Aussie don recalls dad’s act of bravery
Published on: Sunday, March 31, 2024
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Geoffrey (left) and his family in a photo taken in 1954 before the pirate attack. (Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Chow)
Kota Kinabalu: March 29, 1954 marked a significant event in the history of Semporna Town, as it was the day when a pirate attack occurred, leaving a lasting impact on the town and its residents for the past 70 years.
Armed men in two boats, believed to be from the Southern Philippines, landed on the town to rob.
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Their plans faced resistance from the 14-man police force in Semporna. A shootout occurred, resulting in the loss of a police sergeant, two constables and a 24-year-old European who held the position of Tawau Assistant Conservator of the Forest.
Professor Dr Geoffrey Chow, an Australian-based author, consultant, educator, mentor and strategist, was just four years old when the incident happened.
“I was only four years old at the time and I do not have clear memories of the incident. However, the stories passed down by my mother paint a vivid picture of the events that unfolded that day.
“I remember running across a field with my siblings and parents desperately trying to reach the cover of some bushes and trees with the pirates hot on our heels,” said Geoffrey who was here last November to launch his second edition book titled “Chinese Business Entrepreneurs Tri-Cluster Model”.
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“My father, Henry Chow, fought off the pirates to protect us and as the pirates surrounded our house, he placed my mother and four siblings under a mattress for protection.
“Outside, the pirates were firing their weapons without regard for their targets, while another group of five tried to break into our house.
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“My father stood at the top of the stairs and fought off the pirates one-by-one as they tried to enter. Despite sustaining a severe injury to his right arm from a pirate’s sword, he managed to fend off the attackers,” he said.
Reflecting the traumatic events, Geoffrey recalled the heroism and resilience of his father, who was the assistant chief of the Semporna Hospital at the time.
“Despite his injury, he led us to safety and as we ran for cover, seeking refuge from the pirates’ gunfire, a bullet pierced through my father’s left shoulder. The incident left him wounded in two places,” he said.
“His actions that day saved our lives,” Geoffrey said, adding that his father’s bravery and selflessness had inspired him and his siblings to honour their father’s memory by writing a book about his life.
“Our father’s courageous actions during the attack, including risking his life to protect his family has left a lasting impact on us. We believe our father’s story deserves to be told as a testament to his bravery and as a source of inspiration for others,” he said.
Professor Dr Geoffrey Chow (left). Henry receiving a medal from the Agong for his contributions to the nation (Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Chow).
Geoffrey’s father, who was born in 1916, passed away in 1978 at the age of 62.
“He succumbed to blood poisoning after undergoing surgery on his back and was laid to rest in a Catholic Cemetery in Penampang where he continues to be remembered as a loving husband, father and a hero who saved his family from harm,” said Geoffrey.
Geoffrey also fondly recalled his trip back to Semporna around 2017 where he had the opportunity to introduce his son, Nicholas, who was born in Australia, to the place of his childhood.
“I wanted my son to experience firsthand the beauty of Sabah, Tawau and Semporna, and to learn about our family’s past,” he said.
During his visit, Geoffrey said he was struck by the changes that had taken place in Semporna over the years.
“The site where our house once stood had been transformed into the new library car park and the current Semporna Museum is located in what used to be the police station,” he said.
“Revisiting Semporna was not only a nostalgic journey but also an opportunity to share our family’s history with my son. By showing him the places that held such significance to our family, I hope to instil in my son a deeper appreciation of our heritage and the sacrifices made by our ancestors,” he said.
Geoffrey with assistance from Nicholas is currently working on the book to be published.
He shared an article with Daily Express in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the Semporna pirates’ raids titled “Day not to be forgotten”.
Pirates – a word that conjures up different emotions in different people. The March 29, 1954 pirates’ raid on Semporna was a brutal attack catching everyone by surprise! To these days, those directly affected, the attack still conjures up strong emotions. The 1954 raid was one of the most serious cross-border incidents that occurred in Sabah (British North Borneo).
The timing of the attack was to try and ensure everyone was relaxed after a hard day’s work and most people work at home.
A group of locals enjoying a match of football in the town’s padang (football field). That way, the pirates could take over the township of Semporna with great effect and efficiency and that was the calculation. It worked. It was a “hit-and-run” attack, typical of Sulu pirates’ attack. It was a surprise attack, nevertheless!
Ransacking the town, and in the process killed a few and injured several. Among those killed was head of Semporna Police and a forestry officer, a British man arrived at the Semporna jetty, just when the attack started. The forestry officer was shot just as he stepped onto the jetty or pier.
One of those injured during the raid was my beloved father, Henry Chow Fook On but he survived despite wounded on the shoulder and on the right-hand. My father confronted not one armed pirate, but four armed pirates simultaneously during the pirates’ raid, while protecting a young family of four children ranging from ages four months to six.
Extraordinary courage it was by Henry Chow.
As a dedicated, well-respected, admired public servant, who had served the public for decades in the government medical service across Sabah (British North Borneo) since World War 2 arrived.
He happened to have been transferred to Semporna one month before the pirates’ attack. More about Henry Chow in this article later.
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