This headline in The Sunday Times of 24 August 2003 caught the attention of many readers. It was all about ACJC’s Jeffrey Jiang - the gallant lad who did his parents, ACSians and the Boys’ Brigade fraternity proud!
Whilst on a Boys’ Brigade community service project in Khon Kean, a village northeast of Bangkok, Jeffrey saved a man who tried to commit suicide by lying across a railway track. Without fear and thought for his own personal safety, he and two others raced to the rescue and managed to lift the man off the tracks just seconds before the speeding train roared past them.
For his heroic deed, Jeffrey was awarded the Cross for Heroism, which is the Boys’ Brigade’s highest honour to be awarded since the movement started in Singapore 73 years ago.
Jeffrey’s spontaneous action exemplifies the resourcefulness and leadership qualities that uniformed youth organisations in ACS instill in the young. These organisations play an important role in nurturing and enhancing the lives of thousands of young ACS students, many of whom are among our nation’s outstanding personalities and leaders.
Uniformed Youth Organisations
The origins of uniformed youth organisations can be traced back to the late 19th century, when social leaders were finding ways and means to channel the energies of young people in the developing industrial economies of Europe and North America. The first of such groups is the Boys’ Brigade, which was formed in Glasgow in 1883 by William Smith with the backing of the church. Among the other groups that were subsequently established, the most notable was the Boy Scout movement founded in 1908 by Lord Baden-Powell, who was also once in the Boys’ Brigade.
In ACS, the order of establishment was the reverse as the 12th Company of the Boys’ Brigade was formed only in April 1954 by Rev. S. T. Peter Lim and Mr. Wee Choon Siang, 33 years after the 11th Singapore Boy Scout Troop made its debut in 1921. The Boys’ Brigade movement flourished in ACS, and at one stage in the late 70s, the 12th Company was known to have the largest enrolment in the world with about 450 members!
The 12th Company Boys’ Brigade - Sure & Stedfast
Since its establishment, the 12th Company has helped many of its ACSian members to develop physically and mentally to serve and lead through the “twin pillars” of discipline and Christian education. Bearing witness to this is Mr. Ong Eng Tong (ACS Class of ’60, former BB Queensman, and currently serving as the President of The Stedfast Association, Singapore), “I attribute drill and the band to be the most critical part of the BB training in building leadership and discipline. They have helped in my career tremendously. For most of us, our success lies in our faith in the Lord, as we are guided by the BB objective of the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self Respect and all that tend towards a Christian Manliness, and the BB motto, Sure & Stedfast”
Supporting Mr. Ong’s views, Mrs. Cynthia Lin, a parent, is delighted that the BB has helped her son Caleb to grow spiritually and given him a sense of belonging. According to her: “Besides experiencing acceptance, love and support and building up his self-discipline, confidence and self esteem, the BB has given Caleb the opportunity to learn what it really means to be a servant leader – where being a leader goes beyond just exercising authority but also includes service to the BB, school and community, and the responsibility of nurturing and encouraging the younger boys”.
Mr Lui Chong Chee, another parent whose life was shaped by the 12th Company of the Boy’s Brigade (1970 – 1978), also gives the BB the ‘thumbs up’. His sons, Mark and David, are now following in his footsteps in the BB, learning about what it means to put others before self. What Mr Lui is particular glad about is that Christ remains the center of all BB activities. For example, he explains, “a prayer is said before the start of parade, grace is sung before a meal, and Vesper of thanksgiving and faith is lifted to the heavens at the close of the day’s activities”.
Boys in the BB find the wide range of activities both enjoyable and enriching. Sharing his experience, ACS (Independent)’s Eugene Khoo maintains that, “the BB has given me ample opportunities to exercise leadership skills through many practical situations. In addition, taking part in exciting activities and even extreme sports, such as rock climbing and wake boarding, only added to the other rich and vibrant experiences I have had with the BB”.
The boys also share a deep bond as they interact with each other in the BB, as ACS (Primary)’s Liew Ian Tatt puts it, “we are like a band of brothers, not just a group of friends, but a family in God’s name”. This affinity is maintained even after leaving school, as ex-BB boys continue to keep in touch to foster the spirit of comradeship between past and present members of the Brigade, and to render service to others. This zest in bonding and the sharing of the BB movement’s ideals has led to the formation of the 12th Company Alumni.
The 12th Company Alumni – Preserving the Ties that Binds
The 12th Company Alumni was formed in April 2001. Spearheaded by former ACS teacher and BB Captain, Mr Ong Ai Teik, it has been active in drawing its old boys and former officers together for fellowship, networking and participation in various other activities. To date, it has already organized two reunions for its present membership of over 200, both of which were held in ACS (Junior), courtesy the Principal Mr Peter Tan, a fellow alumnus; a third one is now in the pipeline, and this will be a grand affair to celebrate the 12th Company’s Golden Anniversary Thanksgiving & Reunion Dinner (click here for details) later this year.
Our 12th Company boys participating in a drill
competition at Beach Road Camp (circa 1977).
Can anyone identify Mr. Peter Tan?
The Old Boy Buglers & The “True Blues” Band
Perhaps one of the most distinctive trademarks of the 12th Company was the former military band of the 60s and 70s. Then, many boys would join the BB to be part of the band.
In early 2003, the 12th Company Alumni was given the challenge of reviving the long lost 12th Company tradition of bugling, which faded away sometime in the 80s/90s, along with the glorious BB Military Band of the 60s/70s. Six old boy buglers were asked to train new BB boys to be buglers and to set up a bugle and drums band in time for the parade at the Official Opening of the ACS Barker Road Campus on 15 July 2003.
However, as the boys could not be ready in time, the six old boy buglers performed the bugle calls and fanfares instead. As the rousing performance did much to rekindle their old passion, the buglers continued to play together as a band for the fellowship and for fun, and this led to the formation of the 12th Company “True Blues” band – probably the first of its kind in Singapore! Since then, the band has performed at various other functions, including the Opening of the BB Sharity Gift Box, the 12th Company Alumni Reunion, the 1st Boys’ Brigade Pipes and Drums Festival, the Hearts of Praise concert at ACS (Barker Road), and more recently the 12 Company Boys’ Brigade 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving/Enrolment Service.
According to Mr. Peter Sim (Sec 4 Class of ‘71), the leader of the band who coined the name “True Blues”, “We are enjoying ourselves so much that we meet often to play together. The band is essentially a brass band, and we presently have 11 regular members, ages ranging from 40 to 50”.
The 12th Company has been responsible for developing its members into disciplined men of strong moral character, and we see this continuing – thanks to the dedication and untiring efforts of teachers, officers and the 12th Company Alumni. We applaud their valuable contributions, which have gone a long way to propel ACS forward to be a greater school.
The Best is Yet to Be!
