and with it came the end of the Pacific War. On being released from Changi Internment Camp, Bert Cameron, Arthur Shearer and Alex Mitchell departed for home in Australia and New Zealand.

Archie Wilson and Lucian Garth remained in Singapore and Malaysia, gathering the friends together and continuing the work of the Gospel in both places.

Alex Mitchell, accompanied by Una Hedderman, Norma Loechel, Dan McNab and Edgar Bell sailed for Singapore from Melbourne on the ship Marella on Sunday afternoon of the 19th of October, 1946. Sunday the 26th, the Marella berthed in Fremantle, Western Australia. A special meeting took place in North Perth that same morning. Joe Williamson from New South Wales was the Elder Worker that year. The ship sailed from Fremantle the evening of the same day, Sunday 26th, October. Sunday morning of the 2nd of November the coastline of Indonesia unfolded to our view.

We attended church service conducted by a missionary returning to Malaysia. He being a member of the Brethren. The ship was all day passing through the Sunda Straits. On Wednesday morning the 5th. November, the ship arrived in Singapore Harbour. On hand to welcome Alex and the new arrivals were Archie Wilson, Lucian Garth, a little company of Chinese friends.

The following day at evening a Gospel Meeting took place in the home of Tan Chin Hui and Hua's home. That is their unsaved parents' home. Tom Fowler had just arrived in Singapore on his way home from Hong Kong to New Zealand. Tom assisted by Edgar Bell was the chief speaker in that meeting. It was Edgar's introduction to the East. His text being...a sower went forth to sow. In that meeting there were about 30 people, including 9 workers and about 16 saints. It was not so long after that that Chin Hui and Hua professed. Tom Fowler had stayed on in Hong Kong a full year after the liberation from internment. Only now was he on his way home to New Zealand.

Dan McNab and Edgar Bell left Singapore approximately Monday evening of the 8th November for Kuala Lumpur on the night train. On arrival some 3 hours, they were met by Archie Wilson and M. Pun Kong Fatt. Archie had gone up to Kuala Lumpur 2 or 3 days previous to prepare the way for Edgar and Dan. Kong Fatt escorted the two new arrivals to his humble and tiny home in Penang Lane where Edgar and Dan stayed for the first 3 weeks of their arrival in Kuala Lumpur.

After two days Archie returned to Singapore and not long sailed home to New Zealand for a much needed rest. At the end of the first 3 weeks, Alex Mitchell came up from Singapore for a visit, and as a result Edgar and Dan secured more congenial lodgings in the home of some unsaved people in 19 Penang Road.

At first, Dan and Edgar held meetings Sunday mornings in a Chinese home, 134 Pudu Road where Arthur Shearer and Archie Wilson had lodged pre-war. The two friends and several others attended. Two or three soon professed and the fellowship meeting was moved into the home of an Indian couple where it continued for 6 months or more. NOTE re the little group of Chinese friends and Lucian Garth in the last coach of the train when Bert Cameron was taken to Singapore. Beecher Saudosham was a member of the group in the last coach of train.

In early 1947, Dan McNab and Edgar commenced meetings in the Isibi Road Tamil school and at first large numbers attended. Members of Dr. Samuel's family professed. He being an Indian.

Una Hedderman and Norma Loechel were in Singapore at first helping Alex Mitchell. Archie Wilson and Lucian Garth departed for home visits shortly after the arrival of Alex and party from Australia on the 5th of November, 1946. However, on their return to Singapore the following year, Una and Norma went to Penang.

Les Hawse arrived from Australia in March 1947, and in June of that year Les with Dan McNab departed for Sandakan in British North Borneo and so pioneered the work of God in that land.

Arthur Lomas, on the departure of Dan McNab to be with Les Hawse, came from New Zealand and joined Edgar in Kuala Lumpur. From British North Borneo, or SABAH as it is now called, the work spread into the state of Sarawak in the South West portion of the Island of Borneo. The work getting a footing first of all in the capital town of Kuching. Then it spread to other centres in Sarawak.

In 1953, Stan Watkins arrived in Singapore from New South Wales and not long was to be found in Sarawak where he has laboured off and on through all the years until now. He has learned to speak the Hakka dialect of the Chinese language.

Susan McCall and Maurice Bowyer joined the Malaysian ranks in 1947, followed by Daphne Bonney in 1948. In the years since then, many others from other countries—Australia, New Zealand, England and Scotland—have joined in the work in Singapore, West Malaysia and East Malaysia, as those lands are now known.

Phyllis Wilson arrived from New Zealand in 1947. Besides Tan Chin Hui and her sister Tan Chin Hua, quite a number of Chinese sisters have gone forth into the work. The three Sandosham brothers from Butterworth went forth to labour in the Gospel. The first of these three was Cooper in 1950.

In the mid-1970s, all workers were ordered out of Sabah by the authorities, in spite of the fact that a nice church has been established there with three tiny conventions. However, Cooper obtained permission to again labour there after some time and did so during the years 1978 and onwards. During the years 1979, 80 and 81, Cooper was generally without a companion in Sabah except for short periods with Lucian Garth, Beecher Sandosham and Bruce Gibbs.

On the 30th July, 1981, Bruce Gibbs, his last companion in Sabah, left to return to Sarawak in the South. A few days later, that is on the 11th August, 1981, Cooper was stricken with a massive heart attack and 3 or 4 hours later passed away in the Kota Kinabalu Hospital, Sabah. Cooper passed away just 4 days after his 64th birthday. Mourned by many.

Lucian Garth and Maurice Bowyer were the first to go to Ipoh in North Malaysia about 1948. First fruits of the Gospel there were Yip Lin Yeng, Cecil Tan, Gilbert Huang and a little later the Jesuadasan family.

Una Hedderman and companions laboured somewhat in Penang during 1948, 1949, 1950. The church began to grow and expand. From 1950 until 1956, Edgar Bell and companions laboured largely in Penang and Ipoh. The churches in those two places further increased.

Alex Mitchell exercised the oversight of the work in Singapore, Malaya and Borneo in those days. That is from 1946 until 16th Nov 1974. Alex also had the general oversight of Thailand and Vietnam. Alex left Singapore for New Zealand for the last time in November 1974. His memory having failed badly. Alex passed away in New Zealand on the 31st July, 1981, aged 84 years.

Willie Jackson and Ben Brownrigg sailed from Sydney for Singapore in October 1929. Enroute their ship called at Java for a few days and Willie and Ben enjoyed the fellowship of George Absolom and James Bird who had already been in Java for some 6 months. They came from South Africa. In that brief time in which George and James were in Java, as it was then called, some had hearkened to their message.

On arrival in Singapore, probably early November 1929, Willie and Ben secured lodgings in Siang Lim Park, but in the following month or two moved two or three times. Not many days after their arrival in Singapore though they had a visit from Willie Hughes, who evidently was on his way to attend Conventions in India; Willie Hughes being the Elder in South Australia at that time.

In 1930, Mr. Lim Ah Bee professed, he being the first fruits of Singapore. Ah Bee died during the Japanese occupation. Then not long, Mrs. Branson, an Eurasian woman, professed, but 9 months later she died of cancer. Her relatives were Adventists but Mr. Branson made very sure that the workers conducted her burial. Later on, Mr. De Windt professed followed by his wife. (She was Siamese). Those two were living in squalid conditions with their young family, but after professing they improved their state of living considerably. Silas, was their eldest son. After making a promising beginning it is not clear their latter end.

After their arrival in Penang on 29th July, 1932, Bert Cameron and Ben Brownrigg soon met with the Baker family. Dudley and his wife attended their meetings for some months. Dudley's father and mother also got to some meetings. Dudley, his wife and an Auntie professed. It is reported that the old couple passed away in an internment Camp during the Japanese occupation. Then there was a Dr. Rao an Indian man who developed a great love for the truth. He has long since passed on.

During Ben Brownrigg's last year in Malaysia, he became quite sick and run down. Consequently in 1934, Ben was obliged to return home to New Zealand. Six years later Ben married Ethel Prichard and after, some vicissitudes, including more than four years in internment as a Conscientious Objector, was able to settle down in his home and so fill a worthy place in the family of God. Ben is now aged about 80 years.

So, from small beginnings, the work in Singapore and Malaysia has slowly grown. Many of God's servants have joined in with the sacrifice and labour of those first workers who were the pioneers.

TTT Editor's Note: In the absence of a written account, the above information has been compiled by the TTT Editor from various sources. Corrections or additions are most welcome; as well as other historical accounts for this country Email TTT