Elizabeth Choy- a war heroine

A war hero is one who helps people and is willing to make sacrifices. They will always think of others before themselves. They remain patriotic to the nation and will never betray the country.They do not blame their torturers, as they were doing it for the country. These are the true qualities of a hero. A war heroine in particular is Elizabeth Choy.

Elizabeth and her husband helped to send cash, medicine, clothing and letters to the Changi P.O.Ws. They even put themselves in greater risk by sending in radio parts. However, her husband was caught. Three weeks later, She was lured to the YMCA building and she was tortured there. No matter how the Japanese tried to dig information from her, she refused to say anything. They even stripped Elizabeth in front of her husband and applied electric currents to her. She was no doubt patriotic to Singapore. During the 200 over days stay, she was tortured countless of times. When given the opportunity to identify the Japanese officer that tortured her, to be sentenced at the War Crimes Tribunal, she refused to provide any names stating that she condemned war and not the people who tortured her.

She has qualities like compassion, selfless, fortitude and valour. As shown in the war, she could have just told the Japanese the information they wanted and save herself from suffering but she did not. She had the courage to bear the sufferings and not betray Singapore. After being tortured, she would walk back to her cell with all the energy she could muster. In fact, she was more concerned about her inmates welfare than hers.

It was also because of her psychological resilience that she manages to not betray Singapore. She who shows care and concern to her fellow inmates has given them hope which becomes strength to overcome all odds during her days in 'hell'.