Margaret Dryburgh (1890-1945)

Margaret was an English teacher and missionary. She was both a teacher and a qualified nurse. She became a missionary in Singapore.
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Her first missionary posting was to Shanton, in China in 1919. She learned the Shantou dialect in 2 years and started to work as a teacher at the Sok Tek Girls’ School.

She later moved onto Singapore where she became principal of the Choon Goan School in 1934, raising the standard of the school so it became recognised as a secondary school

She was also a skilled musician who organised the training of choirs and had fund raising concerts and charity events, plus picnics for children.

In 1942 Singapore fell to the Japanese. She tried to escape by ship but was captured with other missionaries and sent to Sumatra where death from disease and malnutrition was common… She retained her* British Bulldog* spirit by arranging church services, hymn singing, writing classes and poetry sessions. With Norah Chambers they formed a camp choir but by 1945 half the members had died.

The* Captives Hymn* (included), written by Margaret, was sung each Sunday.

Margaret died from dysentery on 21st April 1945.

The film Paradise Road, made in 1996, told the story of life in the camp.