Bukit Brown Cemetery: Our Roots, Our Future

A Tag for History and a Trustee

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:12:00 -0400

One of the oldest streets in Tiong Bahru is Eng Hoon Street, named after Koh Eng Hoon, a prominent businessman and philanthropist.

In fact he came from a family which was one of the early Chinese settlers in Malacca.

Eng Hoon St in Tiong Bahru

From Song Ong Siang classic “One Hundred Years’ History of the Chinese in Singapore”

“The 1864 Directory mentions the firm of Koh Eng Hoon & Co, chop Soon Bee in Malacca Street. The founder Koh Eng Hoon was born in Malacca, which was the birthplace of his father Koh Kee Oot, as well as of his grandfather, Koh Teck Hin. The older people were interested in the junk trade, following in the footsteps of Koh Chin, the father of Koh Teck Hin, who left his native place in China and settled down in Malacca some 200 years ago.

Portrait of Koh Eng Hoon, from Song Ong Siang’s book

Koh Eng Hoon in 1840 at the age of 17 came to Singapore, which offered better prospects to an enterprising young man, and was employed in a Chinese shop. About a year later, the chop ceased to carry on business and he joined Boustead & Co as cashier. In 1845 he started in business as merchants and commission agents and had large dealings with Bugis traders. In 1863 in his 40t year he practically ceased taking an active part in business, which was left in charge of his eldest son in law Soh Hong Chuan, his elder sons Koh San Tee, Koh San Chuan and Koh San Lim being still minors. He spent much of his time in Malacca, where he died in 1880, owning at the time of his death considerable properties both in Singapore and Malacca. He left a large family and an elaborate will.

Among his sons-in-law were Soh Hong Chuan, whom he specially requested in his will to continue the management of the firm until his son Koh San Hoh, to whom he bequeathed the business, had acquired sufficient experience to take personal charge; Lee Keng Kiat, one of whose sons is Lee Chim Tuan - the right hand man of Lee Choon Guan and energetic as well as enthusiastic in all matters concerning the public welfare; and Tan Keng Guan, whose daughter Tan Seok Yang was one of the wives of Choo Eng Choon and was figured as one of the defendants in that cause celbre the “Six Widows’ Case.” In his will, dated the 31st Jan 1879 and signed in Singapore, after giving large legacies to his family and a long list of relatives, Mr Eng Hoon made a bequest of $500 to the Trustees of Raffles Institution for the purposes of that Institution, but they unfortunately never got it, for by his codicil dated the 6th Sep 1880 and signed at Malacca he revoked this bequest and his motive for so doing remains a mystery. At his death, on the 11th Sep 1880, the business was thriving, but the manager, Soh Hong Chuan, left in 1883 to start his own business, and shortly after, the firm began to venture in big tin speculations with the result that it lost heavily and suspended payment in 1890.

The name of Koh Eng Hoon & Co ceased to be used, but one of his sons continued to trade under the chop Soon Bee Beng Kee until 1900, when the other sons petitioned the Court for its opinion as to a clause in the testator’s will directing the employment of his residuary estate in the continuation of his business, and having obtained judicial sanction to continue such business, the former firm was revivied under the name of Koh Eng Hoon & Sons Chop Soon Bee, which is now practically confined to the manufacturer of Sarawak sago flour, which brand is well known in the local market as Soon Bee Ann or S.B.A. sago flour. This business is under the management of the eldest son, Koh San Tee.

Revival of Koh Eng Hoon and Sons

A younger son, Koh San Hin, made a big fortune in rubber, and is now a director of many companies. He takes keen interest in public affairs, has been President of the Straits Chinese British Association since 1913, and is a member of the Rent Assessment Board and on the Committee of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Koh San Hin

Koh San Hin’s tomb in Bukit Brown. His Chinese name Hin is different from that of the archives.

Unfortunately Koh San Hin, who served from 1913 - 1916 as President of the Straits Chinese British Association (forerunner of the Peranakan Association) died on Sep 1929 and was buried in Bukit Brown.

According to Peter Lee, from the Peranakan Association, his great grandfather Lee Keng Kiat, son-in-law of Koh Eng Hoon was among the

first Babas to study English.

When Keng Kiat died he was buried in a burial ground in Upper Serangoon provided by his wealthy first cousin Lee Choon Guan. Keng Kiat Road in Tiong Bahru was actually named after him.

Lee Keng Kiat was also grandfather of Lee Kip Lee, who also served as President of Peranakan Association from 1966 - 2009

Lee Kip Lee served as President of the Peranakan Association and Koh San Hin a former president was also his granduncle through the marriage of Lee Keng Kiat to one of Koh Eng Hoon’s daughters.

Koh San Hin obituary notice in ST, 14 Sep 1929

Koh Eng Hoon eldest daughter Koh Leng Tian Neo died on Jan 1921 aged 69 years and her husband Soh Hong Chuan, died the following year on Nov 1922. He lived till 80

After quitting from Eng Hoon company , Hong Chuan started his own business and became a pioneer in the rattan and produce business under Chop Chin Hong and Co.

Soh Hong Chuan and Koh Leng Tian Neo’s tomb in Bukit Brown.

It was erected in 1921 when Leng Tian Neo died,

and use the special Tian Yun reign year.

Soh tomb inscription also mentioned that he has a 5th ranking Qing official title.

Soh’s mother Mdm Lee was buried in front of his tomb in Bukit Brown.

From the tomb inscription, we learnt that Soh Hong Chuan came from a family of 6 brothers and 1 daughter, and Mdm Lee’s tomb was erected in 1884,

and reburied in Bukit Brown. The tomb has a beautiful pair of phoenix on the headstone.

As for Koh San Tee, the eldest son of Koh Eng Hoon, he went on to manage the business of Koh Eng Hoon and sons Chop Soon Bee and their product S.B.A

Soon Bee Ann Sarawak Sago Flour became famous in the local market.

He also became a trustee of the Heng San Teng burial ground, together with two other Hokkien leaders See Tiong Wah and Lim Peng Siang,

which is today part of the greater Bukit Brown area.

Unfortunately Koh San Tee passed away on Feb 15, 1932 at the age of 77. His obituary notice in ST as follows:

Koh San Tee and his two wives Choo Cheng Neo and Chua Siew Neo are buried in Bukit Brown in a triple tomb.

As their tombs lie in the path of the proposed highway, they have been tagged by LTA : Tag No 1053, 1054 and 1055

Tomb of Koh San Tee and his two wives (Tag No 1053,54,55)

Compiled by Raymond Goh

Futher reading:

http://mymindisrojak.blogspot.sg/2013/04/lee-chim-teck-bukit-brown.html

The forgotten heritage at our own backyard

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:32:00 -0400

On Jun 19, 2012, the Government of Singapore officially deposited with the Director-General of UNESCO its instrument of ratification, becoming the 190th State Party to accept the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

On 19 Sep 2012, Singapore becomes 190th State Party to the World Heritage Convention.

On 7 Dec 2012, Singapore National Commission for UNESCO submits its Botanic Gardens on the Tentative List, which Singapore consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.

But yet, do you know we can have another cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value, one that is still yet unappreciated by the public at large, and that the government

is planning to drive a highway through it to alleviate traffic congestion?

If we are to check the tripadvisor website, we would be surprised at the excellent reviews of the place there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g294265-d2547770-Reviews-Bukit_Brown_Cemetery-Singapore.html

Why is this so? Is it not merely a cemetery of tombstones and bones? The government has cleared many cemeteries in the past. What makes this cemetery so special?

Week after week, more and more people from all walks of life, tourists, students, children and housewives are coming to Bukit Brown and beginning to realize the significance historical and cultural importance of this place.

For those who have been there and walk the grounds, each and everyone is touched and awed by the sights and sounds they can see and feel at Bukit Brown, a hidden historic gem that awaits discovery.

History and Heritage

For the cosmopolitan Singaporeans, it still come to them as a surprise that the Bukit Brown area is the largest Chinese cemetery complex in the world, with more than 200,000 tombs
(The greater Bukit Brown is estimated to be about 233 hectares in size and encompasses the municipal Bukit Brown Cemetery and 3 other adjacent cemeteries)

It is also the mother of all cemeteries in Singapore, whereby graves from previous cemeteries were re-interred in Bukit Brown.

As recently as a few months ago, the tombs of the first batch of pioneers who came during the time of Sir Stamford Raffles, dating all the way back to the 1820s was

discovered in the greater Bukit Brown area. In fact, many of the history and heritage of this place is just coming into light within these 2 years.

Recently the government has started to promote Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall (Wan Qing Yuan) a heritage institution under the National Heritage Board, which traces Dr. Sun’s revolutionary activities in the Southeast Asian region and highlights the impact of the 1911 Chinese Revolution on Singapore as well as Singapore’s contributions to the Revolution.

And yet, few would know that the only place worthy to be a Revolutionary Mausoleum, whereby 20 members of the Tong Meng Hui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance) members who supported Dr Sun and 15 members of the early Chinese Republic Party formed at that time is actually at Bukit Brown.

Inscription : A Revolutionary alliance pioneer and overseas Chinese representative with foresight

More than a century of transition of power and change in China can be reflected in the tombstones of Bukit Brown, from the Qing dynasties of Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu, Xuantong,

period where great changes take place like the Taiping rebellion, the remnants of the Qing dynasty after the Republic is formed, the Republican Year, Mingguo,

followed by the Japanese conquest of Koki years, Syonan years. Also included is the two thousand year old Confucius calendar

These combined calendar system are unique in the world.

Singapore, being the crossroad of the east and centre of Nanyang, we can see the shared history between its neighboring countries, like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia being reflected in the tombstones

of Bukit Brown. There is also a very rich material unique culture of the Peranakan reflected in the tombs of Bukit Brown.

Also found are more than 30 pairs of stone Sikh guards, most of them unique, and believed to be modeled after real Sikh guards/photos

The whole cemetery is also a showcase of Chinese mythology and cultural beliefs in the sculptures

For the municipal cemetery of 100,000 tombs, each and every tomb is recorded with name, address, age and other details, Together with the tombstone inscriptions,

each tomb can tell a diasporic journey from a village in China to Singapore. There are also clusters of tombs that denigrate families, friends, societies, religious and business relationships

All these are buried irregardless of religious and dialect groups.

Different religious and cultural beliefs and different Chinese dialect groups, Hokkiens, Teochews, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese

reflecting the Chinese diaspora from southern China into Nanyang.

Few would also know that Bukit Brown is also a war cemetery. Thousands of unidentified bodies were buried in communal trenches which so far lay undiscovered.

WW2 battles were also fought on the hills of Bukit Brown

More than 30 pioneers buried there have streets in Singapore named after them. Also buried are founders of schools, banks, clan associations.

Nature:

As highlighted by Nature Society of Singapore, Bukit Brown is a Natural Air-conditioner, contribute to carbon sequestration, act as rainfall sponge, and has 25% of the total bird species recorded in Singapore (91 out of 364 species). Of these, 13 bird species found in Bukit Brown are nationally threatened.

There has also been recent sighting of large flying fox thought to be extinct in the main island. Other fauna include butterflies, snakes, monkeys, pangolins etc

It is currently in active use for horse riding, cycling, hiking and other recreation activities.

In conclusion, it is a living museum like no other and what we are searching for, our shared identity, our roots, our heritage, a cultural gem that future generations can benefit, that is uniquely Singaporean can just be found in our own backyard.

For those who has come to Bukit Brown and experience it for themselves, it is a live on-site museum, touch stones of living memories, the physical and emotional anchors for the future generations of Singapore that can root them and make them feel connected.

As the conclusion for the video “Finding Bukit Brown” produced by a group of final-year students at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information aptly put it :

”It is this collective memory that differentiate a home from a hotel. For Singaporeans who want something to hold on to, there is no need to look any further than one’s own backyard”.

Raymond Goh

The Queen of Bukit Brown

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:51:00 -0500

I have found the triple tomb of Tan Kheam Hock, his wife and his eldest daughter a few years ago, but unable to contact with the descendants.

Then on Oct 27, 2011 I received a facebook message from one Ms Vicky, who asked me if I know where Tan Kheam Hock is buried in BB. He was her great grandfather.

I informed her that he was buried in Blk 3 and that we have put up trail marker for the location. Then on Oct 29, I and Victor was at Bukit Brown Heritage Park when we came across a lady looking for Tan Kheam Hock and voila, it was Vicky herself, and so we brought her to see her great grandfather grave for the first time.

She had been informed previously that Tan Kheam Hock was not buried in Bukit Brown He was actually buried in Alexandra Road Cemetery but has been re-interned in Bukit Brown in 1965 together with his wife and eldest daughter.

Picture taken by Vicky of Victor and me standing at the side of the triple tomb of Tan Kheam Hock, his wife Foo Peang Neo and his eldest daughter Tan Keow Gnoh.

Tan Keow Gnoh who was married to Lim Mah Seang, died in 1917, at the age of 32 years.

Foo Peang Neo (daughter of Foo Tye Sin, of Tye Sin Street fame, of Penang) passed away on May 4, 1913 at the age of 48. She was the mother of Tan Chong Khee, Chong Lay, Chong Chew, Chong Teck, Chong Gark and Chong Teat.

Tan Kheam Hock and his family (picture published in the book 20^th century impression of British Malaya in 1907.

He was reported to have 6 sons and 4 daughters at that time. In this picture would be his wife Peang Neo, his sons, daughters and some grandchildren. We later found out that other than Kheam Hock, Peang Neo, at least 4 sons, 1 daughter and perhaps some children seen here are buried in Bukit Brown.

More surprises awaited our Vicky. Behind the triple tomb was actually the tomb of Lim Mah Seang and Tan Keow Nee

Lim Mah Seang and his wife behind the triple tomb of Tan Kheam Hock

Lim Mah Seang first wife was Tan Keow Gnoh (Kheam Hock eldest daughter) who died in 1917. He later married again, this time the daughter of Tan Kheam Keat (Kheam Hock’s brother), Tan Keow Nee.

Lim Mah Seang, was the second son of Lim Kek Chuan, co-founder and first President of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce. (Kek Chuan road in Penang is named after him). He passed away in 1930 at the age of 48 while his wife Keow Nee passed away in 1956.

After this find of 5 of her relatives, Vicky “friended” me on 1 Nov and started to explore Bukit Brown with us, the Brownies.

In more than 1 year of her exploration of Bukit Brown, she will uncover more and more relatives of her buried in Bukit Brown…….

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Tan Kheam Hock has helped one friend of his, Chan Kim Boon, from Penang, who was a famous translator of Chinese classic texts into Baba Malaya.

Portrait of Chan Kim Boon

Chan Kim Boon has 2 sons Chan Yen Soon and Chan Yen Pai.

Chan Yen Soon was buried with his wife Mdm Kaw Kim Kee just behind Lim Mah Seang and his wife !

Vicky, taking note of 2 more relatives found – Chan Yen Soon and his wife just behind Lim Mah Seang and behind Tan Kheam Hock

Tomb of Chan Yen Soon

Chan Yen Pai was buried with his 2 wives in another hill. His 2 wives were Lim Chuan Keat and Lim Hai Tong

On Dec 19, 2011, I took Vicky to visit Chan Yen Pai. Vicky offered prayers for him, for Chan Yen Pai was her great grandfather. Yen Pai’s daughter inscribed on the tomb was Chan Gaik Thay, who was married to Tan Chong Gark (Kheam Hock’s son) , Vicky paternal grandfather.

Chan Gaik Thay, the granddaughter of Chan Kim Boon, who married Tan Chong Gark, son of Tan Kheam Hock.

Soon, we discovered Tan Kheam Keat, her great granduncle buried with his wife in Bukit Brown. That day in Feb 12, 2012, Vicky woke up early in the morning and came to Bukit Brown at 7 am in the morning to look for his grave together with me.

Vicky wrote : The moon at sunrise in Bukit Brown Heritage Park. 7am, Feb 12, 2012

Excitedly we noted the Latin phrase Requiescat in Pace on the Tomb of Tan Kheam Keat, who passed away on the 22nd day of June Anno Domini 1925, at the age of 54 years.

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Next we uncovered her granduncles one by one in Bukit Brown Heritage Park, many of whom were prominent businessman during their time:

Tan Chong Khee

Tan Chong Lay

Tan Chong Chew

Tan Chong Teck

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Vicky was actually the first to identify the tomb of Tan Huck Wan, her uncle, buried next to his father Tan Chong Chew when none of us bothered to decipher his name at that time.

Just a few years before his death in 1944 as a volunteer during WW2, Huck Wan has married the daughter of Lim Mah Seang in what was most probably the wedding of the century, with the bride wearing $100,000 worth of jewellery at that time.

The tragic story of the death of Huck Wan and his 6 month old baby Ruby can be found here

http://mymindisrojak.blogspot.sg/2012/01/tan-huck-wan-bukit-brown.html

Vicky was sad when the two tombs of her uncle Huck Wan and cousin Ruby were exhumed in late 2012.

During her one year search for her roots in Bukit Brown, Vicky would uncovered more of her uncles and aunts buried in Bukit Brown -
Uncles Huck Khong, Huck Heang, and aunts Poey Choo, Poey Joo.

With Uncle Huck Khong, son of Tan Chong Lay

Huck Heang, and aunts Daisy Tan and Poey Joo

In particular, her eldest aunt, Poey Choo, her father eldest sister was found by her ownself. On 5 Nov 2011, she wrote:

”It was miraculous that I even found her. As you can see there were no markings as her headstone is worn and weathered with time.

The half slab of marble was actually lying face down in the mud and as i turned it over, my grandparents’ name jumped out at me.”

Vicky at the tomb of her 8 year old Tua Gor

She would pay her respects to her eldest aunt Poey Choo, which she affectionately called Tua Gor, during Tua Gor first Qing Ming in 2012.

She even bought her a pair of clothes

As for her maternal side, Vicky did not forget to search for them also by combing through the archives published online by the National Archives of Singapore.

Vicky at the tomb of uncle Gan Khek Keng

One of her uncles Gan Khek Keng (maternal side) has married the eldest daughter of Municipal Commissioner See Teong Wah, Mary See Chye Geok. See Teong Wah together with Tan Kheam Hock, were the 2 Municipal Commissioners in charge of Bukit Brown Cemetery at that time. Sadly Mary died shortly after giving birth to her only son at the young age of 20 on 5 Jan 1924.

She also managed to ferret out many other entries that may be related to her, and we are still in the process of identifying the exact relationship for her.

On Oct 2012, Vicky together with the Brownies found the 2nd wife of Tan Kheam Hock.

That would be her last outing with us, for she fell sick not so long after.

Vicky passed away on 9 Jan 2013, of her sudden illness at the age of 50. During her last moments, her thoughts were still of Bukit Brown and of her 8 year old Tua Gor buried there.

On her dying bed, she has tasked a tombkeeper to to pay respects to her Tua Gor on her behalf every Qing Ming and also buy 1 pair of clothes, clear the vegetation,
and decorate some plants on Tua Gor’s tomb

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We have nicknamed Vicky whose real name was Victoria Tan Lian Sim as the Queen of Bukit Brown.

It was apt, for that 1 year she was with us exploring Bukit Brown, we have uncovered not less than 40 of her relatives buried in Bukit Brown.

It was her passion and interest to search for her roots in Bukit Brown that give us Brownies a sense of mission, to help her to look for more tombs related to her, and to research more into the history of these pioneering families, many of whom she has some links to.

For us, the loss of Brownie Vicky was not only the loss of the most connected person in Bukit Brown, but the loss of a true friend whom we have just found this past year, when the Brownies were united in one purpose, trying to research more and preserve this cemetery park.

During the past year and the past month whereby some Brownies walked with her and her family on the last leg of her short journey in life, we have learnt so much of life and death. We may have lost our Queen of Bukit Brown, but we have also encountered Angels along the way that help and motivate us on our sojourn in life and our mission for Bukit Brown.

Dear Vicky, we are missing you already…

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Written and compiled by Raymond Goh

Photos courtesy of Vicky and Brownies

Further reference:

http://mymindisrojak.blogspot.sg/2012/07/tan-kheam-hock-bukit-brown.html

A Chinese opium syndicate boss and the strange "photocopy" case

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:10:42 -0400

A Chinese opium syndicate boss and the strange “photocopy” case

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One of the most outstanding incidents of the year 1872 occured on
the 15 Apr when Cheang Hong Lim, Wee Bock Seng, Low Thuan Locke
and Tan Beng Chie were arraigned before the Chief Justice, Sir
Thomas Sidgreaves, on an indictment of forgery of the will of
Cheang Sam Teo, the father of Cheang Hong Lim and Cheang Hong Guan.

Cheang Sam Teo’s tombstone with 4 sons Hong Lim, Hong Guan, Hong Choon,

Hong Li and daughter Ngoh Neo

The charge was made by Cheang Hong Guan, who appeared as Queen’s
evidence. The forgery was alleged by the prosecutor to have been
effected by inking over an old signature of the testator with
Chinese ink, taking a negative from it on a piece of paper, and after
putting fresh ink on the negative, making an impression from it on
the will.

The only evidence led as to the alleged forgery was the statement
of Hong Guan and the signature on the will and a power of attorney
executed by the late Cheang Sam Teo, the latter said to be the document
from which the impression had been taken.

The trial lasted for 5 days, but the reluctant manner in which all
the other Crown witnesses gave their evidence in cross-examination,
the important discrepancies between their evidence in Court and that given to
the Police Magistrate, and the palpable absurdity of the entire
story persuaded the jury to stop the case in the midst of the speech
of the counsel for the defence.

In addressing the prisoners, the Chief Justice said: “you Cheang Hong Lim,
you Low thuan Lock, you wee Bock Seng, you tan Beng Chie, the jury
have found not guilty of the crime wherewith you are charged.

A banquet was given on the 21 May to Mr Cheang Hong Lim by the
Chinese community in honour of his acquittal. The feast was a
generous one and was well attended, while there were Chinese
theatrical performances, etc, at Pasir Panjang to celebrate the happy
ending of a sordid affair.

Cheang Hong Lim, who was born in Singapore, was the eldest of 4 sons of Cheang
Sam teo, who had migrated from China and started in business in partnership with
Tay Han Long (father of Tay Ho Swee) under the chop Teang Wat at Telok Ayer street, and for some time held the monpoly of the Opium and sirih (betel vine) farms.

After Cheang Sam teo’s death, (the firm was known as Cheang Hong Lim & Co, chop Teang Wat Wan Kee, which in later years became chop Wan Seng.

Extracted from One Hundred Years history of the Chinese in Singapore

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In Singapore, the revenue-farming syndicate was reorganised under the
leadership of the Hokkien Tau keh (boss) Cheang Sam teo and his partner
Lau joon Teck, another Ghee Hin leader.

The duo had taken over the opium and spirit
farms from Kiong Kong tuan and Tay Han Long. Cheang Sam Teo, although he was a Hokien,
and had also been a partner of Tay Hang Long, seems to have been part of a different
Hokkien faction.

(Extracted from Singapore: Wealth, Power, and the Culture of Control by Carl A trocki)

—————————————-

Remarks:

From the tomb inscription, Cheang Sam Teo died in 1862. This tomb together with Sam Teo’s wife was relocated from its original burial place to Bukit Brown cemetery.

There seem to be a scholastic title (进士 Jin Shi) associated with Cheang Sam Teo in the tomb inscription. This scholaristic title is a very highly regarded title, and is not known if it can be brought, as what Cheang Hong Lim did for him and his sons.

Even Khoo Seok Wan, the scholar poet, was not able to pass and obtain this highest ranking title.

He obtained the title 舉人 (Ju Ren) in 1894, which qualify him to sit for title of Jin Shi, but which he failed in 1895 and return to Singapore in 1896.

Not much is known about Cheang Hong Guan, no tomb has been found yet, so it is believed he is not buried in the Cheang family burial ground in Havelock Road/Alexandra Road.

Many of the Cheang family tombs have been relocated to Bukit Brown cemetery, and scattered at various locations throughout Bukit Brown cemetery.

Before the court case in 1872, Hong Guan contributed together with Hong Lim some land for the rebuilding of the Tua Pek Kong temple in Telok Ayer Street.

The last known records of him was in 1895, where he proposed to rebuilit two shop houses at Upper Hokkien Street. At that time Cheang Hong Lim was already dead for 2 years.

———————

Tay Ho Swee’s grave (son of Tay Han Long - one of the early opium syndicate leader.

Bukit Ho Swee is named after Tay Ho Swee.

——————-

Raymond

May the Eternal Light Shine upon you - A look at Early Chinese Christian graves

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:35:00 -0400

Here is a brief look at early Chinese Christian graves at the various cemeteries

A) Fort Canning Cemetery

About 1/3 of the 600 burials that took place at Fort Canning Cemetery are Chinese Christians.

According to H A Stallwood, the Old cemetery on Fort Canning singapore,

he made the following notes:

1) my clerk and interpreter Mr Yung Sz Meng copied the insriptions in Chinese. In cases in which the grave does not give the birthplace or place of origin of the deceased, it has been assumed that he was a Teochew.

2) The gravestones as it is customary with the Chinese, often mention the names of those who erected the stone: it has thus been possible to give the info as to the relatives of the deceased.

3) No Engish Chinese calendar is available for the years before 1834, and the Chinese year is often not given by the year of the Emperor’s reign, but merely the characters of the 60 years cycle.. In a few cases, the graves give dates according to the Western calendars.

4) Most of the graves in Section B, two of the graves in Section D, and one grave in Section C had at the top four Chinese characters meaning, “May Eternal Light shine on him (or her) with a cross or a cross in a circle in the middle of the inscriptions. in Chinese 永光照之

B) Bidadari Chrisian Cemetery

Contain both Protestant and Roman Catholic sections

Tomb reading : Joseph Tan, From Guangdong Province, died in 1916

Cross with Christian name

Ong Ah Swee, Hokkien Tong’an

St Joseph Church Cemetery

(Reference: Harfield, Alan. Early Cemeteries in Singapore.London: British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia,)

St Joseph’s Church was a Roman Catholic chapel built at Bukit Timah for the Chinese congregation, and was named St Joseph at the request of the Reverend John M Beurel. The Reverend Anatoloe Manduit was the priest and lived permanently among the Chinese when the building was completed at the end of the year.

The Free Press of 23 Apr 1846 published the following report, “…. The Rev Gentlemen of the Catholic Mission, to whose care we are indebted for the conversion of so many Chinese, are trying to raise beyond Bukit Timah a small chapel, …

It was opened on Sunday, 6 June 1846, and the first burial at the cemetery is recorded as being on 7 November 1846.

Following that, over 400 burials are recoded to have taken place in that cemetery. However, in May 1984, it was recorded that the cemetery was badly overgrown with weeds and vegetation, and that a majority of the tablets were already broken.The church cemetery was reported by The Straits Times of 1 May 1984 to be closed, after existing at Chestnut Drive for more than a century.

1846 St Joseph Church cemetery

Many Chinese Christian tombs buried here

Maria Tan - May the Eternal Light Shine Upon Her 永光照之

A Qing Dynasty Grave in St Joseph Church Cemetery 永光照之

one of the oldest Chinese Christian grave Peter Goh An Er - mentioned 1849 in Western Calendar 永光照之

Another Qing Grave, Paul and Regina 永光照之

Maria 1831 — 1874 (Chinese reign years were given)
All the children were with Christian names on the graves

Paul Goh, with Chinese poem and 永光照之

D) Unnamed Christian cemetery in a wooded forest in Jurong

You can see several variations from the other 3 Christian cemeteries mentioned above

Christian 基督徒 Peter Lim and Madam Tan Ching Lye 1929

Paul from Pu Yi Guangdong - 耶穌信徒 Jesus Follower

Maria Goh from Guangdong

Christian 基督徒 (name blocked)

天運甲申 (1884 or 1944?) - Here no reign year is used, instead the alternative Tian Yun (following the Heavenly Order) is used

and the words 真光照之 May the True Light shine upon you

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Remarks:

Obviously there are many things that we can learn and study about the Early Chinese Christian graves during the Colonial Period.

The fact that 1/3 of those buried in Fort Canning, the numerous St Joseph Church Chinese Christian tombs and the unnamed Christian cemetery merits a deeper analysis.

Who were the first converts? Since the north and western areas are gambier plantation in the past, perhaps many of these earlier Chinese Christian would be Teochews and gambier plantation workers?

There might also be variation between Chinese Catholic and other denomination graves.

Compared to the few decorative Chinese tombs in St Joseph Church, the other graves in unknown Christian cemetery are much more simpler, and their hidden and hitherto unknown location may have other reasons (for eg conflict with their other relatives and friends’ religion etc) and also why they are not buried at Bidadari Cemetery instead (perhaps of poverty?). The latest Christian tomb there was 1957.

And lastly, I will conclude my short article with the 4 words commonly seen in the unknown cemetery:

__,_._,___

真光照之 May the True Light shine upon us

Raymond

Chong Wen Ge - Worshipping the Language of the Letters

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:51:00 -0400

It is said that the Dao (Way) arises from Heaven, manifest itself in the Ancient Sages, and propagates itself by the written word.

Only when there is the written word would there be the Dao, and from hence the Ancient Sages and the Heaven.

But the existence of the Ancient Sages are of rare occurrence and basically of a short life span duration, and few are the fortunate who can be by their side to hear their teaching,

hence the only way is by the written word of language , hence the words is the essence of the Heavens.

And now during this period, we hold in esteem the Confucian and the Dao classics, we learn the ancient classics, so that each and every one in the universe will carry on the

manners and teachings as taught by the Ancient Sages.

We in Singapore are mostly now born and breed here, and we need to spread the Sages teaching here also.

Tan Kim Seng with popular support, hence decided to build in 1849 , and completed in 1852, a pavilion of which the upper deck shall be used to worship Zi Tong Di Jun *,

the lower deck will be used for the teacher to teach the students.

Beside it, there will be a small pavilion for use in ritual burning of paper of words.

During the 2nd lunar month of the new year, all the multitude of learners will be dressed appropriately to worship Zi Tong Di Dun, and after the ritualistic burning of the paper of words, shall send

the ashes of the written word to the river, hence the name Chong Wen Ge – Chong (Worship) Wen (Language) Pavilion.

Chong Wen Ge – Pavillion for the worship of the written word

Although we are in a foreign land, away from our mother culture land, but it is said that much will also depend on the talent of the people and the landscape itself

This pavilion has a good geomancy position, facing the bay inlet and behind a little hill, left connecting a phoenix temple and right a dragon door. Since the landscape is already good, so too will be the literary and studies for those who worship there.

Henceforth, the young and the adult, shall study the Confucian and Mencius classics, and research the mysteries of the land.

They will thus be able to learn to cultivate and refine their character, from the crude to the refined and change their behavior, from the rough, to a gentleman.

Dragon door

Phoenix wall panel

The donors:

Chief DirectorTan Kim Seng : $880

4 Deputy Directors

Ang Choon Seng : $440

Ong Chong San $440

Koh Si Mian $220

Chan Chee Choon $300

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Cheang Sam Teo $300 (Cheang Hong Lim Father)

Seah Eu Chin $200

Tay Ho Swee $120

Tan Kim Ching $100

Seah Boon Tiong $100

etc etc

Extracted from Plaque inscription dated 1867

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Zi Tong Di Jun * – God of Culture and Literature, also known as Wen Chang Di Jun

His birthday falls on the 3rd day of the 2nd lunar month. In the past in China, scholars and students would go to the temple on this day to honour this deity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenchang_Wang

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In 1880, there was an extensive renovation to Chong Wen Ge Pavillion. Of the 4090 dollars collected, 1/4 went to support the nearby Chui Eng Free School, built in 1854, main sponsor Tan Kim Seng.

Pic source: a2o.com.sg

The plaque displayed at Chi Eng Free School which closed down in 1954 : Someday when many are educated, and everyone knows the Way of Confucius, so transform this barren land into a place of the learned

In earlier days, Chong We Ge would refer to that octagonal 3 storey pavillion type building. However, In 1913, Hokkien Huay Huan build another building to the right of Chong Wen Ge, and both belong to the same address 168 Telok Ayer Street.

168 Telok Ayer Street. The 1913 building would house Chong Hock Girls School

In 1915, Hokkien Huay Kuan set up its first girl school Chong Hock Girls School at that time and housed it in Chong Wen Ge which included the new extension building. At that time there was only 30 plus female students, and the medium of instruction was Hokkien.

Chong Hock Girls’ School

Its first principal was Mdm Lin Su Qi. Another girl school established slightly earlier was Chung Hwa Girl School in 1911.

Chong Hock Girl School would undergo many expansions, but Chong Wen Ge remain in use until the 1970s.

Those girls that studied in Chong Wen Ge would remember in awe the mysterious octagonal building, which they called “Ba Gua Lou”. As its next door was Thian Hock Keng, the girls would sometimes go to pray at the temple, and hope for good results for their examinations.

“Bagua Lou” – The Octagonal Chong Wen Ge

(pic from a2o.com.sg)

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APPENDIX – A NIGHT of SOUTHERN SOUNDS NANYIN at CHONG WEN GE (PAVILLION FOR THE WORSHIP OF THE LANGUAGE

Sometimes, Chong Wen Ge comes to life such as this Nanyin night at Chong Wen Ge organized by Siong Leng Musical Association last year.

Scene from the nanguan opera Chen San Wu Niang

Nanyin has been inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/?RL=00199

4 of the donors of Chong Wen Ge were buried in Bukit Brown :

Ang Choon Seng

Cheang Sam Teo

Tay Ho Swee

Tan Kim Ching

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References:

Singapore Chinese Epigraph Collections, published by Chinese University of Hongkong

Ou Ru Bai – Bai Ren Shu Ren [It takes ten years to nurture a tree, but a hundred years to train a man (idiom)]

Keng Teck Whay - Celebrating the Virtues of the Sages

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:13:00 -0400

It has been said that, though a solemn oath is made in a day, it lasts through a thousand years, even at the streams and the banyan tree.

The Ancients regarded an oath as a thing that is binding by its sincerity and its righteousness, and usually considered that “plighted words once uttered make the heavens tremble and the earth shake.”

Therefore in the midst of tribulation and of wealth and prosperity, their purpose remains unchanged. For this reason, succeeding generations earnestly desire to imitate them… Under the present dynasty, our people have for more than 200 years enjoyed prosperity. It is therefore that we, who live in this part of the world, should according to custom respect age and revere the teachings of the Sages…

We 36 persons who are followers of the Sages, one and all now undertake to form this Association. We invoke for this movement the blessing of the God Sam Kwan Thai The*, in whose presence we take this oath to become brothers (Hianh Tee), though we have different clan names.

An altar in front of Keng Teck Whay worshipping :

The Three Pure Ones, The Jade Emperor and The Three Officials of Heaven, Earth and Water*

(extracted from Emporium in Imperio: Nanyang Networks and the Straits Chinese in Singapore, 1819 - 1914, pg 42 - 43)

Zaobao news on the restoration of the 170 year old Keng Teck Building

Keng Teck Building Pagoda

It was the year 1831, 12 years after Raffles landed. The new city was expanding rapidly, and attracted many people from Malacca.

A group of 36 young Hokkien Chinese baba traders, in their early 20 and 30s, from middle to upper income families most in Malacca, too came to seek their fortune in this new city.

Although they came from well to do families, business at that time was still considered risky. They have alliances with the Europeans, and can take goods on credit with them, but depending on

the business situation, they will have to pay the Europeans with equivalent goods or cash in a few months. Sometimes if the goods cannot be sold within this period, they would have to “lelong” the goods, resulting in financial problems for them hence the need to form such a mutual aid association for these businessman and their families.

Each of the 36 member would have to contribute 100 big dollars to the Association fund, which will be used as seed money for the businessman’s families.

The Association chief has the greatest responsibilities, and all meetings must be chaired by him and all matters notified to him.

Since this Association main purpose is for financial support to the families, the most important committee of this Association is of course the Treasury Committee, of which there are 6 members:

3 assistant treasurers, and 3 treasury staff : one manager, one supervisor, and one inspector.

For the 3 assistant treasurers, one is in charge of the fund, one is in charge of the key to the money chest, and one is in charge of checking the accounts.

To prevent misuse of the Association’s funds, all the 3 assistant Treasurers should be witness to any monetary transactions. As for the 3 treasury staff, they assist the chief and co-ordinate with all the members.

The 3 staff were also in charge of informing all the members regarding the 3 main worshipping dates : the 15th day of the 1st, 7th and the 10th man when the 3 officials of the Heaven, Earth and Water comes down to the mortal world for inspection.

There is another post which is the Incense chief, which have to be chosen yearly and the succession taken under the presence of the San Guan Da Di, which is the 3 officials.

Other rules and regulations of the Association, based on the teachings of the Sages..

Rule No 12:

When a member or his father passes away, and their families fell into financial difficulties, he should inform the association chief. The chief will then convene a meeting to decide how to help the family financially.

Rule No 13:

When a member passes away, and his family fall into financial difficulties, and his children are unable to be self sufficient due to young age, this association shall financially support the family till the son is sixteen years old, or the daughter get married off.

Rule No 14:

When a member passes away, and his widow has financial difficulties, this association shall withdraw from the fund every month to assist her, until she remarries, or until her son can be self sufficient

Rule No 25:

Every member must treat other members’ wives and children with respect. If any member should be accused of mis-behavior towards them, a disciplinary meeting will be held. If the claims were verified, his membership will be revoked. This rule shall also applies to members’ sisters as well.

Rule No 26:

If any member does not listen to his parents’ instructions and teachings, and his parents complained to the association, then a meeting will be convened and a warning will be issued to the member. If the member still faults again, and his parents complained again, then the member shall be given 20 strokes of the whip. If he faults a third time, he shall be given 100 strokes of the whip.

If he still faults again after this whipping, then he will be expelled from the association, and he and his descendants shall be denounced as the most worthless people in this world. His contribution of 100 big dollars will also be confiscated and his son shall not be able to succeed him as member.

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Many of the 36 members did well in later life and have successful business. Some of them were managers of the neighbouring Thian Hock Keng. They constructed their HQ just next to Thian Hock Keng.

Together with Chong Wen Ge, the Keng Teck Building and Chong Wen Ge formed the left and right pavillion of Thian Hock Keng.

Some of the notable members:

Yeo Kim Swee – originally from Penang. Came to Singapore in 1829, donated to Heng San Teng $100 in 1830, and donated to Thian Hock Keng $350. He also owned a land title deed in Malacca St and businesses at Collyer Quay. Seah Eu Chin worked as a clerk for him before.

Chee Kim Guan - from Malacca, was one of the 2 Chinese out of 11 committee members in the 1st Chamber of Commerce Committee in 1837. His son Yam Chuan also became the head of Hokkien Huay Kuan in Malacca and also in the directorate of Cheng Hoon Teng temple in Malacca

Tan You Long (1797 – 1867) – brother of Tan Tock Seng, business partner of Kiong Kong Tuan, who was directorate of Thian Hock Keng. Ever borrowed a loan from Thian Hock Keng before, as a signboard mentioned the temple collected his interest of $40. Donated to Thian Hock Keng, Heng San Teng etc

Chua Yan Ling – Grandfather is Chua Su Cheong and father is Chua Chong Long. Yen Ling donated to Thian Hock Keng $55 and Heng San Teng $120

There used to be a hill called Chong Long Hill and Chong Long Road in the past.

Chia Poh Eng – father of Chia Ann Siang

Seet Boon Tiong (1807 – 1888), born of humble origin, came to Singapore in 1825, in 1831 partnership with Si Ho Keh to set up Boon Tiong Company.

In 1860s, was a directorate of Malacca Cheng Hoon Teng temple

Tan Koh Teou : GM of Malacca Qing Hua Temple in the 1840s, partner of Tan Kim Seng company from 1850 – 1851

Neo Chan Guan – was a contractor for Chong Wen Ge and also supplies to Thian Hock Keng during its construction. Was a General Manager of Thian Hock Keng in the 1840s

Ang Choon Seng (1805 – 1852) – born in Malacca. Set up Chop Chin Seng in Philip St. Has 2 sailing ships Patah Salam and Kong-Kek, travelling between Saigon and Bangkok. Has also nutmeg plantations

in Moulmein Road.

Ang Choon Seng’s grave in Bukit Brown cemetery. His grave was originally at the junction of Moulmein Road/Thomson Road, and moved to Bukit Brown on 28 March 1932.

Chee Tiong Why – set up Chop Ghee Ho in Market St. One of the petitioners to the Governor Butterworth in 1850

So Guan Chuan – GM of Thian Hock Keng in 1840s, one of the 2 Chinese committee member of the first Chamber of Commerce in 1837. Guan Chuan street in Tiong Bahru is named after him.

Tan Koon Swee – although he was one of the 36 founders, his name did not appear in the ancestral plaque found in the Association ancestral hall of which there are only 35 inscribed names of the 36 founders. According to National Archives oral history, one member was expelled from the Association. He was a GM of Thian Hock Keng, and a good friend of J R Logan. His children was involved in a famous case whereby one of his grandsons pawned away some land to a money lender who then auction off the land.

Full list of the 36 founders of Keng Teck Whay

薛文仲 - Seet Boon Tiong

洪俊成 - Ang Choon Seng
翁如水 - Ang Jee Swee
徐长怀 - Chee Tiong Why
徐钦元 - Chee Kim Guan
苏源泉 - Soh Guan Chuan
谢宝荣 - Chia Poh Eng
陈国朝 - Tan Koh Teou

陈坤水 - Tan Koon Swee

蔡延龄 - Chua Yan Leng

陈有郎 - Tan You Long

陈合意 - Tan Hap Hee
陈天全 - Tan Tiang Chuan
陈应策 - Tan Eng Chek
陈武略 - Tan Boo Liap
陈明宗 - Tan Beng Chong
陈明荐 - Tan Beng Choon
何栋梁 - Ho Tiong Liang
李珍元 - Lee Tin Guan
李建安 - Lee Kian Ann
梁瓒元 - Neo Chan Guan
梁添益 - Neo Thiam Eak
邱青山- Khoo Cheng San

王彩凤 - Ong Chai Hong

许贵郎 - Koh Kwee Long

许广生 - Koh Kong Seng

徐钦三 - Chee Kim Sam

薛荣山 - Seet Eng San
颜元珍 - Gan Guan Tin
杨金水 - Yeo Kim Swee
杨青山 - Yeo Cheng San
叶永和 - Yap Eng Ho

曾梅生 - Chan Buay Seng
曾明珍 - Chan Beng Tin
郑荣华 - Tay Eng Wah
钟贤元 - Cheong Yan Guan

Altar whereby the 36 founders of Keng Teck Whay was honoured in Keng Teck Whay (pic courtesy of Taoist Mission)

Other members of Keng Teck Whay buried in Bukit Brown

His son Ang Kim Tee was the chief of Keng Teck Whay from 1890 – 1892. 3 of his daughters were married to Tan Jiak Kim

Another son of Ang Choon Seng – Ang Kim Cheak (1827 – 1870) who also was one time chief of Keng Teck Whay

Ang Kim Cheak son Ang Teow Guan, whose wife was Tan Yean Neo, at one time she was the land owner of Bukit Pasoh

See Tiang Kiat (grandson of See Boon Tiong - Boon Tiong Road named after him)

pic courtesy of Walter Lim

Main reference:

1) Song Ong Siang : One Hundred Years’ History of the Chinese in Singapore

2) A research on Singapore Kheng Teck Whay – David K Y Chng, Lim How Seng, Asia Culture 5, Apr 1985, 58 – 65

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Appendix 1

Zaobao.com 2 Apr 2010 by Xie Yan Yan

The heritage national monument “Keng Teck Building” which is desperately in need of

restoration and repair works, yesterday have a change of owner.

Keng Teck Whay, which was established in 1831, has transferred the ownership rights of Keng Teck building to

the Singapore Taoist Mission.

Taoist Mission will in turn need to raise $3.5 million of funds from the public, in order to start

work on this heritage building.

The Preservation of Monuments Board expressed their agreement to the transfer of ownership, and

will help the new owner utilize existing financing schemes available, such as the National Monument

Fund and Donation Tax Exemption scheme etc, in order to help the restoration work.

Keng Teck Building is like Thian Hock Keng a gazetted monument, although it was gazetted as early as 1977 as a

National Monument, but the lack of funds hamper its restoration work. The last few years, the old pagoda is being supported by wooden planks and

iron frames, and the building is looking more and more in danger of collapsing as the time goes by.

Taoist Mission President Master Lee Ziwang and three management committe members of Keng

Teck Whay together with two trustees, yesterday signed the transfer deeds at the lawyer’s office.

At the closing ceremony of Taoism Day Festival last night, Master Lee made this announcement to the

500 plus audience.

As the new owner, Taoist Mission immediate task is to source the $3.5 million funds for the restoration

works. Actually Master Lee informed Zaobao that they have started the funding campaign much

earlier, but so far has collected less than $500,000

For the transfer of the ownership, Taoist Mission will give a token compensation to Keng Teck Whay,

which Master Lee did not disclose the actual amount. Master Lee hope to start work half a year

later, and finish the restoration work in 2 years’ time.

Keng Teck Whay was established 12 years after Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore, and is the

oldest Chinese merchant mutual aid association. This low key and secret organization was first

established by 36 Malaccan Chinese businessman and in the early begnning only allowed entry to

male descendents of the founding members.

Keng Teck Whay has stood next to Thian Hock Keng for nearly 170 years, and is Keng Teck Whay ancestral hall

Keng Teck Whay Chairman Chua Sian Kay revealed that besides Taoist Mission, both Singapore

Hokkien Association and developer Teo Xiao Tong and his group of friends were also interested to take

over Keng Teck Building, but at an AGM, a majority of members decided to let Taoist Mission to take over.

Chua said that as they have lack of funds for the restoration work to this National Monument which has

danger of collapsing if no restoration work is done soon, they have started to find a new owner 2 years ago.

Although Keng Teck Whay has close association with Thian Hock Keng and Chong Wen Gu, but the

reason revealed by Chua that Hokkien Association is not the take over party is that both parties did not agree on the token transfer fee.

Chua said that actually they first ask Hokkien Association, but they were not interested in the

beginning, and only latter did they changed their minds and submit a detailed proposal, which

unfortunately was rejected by Keng Teck Whay members.

As for not accepting Developer Teo proposal, it was because the developer wanted to change the usage

of the building and convert it into an art and healthy living centre, and not a place for deity and ancestral

worship, which goes contrary to Keng Teck Whay mission.

According to the understanding by this newspapers, Tan Clan Association was also

interested to the take over, but they will too late to contact with Keng Teck Whay, whose AGM in

March has sealed the decision.

Taoist Mission has taken over Keng Teck Building and now sourcing for funds for the restoration work

Pic courtesy of Victor Yue

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Has this broken the No Lady Allowed Upstairs Taboo?

The usually closed Keng Teck Building will now be opened to the public and worshippers once Taoist

Mission take over.

Keng Teck Whay has always forbid women to go up to the 2nd storey to worship the Jade Emperor, but will the Taoist Mission allow women to

worship and visit the shrine upstaris?

Master Lee Ziwang said that he need to discuss with his management about this matter and also

consult the deity before making a decision. As for any change of name to Keng Teck Building, he said

that he has not made any decision, but even if there is a change, at least the ‘Keng Teck” name will be preserved.

As Keng Teck building has limited land space, not even a toilet, Master Lee hope to get a lease from

URA to rent the back of Keng Teck Building, and develop a Tao Theology and Cultural Centre there.

Keng Teck Whay Chua informed the press that for the next 5 years after Taoist Mission take over, they will still let Keng Teck Whay

members come on 5 occasions for worship activities (Shang Yuan, Zhong Yuan, Xia Yuan, Qing Ming and Dong Zhi)

Currently the ground floor of Keng Teck Building house the San Guan Da Di, the 2nd storey the Jade

Emperor, while the 3rd storey did not house any deity.

Taoist Mission is considering whether to house any new deity on the 3rd storey.

Master Lee said that they will start restoration works along with the sourcing of funds, especially

since some parts are in danger of collapsing.

For those who want to contribute to the restoration fund, please contact Taoist Mission at 62956112

Preservation of Monument Board told the press that they did not object to Taoist Mission taking

over Keng Teck Building as the mission and objective of Taoist Mission is clear, and they want

to restore this monument.

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Keng Teck Whay, Thian Hock Keng and Chong Wen Ge

Keng Teck Whay has an earlier history than Thian Hock Keng, but from historical background, all

three of them can be said to belong to one another. Some founders of Keng Teck Whay were important

members of Thian Hock Keng and Chong Wen Ge, and Keng Teck members like Tan Oo Long is Tian Hock

Keng Board Member Tan Tock Seng brother, Liang Zhan Yuan was the General Manager of Thian Hock

Keng and also architectural contractor of Chong Wen Ge. and Hong Jun Cheng was the assitant

manager of Chong Wen Ge etc

According to Lin Xiao Sheng article : Keng Teck Whay, Chinese Business Mutual Aid Co-operation and Operations, many founders of Keng Teck Whay were from Malacca. These businessman came during the early pioneering days to invest and trade.

As those were uncertain times, so they decided to set up a mutual aid association to take care of each other families and welfare in case of business failures or other mishaps.

There were 20 surnames among the 36 founding members , but all of them were from the Fujian Zhangzhou Qianzhou Region. Like the 3 sworn brothers in the 3 kingdoms period, they also swore in front of the San Quan Da Di as sworn brothers.

That should any of their sworn brothers’ families were to land themselves into difficulties later on, this Keng Teck Whay will come to the rescue and contribute to the livelihood of the affected family.

Keng Teck Building should be built not long after Thian Hock Keng was built. Keng Teck Building and Chong Wen Ge are like the East and West Pagodas of Thian Hock Keng.

Thian Hock Keng and Chong Wen Ge are currently the properties of Hokkien Assoication whereas Keng Teck Building belong to Keng Teck Whay

Translated by Raymond Goh

Reference : Xie Yan Yan, “Taoist Mission to take over Keng Teck Building,” Lian Hup Zao Bao, 2 Apr 2010

Let my legacy continue beyond 3 generations

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 06:11:00 -0400

There is a Chinese saying 富不过三代 – that is riches or legacy does not pass 3 generations.

What it implies is that if the descendants does not treasure what the ancestors left behind, usually the wealth will dissipate after a few generations.

It is also a reminder to the descendants to treasure, safeguard and if possible expand upon what the ancestors has left behind. Sometimes people will try to break

this saying by ensuring that fortune will pass down the generations, even pass the 3rd generation.

——

It was the year 1982.

An obituary notice was published in the Straits Times for a grand old lady who died at the age of 91.

Few people at that time knew this lady was tied to the tides and fortunes of a prestigious family going back all the way a hundred years ago….a Pineapple King

Tan Tye came from Hokkien Tong Ann. Born in 1839, he came to Nanyang Singapore in 1860 when he was just 21 years old and in Singapore, he managed to start the timber business, in addition

he had big rubber and pineapple plantations.

Tan Tye – the pineapple king

Pineapple is a suitable cash crop to be grown along side rubber, as rubber trees take 5 years to mature, whereas pineapples only 2 years to bear fruits.

Most plantation owners would plant pineapples besides rubber, making Singapore one of the major exporters of canned pineapples in the world. Many Singapore pioneers

like Tan Kee Peck (Tan Kah Kee’s father), Lim Nee Soon and Tan Tye made their fortunes through the pineapples industry at that time.

More reading on pineapples : http://www.a2o.com.sg/a2o/public/html/etc/11_Pineapple.htm

In fact Tan Tye was so well known for his canned pineapples, that people called him the Pineapple King.

He owned land near Clarke Quay and has a pineapple canning factory there. He also donated land there to the government to build warehouses, hence today, there is a street Tan Tye Place near Clarke Quay named after him.

One of his famous brand of canned pineapples was the Istana Brand, which he managed together with his sons Lian Swee, Lian Boh and Lian Chye

Istana Brand Pineapples by Tan Tye & Sons (Pic source: Occupation, Published by Hokkien Huay Kuan 2008)

Tan Tye with 2 of his sons Lian Boh and Lian Chye (Photo credit: Pat Lin)

In 1878, he was one of the 4 assistant directors of the Tan Si Chong Su Tan Clan temple. Towards the end of the 19th century, he also donated funds to the Qing Government and was awarded a 4th ranking official title.

Hin Choon & Co, Preserved Pineapple Factory
35 Sumbawa Road (Victoria Road junction)
Pic source : Lee Kip Lin collection nl.sg

Hin Choon & Co was set up by Lian Boh and Lian Chye in 1906. Tan Tye eldest son Lian Swee established Lian Choon at Stamford Road junction,

Lian Choon pineapples was also very famous. Lian Chye also bought large pieces of land to cultivate rubber and pineapple, near Kranji and Jurong.

1900 – 1905 – pineapples in Boat Quay to be transported to canning factories

Pic source : a2o. com.sg

From ST : Tan Tye died in Singapore on Jul 22, 1898; his estate was a large one; the will was of somewhat complicated character, and he has, as so many gentlemen of Chinese race seem, particularly in the past, anxious to do tied up his property in such a way that the distribution is to be delayed until the last possible moment. He was twice married, and had children of both sexes by both wives; he also had a mistress by whom he had a child; and he also adopted certain sons; in addition to this he had brothers whose sons, his nephews, also benefitted under his will.

It was stated that the Tan Tye clogged the distribution of his property until the expiration of 21 years from the death of the survivor of such of his children and grandchildren and certain named nephews as should be living at testator’s death.

The tomb of Tan Tye. He was buried somewhere near Upper Pierce Reservoir

A close up of his tombstone reveals his 5 sons and 3 daughters.

Tomb of Tan Tye showing his 4th rank Qing Dynasty title and his children

His blood sons included Lian Swee, Lian Boh and Lian Chye.

However, sometime before 1970s, his tomb was raided by tomb raiders. The descendants then decided

to shift his remains to a smaller tomb near by.

The smaller tomb whereby Tan Tye’s actual remains were kept.

On 20 Nov 1918, the mother of Lian Boh and Lian Chye died and was buried at Hokkien Huay Kuan near Bukit Brown Cemetery

On 30 Nov 1965, 2 of his daughters’ graves nearby was affected by redevelopment, and the tombs were exhumed

and reinterred at Hokkien Huay Kuan Cemetery as well

One of the daughter of Tan Khin Neo, Chee Gim Geok, together with other administrators of the deceased, gave consent for the exhumation.

Soon, it was Tan Tye’s turn to be exhumed.

An exhumation notice was published in The Straits Times, 31 May 1993, Page 26

EXHUMATION NOTICE THE GRAVE OF “TAN TYE”

3 days later, Tan Tye’s trustee British and Malaya Trust (BMT) became aware of the exhumation notice of the exhumation and immediately commenced legal action to prevent the exhumation

The case went all the way to the Court of Appeal, presided by CJ Yong Pung How but BMT lost the case in 1999 and Tan Tye’s tomb was exhumed. BMT has lost the grave land that they were entrusted

to keep by Tan Tye through an unfortunate string of events pertaining to sale and resale of the plot of land one part of which contained Tan Tye’s grave.

Tan Tye grave was original situated in a lot of approx 4 acres of land and the surrounding land including this grave land in 1971 was to be sold and the grave land resold and conveyed back to

BMT. The land was soon resold again and involved more parties including a bank and BMT, the trustee never got back the grave land.

————————

Back to Tan Tye’s will. At the time of Tan Tye’s death, there was a young girl who was his granddaughter named Chee Gim Geok. She was the administrator who exhumed her mother grave

Tan Khin Neo in 1965. She was the youngest grandchild of Tan Tye’s will.

As Tan Tye has stated that his property can only be divided 21 years after the death of the last surviving grandchildren, so when Chee Gim Geok died in 1982, Tan Tye’s vast property

can only be divided in 2003.

And the property can only be divided among his male descendants, but not to adopted sons nor women folk.

More than 50 people laid claim to his property in 2003, but in 2004 May 21, , the high court decided that only 16 of his descendants qualify, these 16 have descended from his

3 blood sons. At that time, his property was worth some $70 million, and each descendant could get around 4 million dollars.

Two of Tan Tye’s sons Tan Lian Boh and Tan Lian Chye are currently buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery.

Tomb of Tan Lian Boh – LTA Stake No 1872. Tan Lian Boh’s tomb was exhumed recently in

preparation for LTA highway project cutting across Bukit Brown.

Tan Lian Boh is also the founder of Xiao Tao Yuan (Little Peach Garden), an entertainment club whereby intellectuals would gather and discuss about political and other issues.

According to a local researcher Walter Lim (http://bukitbrowntomb.blogspot.sg/),

Tan Lian Chye and Teo Eng Hock once wrote to the British Consul in Shanghai to help rescue Zhang Tai Yan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Binglin)

and Zou Rong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zou_Rong) in the 1903 Subao case which shocked the world, writing under the auspices of this club Xiao Tao Yuan.

The Subao case marks the moment in Chinese history when the radicals who called for the end of dynastic governance and the creation of a democracy split

from the reformers who sought creation of a constitutional monarchy and was also a turning point in China’s constitutional order, helping to publicize and popularize the cause of constitutional change

Reference : http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1825954

As for Tan Lian Chye (also known as Tan Chor Nam), his tomb still remains at Bukit Brown.

Tan Lian Chye was one of the pioneers of the local branch of Tong Meng Hui, which helped Sun Yat Sen to overthrow the Qing Government

Pic of Tan Lian Chye sitting next to Sun Yat Sen

Tan Lian Chye, his wife and two relatives in Bukit Brown, his mother and his two sisters’ tomb nearby may be affected by later development slated for Bukit Brown and its surrounding area.

Tan Tye has a vision, to let his legacy survive beyond 3 generations so much so that he left an unusual will.

The tombs of Bukit Brown tell the story of many Singaporeans who helped to build up Singapore and some even play great roles beyond the little red dot of Singapore.

Let the legacy enshrined in Bukit Brown remain in time to come

A House for the Wees

Thu, 17 May 2012 06:48:00 -0400

Along Neil Road facing Singapore General Hospital, lies a row of houses that tell the architecture, history and heritage of an era gone by.

One of these houses has been restored by a donation by Ms Agnes Tan, the last surviving daughter of the late Tan Cheng Lock.

This donation was given to the University to acquire a traditional Peranakan house along Neil Road belonging to the Wees,

that tell a story that span 6 generations.

On a nice evening on May 15, 2012, a group of Bukit Brown volunteers met up in front of this house, to get a glimpse of this history and perhaps

find any connection between this house and Bukit Brown.

Front view of the house at Neil Road, formerly 56-13 Neil Road, now 157 Neil Road, popularly known as Baba House

A guide explaining to Bukit Brownies the history and heritage of Baba House. The lanterns displayed The Wee Residence

and the Qing Dynasty title of the Wee ancestors.

Taken from Song Ong Siang 100 Year History:

A firm that was rapidly becoming prominent in Singapore in the 1860’s was Wee Bin & Co. chop Hong Guan in Market Street. This firm carried on business as Merchants and Shipowners, owing its existence to Mr. Wee Bin, who was born in China in 1823. The firm at first began business relations with various houses in Bali in the Dutch Indies, and eventually became the greatest importer of products from that port. The firm also traded in all kinds of earthenware, and later on built up a fleet of over twenty vessels for the Chinese and Dutch Indies trade. Mr. Wee Bin led a strenuous life, devoting all his time, attention and energy to his rapidly expanding business. He was twice married and died in 1868 at the age of 45, leaving an only son, Wee Boon Teck, and an only daughter (Wee Chee Ha) who became the wife of Lim Ho Puah.

Wee Boon Teck materially improved and strengthened the position of the firm of Wee Bin & Co. and died on the 22nd September 1888 at the comparatively early age of 38. He was on the Committee of Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Po Leung Kuk. He was a man of a kindly and charitable disposition, a notable instance being his gift of $4,000 to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which bequest was invested by Government for some twenty years and was then applied towards the cost of building one ward bearing his name in the present Hospital in Moulmein Road.

The firm of Wee Bin & Co continued its prosperous career in the hands of Wee Siang Tat (the only son of Mr. Wee Boon Teck), and of Lim Ho Puah. Wee Siang Tat died at the age of 26 in the year 1901. He was very fond of music and was one of the original members of the musical section of the Chinese Philomathic Society-consisting of about a dozen young Straits Chinese who for a few years met regularly for practice on the violin under the tuition of Mr. Salzmann at ” Siam House,” the residence of the late Mr. Tan Kim Ching, on North Bridge Road.

——————————

Wee Boon Teck married Ang Cheng An Neo, and other than Wee Siang Tat, he had 2 other daugthers, Wee Guat Kim, who married Lee Choon Guan, and Wee Guat Choo, who married Lim Peng Siang to be his second wife. Lim Peng Siang’s father have earlier married Wee Boon Teck’s sister.

Ang Cheng An Neo died on 18 Jan 1920 at 56-13 Neil House at the age of 68.

Wee Siang Tat married Ho Sok Choo Neo, daughter of Ho Yang Moh. Ho Sok Choo Neo was born in 1874, of similar age to Wee Siang Tat.

Wee Siang Tat also married another wife Goh Boh Tan and they later have a son Wee Eng Cheng. Wee Siang Tat also adopted a son Wee Eng Wan and another daughter Wee Boo Lat.

In 1888, Ang Cheng An Neo became a widow and lost her son Siang Tat in 1901 and so that year 1901, her daughter in law Ho Sok Choo Neo too became a widow. Ho Sok Choo Neo became the administrator of the huge estate of Wee Siang Tat which include many properties all over Singapore.

In Mar 1910, both Ang Cheng An Neo and Ho Sok Choo Neo bought back some of the late Wee Siang Tat properties which was under auction.

http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=singfreepressb19100323.2.69&sessionid=3e35670db5374286b1c2ac6db3648adf&keyword=%22ho+seok+choo+neo%22&token=ho%2cchoo%2cneo%2cseok

It was during this time that they bought the house at Neil road 56-13 to become the ancestral worship house for the Wee family cum living house.

Just a year earlier in 1909, Ho Sok Choo Neo has married Tan Moeng Tho, a prominent Chinese businessman who has mines in Bangka and rubber plantation in Malacca. He was also a prominent Tong Men Hui supporter.

In 1908, the grandmother of Lim Peng Chin, Tan Kiam Neo died in 28 Killiney Road. Tan Kiam Neo was the mother of Lim Ho Puah, who was the son-in-law of Wee Bin. So 28 Killiney Road at that time was the home belonging to the Lim family, although Lim Ho Puah himself stayed at 40 Neil Road.

Sometime later both Ho Sok Choo Neo and her new husband Tan Moeng Tho, moved in to 28 Killiney Road. Their first son was born sometime in 1912 in that house.

Ang Cheng An Neo, and Wee Siang Tat other children including Wee Eng Cheng moved in to their new premises at 56-13 Neil Road.

The front reception hall would house Guan Kong, a military wealth god, Mazu, the Sea Goddess. Guan Kong is often prayed to aid in business, and Mazu protect the livelihood of those who earn their living via the sea.

Behind the front room were the ancestral hall, which housed the portraits of the Wee ancestors, such as Wee Bin, Boon Teck and their wives.

There was also the ancestral tablets of Wee Boon Teck and Wee Siang Tat together with their Qing Dynasty titles including 正五品奉政大夫.

Unfortunately Tan Moeng Tho died in 1919 at the age of 45, but not before Ho Sok Choo Neo has given him 4 sons and 2 daughters.

One of the daughters Wee Boon Lat was actually adopted daughter of Wee Siang Tat, which then changed name to Tan Swee Eng.

During Boon Lat marriage, she even spent $30,000 on it, a princely sum in those days.

Ang Cheng An Neo died in 1920 at the age of 68. She left her two daughters and two famous son-in-laws Lee Choon Guan and Lim Peng Siang and her grandson Wee Eng Cheng.

Her ancestral tablet was also put in the ancestral hall.

It was under this time and situation in the year 1923, that the current Baba house is based and reconstructed upon.

One must remember that during this era, unmarried nyonya ladies are not supposed to go out to the streets and meet people openly. In fact, when Singapore Chinese Girl School was started in 1899, Dr Lim Boon Keng and Song Ong Siang have to persuade very hard the parents to allow the girls to go to school. In the beginning, they have to be conveyed to the school in sedan chairs and not allowed to be seen. For during that period, the nyonya place was at home, and whether or not she can find a good husband depend on lot on her handicraft and culinary skills.

Perhaps only once a year (on the 16th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, 15th being for the man), the ladies would be allowed out of the house. Even then, they have to be in the sedan chairs.

Some of them would even go to the temple to pray, like the temple at Telok Ayer Street. And at the time, there would be several rows of chairs, reserved for the grandmothers to sit in. And it is these grandmothers who with their eyes, will carefully screen these nyonyas as potential brides for their families. After enquiring about the background of these nyonyas, a matchmaker will be sent.

This matchkeeper will also study the potential bride , from the way she serve tea and include a visit to the kitchen as well. (Interview with Gwee Peng Kwee. National Oral Archives)

(So In this Baba house, one can see a peep hole in the 2nd storey of the house, to observe the visitors of the house. There was also a big nice kitchen in this house)

Unfortunately Wee Eng Cheng died on May 8, 1928 at the age of 34. He have lived on the 3rd floor of the Baba house before he died.

Tomb of Wee Eng Cheng in Bukit Brown. His wife Ang Ping Neo died just a year after he died, leaving behind

an infant son and a daughter. Both Mr and Mrs Wee tombs were staked by LTA for the proposed highway project.

Wee Eng Cheng infant son Seck Hock (name inscribed on the tomb) passed away in Baba house in 1971, at the age of 54.

Lim Peng Siang died in 1944 and Wee Guat Neo, Wee Boon Teck daughter, died in 1950.

Wee Guat Neo tomb in Bukit Brown Cemetery. Lim Peng Siang was originally buried in Bukit Brown in 1944, but a few years later was exhumed and his ashes

brought back to China in accordance to his will

Ho Sok Choo Neo now Mrs Tan Moeng Tho, also donated sometimes to school under her own name and also her late husband Wee Siang Tat name for example she donated

$5000 under her own name and Wee Siang Tat name to Singapore Chinese Girl School, the school in appreciation named 2 classroom after them in 1925.

In 1919, Ho Sok Choo Neo became a widow again. But not for long.

In Feb 1928, Ho Sok Choo Neo married for the 3rd time, this time to Paul Wee Siak Leng who have earlier been divorced by his wife in High Court in Nov 1925.

However, this marriage did not last long, for they published a notice in ST on Jan 17, 1929 that they are separated.

On 4 Jun 1932, Wee Siak Leng remarried again.

On 18 Sep 1931, Sep 18, Ho Sok Choo Neo died at the age of 57. She was buried at the Hakka Cemetery off Holland Road, whereby her second husband Tan Moeng Tho whom

she reared 6 children was also buried.

Today both the reburied tombs of Ho Sok Choo Neo and Tan Moeng Tho stood side by side among one of the neat tidy rows of tombs in Ying Foh Kuan Shuang Long Shan Hakka Cemetery for Tan Moeng Tho, her husband had originated from Jiaying county, a Hakka county.

Pic of Ho Sok Choo Neo (from family portraits from the Lee Brothers Studio)

As noted by a Peranakan culture expert Norman Cho, she was wearing kerosangs made of huge solitaries of rose-cut

diamonds called Intan that spelt out the monogram of her name Ho Sok Choo : HSC.

Although her life was clouded by controversies including various law suits concerning her administration of her late husbands various estates, she lived a merry and

wealthy life and dared to live and love.

—————-

In the front façade of the Baba house, on both sides were written the Chinese Characters : 朝乾夕惕, which means to work hard and diligent throughout the day without carelessness or sloppiness.

And the signboard in front of the house : 種盛 – Abundance arising from planting / growing

There is also a pair of phoenix of the cut and molded ceramic type known as “jian nian”, found on the roof of the ground floor.

http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=2772

There are also many beautiful wall decorations inside this house of Wee, including that of Guo Ziyi, who was much blessed with wealth, happiness and descendants in his life, so much

so that he was later immortalized as the God of Wealth and Happiness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guo_Ziyi

There was also the wall panel of Zhang Zhong Yi (578 to 676 CE), and his recipe of a family staying together for 9 generations.

http://baike.baidu.com/view/1163129.htm

It was said that the Tang Emperor at that time paid him a visit to learn of his secret of staying and living together, generations after generations, he just said:

“I am an ordinary man with no special talent, but I was taught from young from my ancestors:

Be sincere and treat people with a humane and lenient heart with love and compassion, and above all, just remember one word : be tolerant.

With that, he wrote out down the character “忍” – Tolerance a hundred times.

Today the house of Wee and the tombs relating to the Wee family found in Bukit Brown Cemetery and the Hakka Cemetery stand testimony to the celebrations and tribulations of life.

The one single word for family togetherness that applies a thousand years ago still applies today to family and matrimonial harmony : tolerance

—————————

References:

Newspapers archives

National Oral Archives

One Hundred Year History of the Chinese in Singapore

http://singaporetmh.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_14.html

And the music plays on

Sun, 06 May 2012 12:18:00 -0400

A malay metaphor tak kenal maka tak sayang (not knowing without loving it)

describes well a person who cannot understand or appreciate dondang sayang - he probably

does not know anything about it.

What actually is dondang sayang?

It is a form of traditional singing popularised in Malacca in the early 19th century, particularly among the Baba Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese)

The word dondang means singing, and sayang is love. Taken in its Malay context, dondang sayang is mengulit kasih (lullaby)

One significant characteristic of dondang sayang is that it must be sung in the form of pantun (quatrains or old fashioned 4 verse poems) to ensure its entertaining effect.

It is claimed that the pantun in dondang sayang depicts the courtesy, fine thoughts and emotions of the Malay.

According to Malay historical records, dondang sayang was originally a song in itself with its own melody and rhythm. It was introduced in the 12th century by Princess Wan Benai of BIntan in the Riau islands.

During the reign of the Malay Sultanate in 1377, dondang sayang was brought by the womenfolk who migrated to

Malacca where it was immediately embraced by the people there.

In later years, it was refined with the introduction of music to accompany the singing. The musical instruments then consisted of a rebab, rebana and tendawak, all are different types of Malay drums.

The Portuguese rule in Malacca in 1511 added the violin and later, the accordion, both Western musical instruments to the list.

Because of its past history, dondang sayang has Chinese, Persian, Portuguese and Middle East influences.

The development of dondang sayang went into a serious phase in 1870 with a version embracing the Malays, Baba Peranakan and the Indian Chettiars in Malacca. It was mainly performed at weddings and other native festivals.

In Singapore one of the most active dondang sayang groups is the Persatuan Gunong Sayang established by a group of Baba Peranakan in 1910 at Ceylon Road, Katong.

Prime movers of the group include Mr Boon Kim Yew, 67, William Tan 60. The late Gwee Peng Kwee was also a prime mover of this group.

extracted from ST 7 Jun 1988, pg 7

William Tan who plays a nonya Alice Wee in the play Tidak Berdosa

ST file picture

ST File picture

Prominent members of the Association include Koh Hoon Teck, a well-known dondang sayang singer and a founding member of the Association in 1910.

As a pantun expert, it had been one of Koh’s wishes that dondang sayang should be sung at his funeral. Upon his death in 1956, his family members and close friends accordingly arranged for a “pantun party” at his gravesite in Bukit Brown cemetery.

Kalau pergi rumah Che Nona,

Petik kan saya se-biji delima,

Dunia bukan kita punya,

Asal manusia pulang ke-tanah.

English Translation

If you go to Nona’s house,

Do get for me a pomegranate,

This world is not ours forever,

From earth we came to earth we return.

G T Lye, a nephew of Koh Hoon Teck, and son of Gwee Peng Kwee, recited the same pantun that was said when Koh Hoon Teck died in 1956, and recounted stories of the Koh Hoon Teck’s death and social circles.

The following pantun appeared in Vol 1, pg 42-43 of Koh Hoon Teck’s book, Panton Dondang Sayang Baba Baba Pranakan

Brapa tinggi pokok pisang

Tinggi lagi asapan api

Brapa tinggi gunong Laydang

Tinggi lagi harapan hati

No matter how high the banana plant is

Smoke is even higher

No matter how high Mt Ledang is

My hope is even higher

————————————-

Gwee Peng Kwee

Berita Harian file picture, 11 May 1980

Gwee Peng Kwee was born on 24 Aug 1901 in New Bridge Road.

His father Gwee Eng Chuan, has 4 sons and 2 daughters. Peng Kwee was the eldest

His father Gwee Eng Chuan, passed away in 1914 when he was 42, leaving behind a widow Song Chwee Neo.

When Eng Chuan died, Chwee Neo got a gratutity of $2000 to raise a family of 6 children.

His uncle Koh Hoon Teck took them to live in Chin Swee Road. It was then that Gwee Peng Swee was first exposed to Dondang Sayang.

In 1915, Gwee left school and start to work with his relative in the rubber store.

As for Song Chwee Neo, she would go to relatives’ houses and try to sell a few things, dresses and other things.

She was able to supplement the family budget in this way.

In 1922, Gwee Peng Kwee joined a Literary Club. Classes were conducted by Song Ong Siang, and it was from Song Ong Siang that he learnt a lot of English under him.

Gwee was to get married in 1927.

Mr. Gwee Peng Kwee (centre right) and his Peranakan or Straits Chinese bride (centre left), both dressed in traditional Qing dynasty style (1644-1911) first-day wedding robes, flanked by a young flower girl and a young pageboy at 27 Cuppage Road on 15 January 1927. Taken from book Communities of Singapore : a catalogue of oral history interviews., page 55-1

Gwee Peng Kwee only staying in Koh Hoon Teck’s house in Chin Swee Road for 1 year before moving elsewhere.

In 1940, they moved to Carpmael Road in 1940. One evening after his dinner in 1941, he was taking a walk and started to hear music. Yes it was Dondang Sayang, and a song he liked very much.

And then he met his uncle Koh Hoon Teck in the Club.

From there, he learnt from the pantun master Koh Hoon Teck, and soon became recognised as an expert himself.

‘I was at a wedding party with the dondang sayang players and I was invited to sing. A Malay gentleman agreed to start the singing and another from the party must reply. He directed himself at me: “Encik nyanyi dulu. Saya jawab.”

‘I was struck, I blushed. The music was playing and the audience urged me to reply. It was shameful. The Malay gentleman was asking:

Baba pandeh, saya tanya:
Bulan berjalan, mana kaki-nya?
(Baba is clever, so I ask of you:
The moon moves but where are its legs?)

‘I answered:
The moon moves not a length of padi,
The clouds move, the world revolves;
The moon moves through the power of God
The snake crawls, where are his feet?’

So profound an answer was given that soon Gwee’s formidable reputation as a stylish pantun composer grew.

Taken from http://peranakan.org.sg/culture/culture-thearts/the-romantic-master-of-dondang-sayang-gwee-peng-kwee/

On May 31, 1943, the woman who bought up 6 children, Song Chwee Neo died. Some of her sons became guardians of Peranakan culture, and Gwee Peng Kwee became

the champion of Dondang sayang. William Tan was to acknowledge repeatedly that Gwee Peng Kwee was his mentor.

William Tan Wee Liam (1928 - 2009).
We will miss the sweet soothing voice of Baba William Tan. Among his contributions to the cultural scene of the Baba community were the three plays he directed: Buang Keroh Pungut Jernih (1985), Biji Mata Mak (1989) and Tak Sangka (1990); the sessions he conducted for the members of the Gunong Sayang Association; and the collaborations with authors on the Peranakan Chinese culture.
Performing with Baba William Tan was Nyonya Jessie Chiang and GT Lye.

Tomb of Song Chwee Neo in Bukit Brown Cemetery

The nyonya with a sweet smile. One of her sons Gwee Peng Gwee became the champion of Dondang Sayang.

Even during the occupation year in 1943 when life was difficult, he did not hesitate but to give her a good funeral and grand send off to Bukit Brown
where she was laid to rest, at a age of 70 years.

G loved her mother a lot, 15 years after she died, he still published in ST – In Memoriam.

Her grandson, William Gwee Thian Hock, wrote some books on Baba culture for example A Nyonya Mosaic: My Mother’s children and also a dictionary of Baba Malay.

Another grandson, G T Lye continues the tradition his father Gwee Peng Kwee has left behind.

G T Lye, ST file picture

27th April 2008, Peranakan Wedding by Peranakan Association, GT Lye, Terry Lim

Mr Gwee passed away in 1986 leaving behind about 7,000 handwritten pantuns, most of which were his own compositions, in specially bound volumes. The majority of the verses have not been published.

From: http://peranakan.org.sg/culture/culture-thearts/the-romantic-master-of-dondang-sayang-gwee-peng-kwee/

ST, 11 Nov 1982, Tigerish Art

Dr Thomas, who wrote a book : Like Tigers Around a Piece of Meat

If you are always sitting around worrying about losing, about whether people are going to laugh at you, you’re finished as a dondang

sayang singer.

9 generations down the road to Hong Lim Park

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:40:39 -0400

It must have been 37 years ago, around 1975. A friend of mine was browsing at an antique store when he came across an old ancestral tablet.

As it has a nice dragon carving, he managed to take a picture of it, although he did not bought it as the price the dealer asked was deemed too high.

Ancestral tablet

Back to current, last year, the government announced a highway project, cutting across a historic cemetery.

Among the 3746 affected tombs, one of the tomb bears a 2nd ranking official title, in Blk 4 Section C.

Nobody recognize who she was nor the children mentioned in the tomb initially.

Next to this mother tomb, was the tomb of a young boy.

Both were staked, tag no 2718 and 2719. Researchers were puzzled. The tombs were Qing dynasty tombs, relocated to Bukit Brown.

Do they belong to the Cheang family? Are any of the Cheang Hong Lim family members affected by the highway project?

Cheang Hong Lim family portrait

Cheang Hong Lim was believed to have at least 5 wives.

Cheang Hong Lim was also known to have bought titles for his family members, including his ancestors. For his ancestors, he bought

2nd ranking official titles for them. He was able to do so because of his great contribution to the Qing court.

His eldest son Cheang Jim Hean was born in 1873. In 1889 and 1896, with the help of his father, he managed to obtain a 2nd ranking official title.

Cheang Jim Hean has 2 wives. It is likely that one of his wife would have the 2nd ranking official lady title as well, especially if she is the first wife.

Upon detailed study of the picture of the ancestral tablet , one can see that it was the ancestral tablet of the Cheang Hong Lim family,

The tablet was made in 1881, and you can see Cheang Hong Lim 11 sons name and 3 daughters name there.

The ancestors’ name included Cheang Hong Lim deceased wife as at 1881, Hong Lim’s parents, grandparents and great grandparents’ names.

It was Cheang Hong Lim’s family ancestral tablet.

Later newspapers research shows that the two tombs 2718 and 2719 were indeed those of Cheang Jim Hean first wife and his son Kah Boe

Extracted from 100 years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore

“While the government was bringing in a Bill for compulsory education, it was announced that the Cheang Jim Hean free school in Havelock Road would be closed, on the 1st Jul, through lack of funds.

This school was funded by the late Cheang Hong Lim in the early 90’s just before his death, and was named after his son Jim Hean, who faithfully carried out the good work entrusted to him and maintained it as a free school for poor boys until his own death on the 19th Apr 1901. In 1897, more than 100 poor children attended this school, which cost their benefactor $1,200 a year to upkeep. His only daughter, Cheang Tew Muey, now a rich heiress, was an infant when he died; otherwise she might have the privilege of continuing the good work initiated by her grandfather. There were 216 free pupils on the registers when this institution had to be given up.”

Cheang Hong Lim himself has set up one of the earliest free school as far back as 1875,

and the no of boys on the register was 140 then. The principal subjects taught are Reading, Writing, Accounts,

translating English to the Vernacular dialects and vice vera, and boys of all creeds and denomination are gratuitously educated.

(ST, 7 Oct 1876)

A Chinese school in 1890s, Picture taken from National Archives of Singapore

Cheang Jim Hean first wife Mdm Lim would have died sometime in 1895, and left him a newly born son Kah Boe and a young daughter Kim Siok.

Mdm Lim died shortly after giving birth to Jim Hean only son Kah Boe

His second wife Khoo Ek Neo later give birth to a daughter Tew Muey.

Jim Hean himself died on 19 Apr 1901. He was only 28.

In early Feb 1907, when Kah Boe reached 12 years of age, his stepmother Khoo Ek Neo (Jim Hean second wife) had applied to court for an increase in maintenance allowance from $100 to $300 per month but the trustees of the estate (Jim Chuan and Jim Eng) had offered $150 in August, but the stepmother did not consider this sufficient.

The will of Jim Hean had provided $2000 for her and $2500 for her daughter Tew Muey, and the estate to Kah Boe.

During the case, the schedule of the monthly expenses was shown :

$60 for 2 teachers English and Chinese

$30 for clothing (considered too large by the judge)

$23 for pay of syce’s wage ($15 was the outside expenditure for a syce wage in Singapore, and no reason for employ of two syces, as there was only one horse)

She was already getting $199 a month from the rents of the property, in addition to the$100 previously granted by the court, and the trustees were willing to grant her another $50, making a total of $349, which was a ridiculous sum for the upkeep of such a child. The Lordship said that the stepmother was not entitled to apply the rents to the upkeep of the child, in addition to the sum given for that purpose, without authority of the trustees, but the latter should provide suitably for the education and care of the child. The case was adjourned for a week to allow production of other evidence.

Unfortunately it was during this adjournment that Kah Boe died.

The rich infant Cheang Kah Boe who died before he could inherit his father’s fortune

On 26 Feb 1907, when the court resumed, it was informed that Cheang Kah Boe has died the previous Saturday ie 23 Feb 1907 after an illness of only 3 days.

Finally the estate was passed to the infant Cheang Tew Muey, Jim Hean’s daughter, with Khoo Ek Neo being the administrator of the estate.

In 1929, Mdm Khoo Ek Neo donated $2000 in memory of her husband, Chean Jim Hean to the Tras Street Chinese kindergarten, established in 1921,

filling the need in the education of Chinese children in Singapore.

Cheang Jim Hean and his wife Khoo Ek Neo

Khoo Ek Neo died on 16 Oct 1961, at an old age of 87 years old

Jim Hean remains have been transferred earlier from Cheang Hong Lim family burial ground in Alexandra Road, and she prepared her tomb next

to him.

Meantime other Cheang Hong Lim’s family members are found to be in the path of the proposed highway and tagged by LTA.

Cheang Jim Huan’s tomb in Bukit Brown. He was the 8th son of Cheang Hong Lim

Jim Huan’s mother Mdm Chua (ie one of Cheang Hong Lim’s wives) was also tagged.

Both their tags 2728 and 2730 are not included in the exhumation list. So is Cheang Kah Boe’s tomb.

According to some researchers, hundred of numbers were omitted from the exhumation list. It was initially thought that these tombs were not readable and hence left out,

but a survey of some of these tombs found that they are indeed readable and surrounded by tagged tombs, ie they are not untagged due to the final alignment.

As the time ticked towards the exhumation deadline, researchers uncovered more tombs relating to Cheang Hong Lim’s family to be in the pathway.

The above is Cheang Kim Siok, daughter of Cheang Jim Hean, who died shortly after Cheang Hong Lim died in 1893.

Already tagged by LTA is another grand old dame.

Tomb of Mrs Cheang Jim Kheng, LTA tag no 1221

Grand old dame, Mrs Cheang Jim Kheng

A grand old dame, Mrs Cheang Jim Kheng (nee Mdm Tan Hong Neo), wife of 3rd son Jim Kheng of Cheang Hong Lim, is also found to be affected by

the highway project. She died at an old age of 84 years on 14.7.1956. Her husband Jim Kheng died earlier on 7 Jan 1939.

1862 tombstone of Cheang Sam Teo, father of Cheang Hong Lim. He had 4 sons, including Hong Lim and Hong Guan.

HONG LIM GREEN (NOW HONG LIM PARK) AND THE JUNCTION OF NEW BRIDGE ROAD/ NORTH CANAL ROAD. OCTOGONAL BUILDING ON THE RIGHT HAND CORNER IS THE FIRST STRAITS CHINESE RECREATION CLUB PAVILION.(C1900)

Till date, more than 30 family members of Cheang Hong Lim has been found buried in Bukit Brown, including his parents, his 4 wives, 8 children, and numerous other relatives.

At least 5 of them are now believed to be affected by LTA highway project.

The roots of Hong Lim runs deep into the very roots of the founding of Modern Singapore. The lives and times of this pioneering family

is deeply embedded and woven into Singapore history. Four generations are buried in Bukit Brown, and perhaps 9 generations down the road exist now.

Bukit Brown Cemetery stand testimony to their history engraved in tombstones, and the history of Singapore.

References:

1. 100 years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore

2. Newspapers archives

A Collection of Chinese Inscriptions in Singapore compiled by Tan Yeok Seong

http://bukitbrowntomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_30.html

Rediscovering the lost world in Bukit Brown -Oberon, Emerald Hill and the Family Roots of The Sage of Singapore

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:07:00 -0400

I am Lim Su Min, a retired doctor and grandfather to 5 children. I have identified 7 direct ancestors buried at Bukit Brown going back 5 generations for me, 7 generations for my grandchildren. My ancestors reposing at Bukit Brown include the parents and grandparents of Dr. Lim Boon Keng and Tan Tock Seng’s son and great grandson, Tan Kim Ching and Tan Boo Liat respectively.

Dr. Lim Boon Keng himself was buried at Bidadari, disintered and ashes at Mt Vernon.
Tan Tock Seng’s tomb cluster stands out along Outram Road. Tan Boo Liat is the father of my grandmother Polly Tan, and Tan Kim Ching is grandfather of Tan Boo Liat.

Into this alliance of two great families is the Seow connection. Mrs Seow Watt Chye is mother of my grandfather Seow Poh Leng;

Confused? Let me, Lim Su Min attempt to unravel for you my ancestry by sharing with
you personal stories on my heritage run to visit the tombs of my direct ancestors who are buried in Bukit Brown

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(below extracted from Lim Boon Keng – a life to remember –(by SHS and NLB)

Lim Boon Keng was a second-generation Straits-born Chinese. His grandfather Lim Mah Peng was born in Hai Teng District, Fujian Province, China. Lim Mah Peng arrived in Penang in 1839 and married a local-born Chinese lady. Their only son was Lim Thean Geow, who was born in Penang.

Shortly after Lim Thean Geow was born, Lim Mah Peng moved his young family to Singapore to work for Cheang Hong Lim. The elder Lim was a manager in Cheang’s liquor business. The family stayed in Telok Ayer Street. Lim Thean Geow attended school at Raffles Institution and he later also worked for Cheang Hong Lim in his opium business.

Tomb of Lim Mah Peng and his wife Mdm Khoo in Bukit Brown. They have 2 sons including Thean Geow and 2 daughters, including Jin Kim

Mdm Lim Jin Kim had married into the Yap family. She died in 1883 leaving a son and a daughter

Lim Boon Keng was born on 18 October 1869, the third son of Lim Thean Geow and his Malacca-born Chinese bride. He had two elder brothers, two younger brothers and four younger sisters. Lim lost his mother when he was about eight years old. His father then remarried and had another three daughters.

Mdm Soo. Lim Boon Keng’s mother’s tomb in Bukit Brown. She died when Boon Keng was only 8 years old

As soon as he was ready, Lim Thean Geow sent his son to study Confucian classics at a school established by the Hokkien Huay Kuan (Clan Association). He stayed there briefly before proceeding to the Government School at Cross Street where he began his studies in English.

Lim Boon Keng grandfather Lim Mah Peng died in 1879. Some time in 1885, when Lim was about 16 years old, his father also passed away. He had died of blood poisoning after a razor cut and no doctor could help him. Also, one of Lim’s brothers died at the age of 7 after falling off a chair. These two unfortunate accidents affected Lim deeply and he resolved to study medicine so he could save lives and heal the sick.

Lim Thean Geow’s tragic death affected Lim Boon Keng greatly and inspired him to be a doctor

As Lim Thean Geow was the family’s sole breadwinner, this brought untold hardships on the family. In all probability, Lim Boon Keng would have to leave school, find a job and help support the family. His school Raffles Institution headmaster Mr Hullett would have none of it. He called on Lim Thean Geow’s former employer, Cheang Hong Lim and got him to persuade Boon Keng’s grandmother (Mdm Khoo) to allow him to continue with his schooling.

Cheang Hong Lim’s tomb in Bukit Brown

In 1887, Lim Boon Keng sat for the Queen’s Scholarship examination and came in second after Song Ong Siang. As Song was underaged, Lim became the first Chinese in Singapore to win the Queen’s Scholarship. This enabled him to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Lim Boon Keng’s choice of medicine was apparently determined by the above two personal episodes.

In December 1896, Lim married Margaret Wong Tuan Keng, daughter of Wong Nai Siong of Foo-chow, China. Margaret was a refined, enlightened and well-educated woman who had visited England and America. She died in 1905, leaving four sons.

Margaret Wong Tuan Keng, the first Mrs Lim Boon Keng. She died in 1905.

Margaret Wong’s tomb in Bukit Brown. 4 sons’ names were inscribed in the tomb : Kho Seng, Kho Beng, Kho Leng and Kho Liau.(NB: She had been originally buried in the family burial ground located at Lim Boon Keng’s plantation at Alexandra Road in 1905 and on 10 Jun 1935 reburied in Bukit Brown Cemetery along with 6 other family members)

The eldest, Dr Robert Lim Kho Seng (1897-1969), was Minister of Health in the Nationalist Government of China until the outbreak of the civil war in 1948 when he resigned to become Professor of Physiology at the University of Illinois, U.S.A.

The second son, Francis Lim Kho Beng (d 1960), was a mechanical engineer. The third son, Walter Lim Kho Leng (1901-1942), was the manager of Ban Hin Lee Bank. His son Dr Lim Kok Ann (1920-2003) was also a Queen’s scholar and became a lecturer in the King Edward VII College of Medicine, Singapore. Dr Lim Kok Ann gained world-wide fame in 1957 when he isolated the flu virus at the height of an Asian influenza epidemic. His work on a vaccine brought the epidemic to a halt. Lim Boon Keng’s fourth son was John Lim Kho Liau.

On 4 April 1908, Lim married Grace Yin Pek Ha (1884-1972), sister of Dr. SC Yin. Grace was born on 1 July 1884 in Amoy, China. Before World War I, together with Mrs Lee Choon Guan and other ladies, she founded the Singapore Chinese Ladies’ Association. In 1938, she and other Chinese ladies started the Singapore Chinese Orphanage. She was made a Justice of the Peace in 1948. She died from a stroke on 20 August 1972 in Singapore at the age of eighty-eight.

Taken from the “Sage of Singapore” ST, 22 Oct 1984

In his 80 years of living, Dr Lim Boon Keng says that his “happiest memories” are those of his school days, in particular

of his old headmaster, Mr Hullet.

The thing that makes me ever mindful of dear Mr Hullett is his word of advice given to me when I left school and was on my way to study in England.

Mr Hullet said : You are a Chinese going to the West.

“Remember to respect yourself and do right. Never mind what other people, the rich and the influential may think of you.

As long as you do right and remain right, you will always be happy.

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Su Min grandfather was Siew Poh Leng.

Pic provided by Lim Su Min

Here you can see Seow Poh Leng with his 2nd wife Polly Tan

Pic provided by Lim Su Min

Polly Tan is the little sweet girl in the middle of this picture. She was the daughter of Tan Boo Liat, aged 10 in this picture.

You can also see Lillian Tan Luck Neo, who was the sister of Tan Boo Liat, and the first wife of Seow Poh Leng. She unfortunately died young at the age of 32,

and so Seow Poh Leng married Polly Tan, the niece of Tan Luck Neo. In the picture, Seow Poh Leng’s mother Yeo Boey Neo can also be seen. She was 60 at the time

when the photo was taken.

Tan Boo Liat was the great grandson of Tan Tock Seng and the grandson of Tan Kim Ching.

Tomb of Tan Boo Liat

Tomb of Tan Kim Ching at Bukit Brown

Yeo Boey Neo was also buried in Bukit Brown, she died in 1929

Lim Su Min & Stella Kon (great grandchildren) on the laps of Mr and Mrs Lim Boon Keng nee Mdm Grace Yin (photo Su Min)

Stella wrote “Emily of Emerald Hill” , which was derived from her experience of growing up in a Peranakan family in the 1950s.

Picture of Oberon taken from The Peranakan (Nyonya & Baba) Clan. It has since been demolished to give way to Emerald Mansion.

She grew up in the grand old house of Oberon, run by her grandmother Polly Tan. Seow Poh Leng had died during the Japanese war.

It portrays a world now lost, which survives in the memories of many people of her generation.

References:

Lim Boon Keng, A Life to Remember (by SHS and NLB)

Photos provided by Lim Su Min

Mass Graves in Bukit Brown : Where the Fallen Lie

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:48:00 -0400

This year is the 70th year anniversary for the fall of Singapore.

Do you know Bukit Brown was once a war cemetery? Thousands of bodies were dumped into communal trenches dug up in the early days before Singapore fell.

On 8 Dec 1941, Singapore woke up to the realities of war when the first bomb fell. Altogether 63 civilians were killed and another 133 injured.

The continued bombing made Singapore chaotic and martial law was declared on 30 Dec 41. Japanese troops engaged the defence force including the volunteer army on the

early days of Feb 1942

TWO WOMEN SIT IN FRONT OF A DAMAGED RICKSHAW AMONG RUBBLE & DEBRIS WAILING & CRYING FOR A DEAD CHILD

AFTER A JAPANESE AIR ATTACK - Date 3 Feb 42

Source : Australian War Memorial (AWM)

There were many dead from the bombing.

Initially, the unknown death were buried in pauper plots in Blk 4 Division 6

Soon, the number of deaths became more and even pauper burials were deem not feasible. Because of the increasing number of people killed during the Japanese invasion

disposal centres for Civilan Casulties were set up according to the Straits Times news published on 23 Jan 1942

23 Jan 1942 ST News:

Disposal Centres for Civilian Casualties Set Up

If any persons within the Municipal area of Singapore are killed by enemy action, the bodies of such persons

will be removed, where possible to mortuaries, for a few hours at most, where relatives or friends may claim and

arrange for their burial, if they so wish.

Persons who die from war injuries at the General Hospsital or bodies of persons found dead as a result of enemy action south of the Singapore River will be removed to the mortuary at the General Hospital, or if not there, to a temporary mortuary at the Great World, Kim Seng Road, the entrance gate of which is near the Kim Seng Road bridge.

Persons who died from war injuries at Tan Tock Seng’s Hospital, and persons found dead as a result of enemy action north of the Singapore River, will be removed to Tan Tock Seng’s Hosptial morturary, or if not there, to a temporary mortuary sited at the Clerical Union badminton hall, off Rangoon Road

Persons who die from war injuries at Kandang Kerbau Hospital will be moved to the mortuary at that hospital, or if not there, to the temporary mortuary at the Clerical Union badminton hall.

A Casualty Bureau has been established on 3rd flr, Fullerton Building, for the registration of Singapore civilan war casulties, dead and severely wounded, and to deal with any enquiries with reference thereto.

It is hoped that reference to the published lists will lead to the identification of casualties where in many cases identification has not been possible at the scenes of incidents. Finally, members of the public are reminded to make it a practice always to wear their identification discs.

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On 18 Jan 1942, the first communal trenches were dug up. A few were identified, the majority were nameless.

On 18

Up to the month of Jan 1941, many hundreds were already buried in such communal trenches.

Some were just mentioned skeletons, while some mention skeletons perhaps soldiers.

Bukit Brown Register mention skeletons (soldiers)

In the earlier entries, Singapore Municipal Commission lorries were mentioning trucking the unknown to the communal trenches

And also it was not predominantly Chinese, sometimes Malays were also buried in the trenches, although there was not many

Thousands of such entries were recorded in the burial registers, only a few bore names, majority were unidentified.

The last entry for the burial into communal trenches was in Feb 1946, a few months after the Japanese surrendered to Singapore.

There are 2 possible position of trenches pointed so far by the tombkeepers.

Possible trench below Blk 4 Div 6. Blk 4 Div 6 was where there were many pauper burials just before the Japanese occupation

This trench is mentioned by a 80 year old tombkeeper Mr Chua.

Raymond Goh interviewing 80 year old Mr Chua

He said that he was 9 years old at that time.

He saw lorries bringing the bodies to be dumped in this area, which he said consists of 2 to 3 big pits.

His parents has forbid him as a child then to play on this ground.

Possible trench at Blk 4 Section C

The other trench was pointed out by a Mr Leong, a caretaker who is the son of an old caretaker who is now 89 years old.

Mr Leong has heard his father and another old caretaker (father of Soh Hun Seng) mention that they saw lorries dumping the bodies into this pit and other similar surrounding pits

during the Japanese occupation years.

There was a lot of dead among the Dalforce, or the Singapore Overseas Chinese Anti Japanese Volunteer Army. During their engagement from 1 to 13 Feb 1942, it was believed many of them

died fighting the Japanese. As they were Chinese and Bukit Brown was the government cemetery at that time, it was possible that they were buried in Bukit Brown communal trenches at that

time.

80 year old Mr Chua also believed that there were Sook Ching Massacre taking place in Bukit Brown at that time.

He said that he believed the Japanese soldiers would have tied up the victims, shot them and dumped them into the pits which have been in use since then.

According to media reports, there were 35 places all over Singapore in which skeletal remains have been dug up.

Along Bukit Timah Road itself, pits contain Sook Ching massacre remains were found as follows: Bukit Timah 5 1/2 milestones 1 pit, Bukit Timah 6 milestones 3 pits, Bukit Timah 7 milestones 4 pits.

All together, a few thousand remains of these victims were collected in 606 urns and later placed in a burial chamber in the Civilian War Memorial in Beach Road.

As such, it is likely that these Sook Ching massacres would not be recorded if they were taken place in Bukit Brown. These are besides the thousands of unknown deaths recorded

in the Burial Register as being buried in communal trenches.

Indeed, Bukit Brown was a war zone and the British and the Japanese were

engaged in battle during 14-15 Feb 1942, just below the fall of Singapore, in Bukit Brown

A rendition of the Battle at Bukit Brown (National Library)

Indeed Jon Cooper, a battle archaeologist narrates about the unfamiliarity of the terrain in the night as the British troops retreated from the Japanese onslaught and head east within the Bukit Brown Cemetery to find safety. They were also unfamiliar with the very nature of a Chinese cemetery, “an alien environment for them,” and he narrates how men went missing. He hopes to find the missing bodies and understand the route they took. But the very terrain and gravestones also slowed down the Japanese advance.

Source: Battle at Bukit Brown : http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=1606

Urns being placed in the burial chamber at the Civilian War Memorial at Beach Road, unveiled on 15 Feb 1967

Source : 区如柏，《沦陷岁月》

LTA has just finalized the road alignment on their plans for a highway project running across Bukit Brown cemetery.

Unknown to them and most Singaporeans, but written in ink in burial records and testimonials of tombkeepers, thousands of war victims,

are buried in communal trenches in Bukit Brown Cemetery. 2 possible locations of these trenches which have been identified by the tomb keepers as communal trenches.

These communal trenches contain the remains of thousands of our war victims, including possible members of Dalforce, and our family members, relatives and friends during that time.

ST 16 Feb 1975: Remembering the dead after 33 years

It will be tragic if there is a highway going to be built, and if not careful, the highway might be built upon the bones of these war death, which means they may never rest in peace day by day the traffic pass through them.

I am sure this is not the way we want to remember their sacrifice, nor the way to commemorate the fallen.

Please watch this youtube video : Bukit Brown, where the Fallen Lie:

Written by Raymond Goh

Never Say Farewell

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:12:01 -0400

ST 15 May 1937

Leong Seng Ngian, passed away on 10 May 1937 at the age of 69.

He was at one time a racehorse owner besides being the proprietor of a large goldsmith’s

business established by his late father, one of the Chinese pioneers of early Singapore.

He married Mdm Chia Kim Chwee who died on 11 Dec 1970 at the age of 79 years old .

Both Mr Leong and Mdm Chia were buried in Blk 4, Section B in Bukit Brown Cemetery.

From the tomb inscription, we can see he has 5 daughters

Leong Seng Nyong – Mrs Ng Seng Choy

Leong Swi Nyong – Mrs Chia H K

Leong Toong Nyong – Mrs Phang Khin Cheung

Leong Pow Nyong – Mrs Wong Yew Loong

Leong Tinn Nyong

His eldest daughter Leong Seng Neo (Nyong) was married to Mr Ng Sen Choy, second son of Ng Seak Foon,

on 8 Jan (Sat) 1910 at 142 – 8 Orchard Rd

Ng Sen Choy was a man of many business interests, ranging from tailoring, banking and insurance.

He was also a man with a ready laugh, Shortly after he was rescued from a kidnap-shooting drama in 1957, he

was joking with reporters. He was on his way to Chung Khiaw Bank where he was vice chairman on Aug 29, 1957 when he was abducted at gun point half a mile from his home.

8 minutes later, a police car was chasing the kidnap vehicle. His wife, who was with him when he was kidnapped, had hurried home to dial 999. A gun battle in Lorong Melayu ended the kidnap plot. The thug named Lee Ah CHeong, wounded in the exhange of fire was hanged in Feb in 1959.

Penang born Ng came to Singapore before 1910 and started life by helping in his father mining business.

In Singapore, he founded the well known High St Tailor shop Wing Loong.

In a past, there was a Wing Loong Road near Upper Changi Road, named after his Tailor Shop

In 1932, Ng Seng Choy loaned his land at Wing Loong Road for a camp site to the Scout Association for camping needs and named it Purdy Camp
The cost of the rent : $1 per year.

Many Scouting veterans remembered their camping days at this very memorable site. This $1 rent / year continued for 21 years.

Ng Sen Choy also served as nominated Municipal Commissioner for 10 years before the second world war. He was also on the committee of various organisations including the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Advisory Committee, and was also a Justice of Peace.

Leong Seng Nyong

Leong Seng Nyong (86 yrs old) in 1978 ST file picture

ST 17 Sep 1940

Popular Chinese Double Wedding

One of the most fashionable Chinese double weddings in recent years was witnessed yesterday by more than 600 people of all nationalities, when the only son and daughter of Mr and Mrs Ng Sen Choy were married, Mr Jack Ng Hung Yik to Ms Suzanne Wong Sook Sen, daughter of Mr and Mrs Wong Pak Sham, and

daughter Ms Nice Chuen Chi to Mr Frederick Arthur Chua, an Assistant Official Assignee in Singapore, and son of Mr and Mrs Chua Yeow Kee.

Held in accordance with the reformed Chinese ritual, the marriage ceremonies at the Victoria Memorial Hall were conducted by Mr John Laycock, an old friend of the family.

Both brides wore gowns which were a blend of East and West.

For her wedding dress, Ms Nice Chuen Chi choose white velvet which was cut on classical lines with a high Chinese collar, long tight fitting sleeves and train.

The bride’s bouquet was of white roses and stephanotis and ferns.

Ms Nice Chuen Chi and her husband Mr F A Chua

She was attended by Ms Amy Laycock as bridesmaid and little Misses Juanita Lim and Doris LIm as flower girls. Ms Laycock wore a picture frock of white taffeta with a yolk of white lace, She carried a bouquet of white roses. Her headdress was a wreath of white gardenias.

Ms Leong T N, matron of honour, wore a Shanghai gown of green silk.

Ms Wong Sok Sen chose gold and silver brocade for her wedding dress which was also cut on classical lines.

The gown with its high Chinese collar and long close fitting sleeves, had a long train lined with gold lame. The flowing tulle veil, with its ruched halo, formed a background for a tiny wreath of orange blossom.

The bride also carried a sheaf of white gladioli. In her bridal retinue were Ms Elsie Wong, bridesmaid, and the Misses Wong, flower girls. They were all dressed in white taffeta picture frocks and carried posies of white gardenias, Their headdresses were large bows of white taffeta.

The matron of honour Mrs S Y Ng, wore a Chinese dress of blue silk.

Mr Frederick Arthur Chua rose to become a Judge of the Supreme Court on 15 February 1957 and served there for a long time till 1990.

Popularly known as Justice Chua, he died at an old age of 81. During his long service, he had presided over the Adrian Lim murder case and the Robinson’s department store fire inquiry,

At Mr Leong Seng Ngian and his wife Mdm Chia Kim Chwee tomb, there is an inscription on the tomb erected by his 5 daughters, to tell his descendants that death is not an end to all things.

Some Day Some Time, Our Eyes Shall See

The Faces We Love So Well,

Some Day Their Hands Will Clasp in Ours

And Never Say Farewell

When will the circus come to town again?

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:44:00 -0400

Visitors to Blk 4 of Bukit Brown Heritage Park would have noticed a pair of fairly large tombs.

If you will to ask the tombkeeper there, he would say that these pair of tombs were well visited in the past, and the pair belonged to some well known circus members.

There used to be lorries ferrying circus members here to pay respects.

Few of us born post independence Singapore would hardly knew any of the circus then, such as Kinoshita Circus, Brazil Circus, Tai Thean Kew, Sheum Circus etc.

Here is a photo journey down memory lane.

Tomb picture of Soon Si Ting

Soon Si Ting, the proprietor of Tai Thean Kew was born in Jiangsu and stayed in Nanjing. He was originally not involved in circus,

but in the textile industries. However, his son was kidnapped, and he gave up his business and travelled overseas to look for his son.

When he was in Hongkong, he met up with a group of street entertainers, and together they travelled to Nanyang to seek their fortunes.

There they saw some Western circus in action, and decided that there is a big potential in this area. So he started a small circus called

Tai Thean Kew Circus in 1924.

An advertisement of Tai Thean Kew Circus

Another advertisement

One of the clown Tan Nan, who used to perform in Tai Thean Kew Circus

A wedding of Tan Nam and his wife in Muar under the umbrella of Tan Thean Kew

A Tai Thean Kew’s circus performance

Soon Si Ting died in 1944 at the age of 61 and later on his sons Then Shok and Song Kung together with another 2 partners managed the circu

During Si Ting time, he recruited many of his troupe members from his hometown in Jiangsu province, and one of them was a big and strong man Sheum Cheang Fu.

Sheum Cheang Fu decided to break off from Tai Thean Kew and founded his own circus – Sheum Circus

Sheum’s Circus

ST Article 1952 Oct 19. 52 year old Sheum Cheang Fook has 14 of his 16 children working with him in the ring

The Sheum Circus has come to town!

An advertisement by Sheum’s Circus

At that time, there was also 3 beautiful sisters working in Sheum Circus

Long before the tent doors were opened, little Asian and European children wre waiting outside.

Some brought the inevitable thermos with orange juice and boiled water, others sucked ice balls and drank bilious

looking brown drinks.

ST 25 Sep 1948

Chang Lye Lye, Chang Lye Di, Chang Lye Mei

Pic taken from ST 25 September 1948, Page 8, The Circus comes to KL

Chang Lye Di (Lan Di) sang an golden oldie in the hit movie (The Lark). She died in 1991 after an operation.

Sheum’s mother Mdm Kao died in 1948 at an old age of 74 years and was buried in Bukit Brown next to Soon Si Ting.

She was remembered as a kind and good hearted old lady who always give sweets to children and give them free seats to the circus if they did not have money to enter the circus.

According to Chang Lye Lye, during an interview with National Oral Archives, Sheum Cheang Fook married 3 times, including a 30 year old Malay woman when he was 70 years old. He has many children, and many of them turned out to do well in life.

Reference :

1) Down memory lane in clogs, growing up in Chinatown

2) Newspapers archives

3) Advertisements

4) Tomb inscriptions

A Gift for Father

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:43:00 -0500

It was the year 1939 in March. A famous Chinese painter Xu Bei Hong has just came from China to the Victoria Memorial Hall to exhibit his paintings for the anti-Japanese resistance efforts.

At that time, a local banker purchased many of Xu Bei Hong’s painting for helping out in the war chest.

The local banker was Tan Ean Kiam who was born in a fishing village in Tong Ann district, Fukien province in 1881. He came to Singapore in 1899 and worked as a labourer, carting water from public taps to premises in the central business district for a fee.

He later worked as an apprentice for Tan Kah Kee’s father who was a merchant dealing in rubber. After several years of apprenticeship, he set up his own business.

Later on, he cofounded the Overseas Chinese Bank (later OCBC) , and later becomg its managing director. He also founded Tong Ann Association in 1931

Xu Bei Hong

(1895 - 1953)

The painter Xu Bei Hong (Xu Bei Hong during one of his visits in Singapore in 1939, painted the highest grossing Chinese oil painting ever sold by auction recently - a staggering US$9.2 million. The subject was his friend Wang Ying, who performed an anti-Japanese street play in Singapore at that time).

Put Down Your Whip

(Wang Ying, performing at a street dance in Singapore in 1939, inspired Xu Bei Hong to draw this Chinese painting

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Since Tan brought so many paintings, upon his request Xu Bei Hong decided to draw a portrait of Tan.

As Tan came from a fishing village, he wanted a picture of him fishing in a river wearing a rain coat and rain hat.

Xu obliged and did the painting.

Then the war came to Singapore.

During the period of the Japanese invasion and serving alongside Mr Tan Kah Kee, Mr
Tan Ean Kiam was the Deputy Chairman ofthe China Relief Organization and made invaluable contributions to the relief work in China.

Mr Tan also spearheaded many social service activities in the country. For his active leadership in the China Relief Organization, Mr
Tan was imprisoned during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore and eventually died of a heart attack in 1943.

The painting of Tan was lost in the war.

In the year 1948, Ean Kiam’s son, Tock San was at a restaurant in Happy World when he chanced upon a photographic exhibition of which he saw photos of Xu.. He remember the lost painting done

by Xu for his late father. But he also remembered that somehow, a photograph of that painting exist in his home. Yes, it was his father picture, in rain coat and a rain hat.

He remembered that his father came from the fishing village and when it rained, they would put on their rain coat and rain hat. His father, who also wrote poems from time a time, even composed a poem about this painting about himself.

Tan Ean Kiam portrait by Xu Bei Hong.

Tock San immediately wrote to Xu, who was in Shanghai at that time, telling him that the original painting was lost during the war, and how his missed the painting and his father.

He hoped that Xu would repaint another similar picture based on the previous photo.

One month later, Xu did a similar painting of Ean Kiam in appreciation of Tock san filial piety and sent it to Tock San,

During his life time Tan Ean Kiam helped out the needy and the poor. In particular he donated much for the education, health and to preserve historical sites.

In 1956, as per his wish as requested in his will, Tan Ean Kiam foundation was set up to continue the charity work

In 1970s, a building in Phillip Street was established which houses Tan Ean Kiam Foundation. At that time Tan Tock San wanted to do another act to

remember his father. He named the building after his father. In addition, for the Chinese characters for the building name, he wanted it to be written in his father’s actual handwriting.

Tan Ean Kiam building. Note the Chinese characters

For this, he has to rummage through Ean Kiam letters and writings, finally managing to find all the 5 Chinese characters. For the last 2 characters, the word Big - was found in

the word Big War, and the Chinese character Building was from the Chinese word Amoy.

One of his children’s gift to Tan Ean Kiam was perhaps the best of all, a beautiful, serene resting place

Tan Ean Kiam tomb - the most well kept grave in Bukit Brown

It was certainly the most well kept grave in the whole of Bukit Brown, complete with Ean Kiam own poem which he composed about death, engraved in the gravestones.

———————

Tan Tock San died in Jan 2008 at an old age of 83, and one of the grandsons of Ean Kiam, Keng Soon is now taking care of the foundation, contributing

to many worthy educational causes.

A street name Ean Kiam Place in Katong is named after Ean Kiam

Raymond

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Main reference : Roots, Series 3, by Wang Zhen Chun

The Matriarchs of the Peranakan families

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:14:00 -0500

This is a tribute to the matriarch of the Peranakan household, who always managed the household.

Here you can see the matriarch of the Lim Nee Soon household

Picture taken from Twentieh impression of British Malaya

Here is the matriarch of the Tan Kheam Hock household

Here is the matriarch of Ong Sam Leong’s family. She was buried together with Ong Sam Leong in Bukit Brown.

Here is the matriarch of Teo Eng Hock family.

Picture taken from Wan Qing Yuan

Yeo Bee Neo (Mrs Cheang Hong Lim)
Picture taken from Twentieth century impression of British Malay

I once saw another matriarch, that of Yeo Bee Neo, of the Cheang Hong Lim family. Somehow I was drawn to her haughty looks, and I was determined to find her tomb,

ever since I found out that Cheang Hong Lim family cluster was moved from Alexandra Road burial ground to Bukit Brown.

Finally I found her grave in Bukit Brown. She has the title of a First Ranking Official Wife as well. She was buried in Hill 3, whereas her husband Hong Lim was buried in Hill 4.

Her children were scattered all over in Bukit Brown.

I put upright her tombstone, which have fallen down, to make sure everyone can now see clearly and identify her grave.

I once recalled I have to crawl under one tree to see a big tomb somewhere further up on the hill where Yeo Bee Neo’s grave is.

At that time, I have no idea who she was.

But I certainly knew the graves next to her. It was Cheang Jim Chuan and Chan Kim Hong Neo.

Chan Kim Hong Neo died in 1934 while Cheang Jim Chuan died in 1940.

Before both died, their sons Theam Chu and Theam Kee were very filial, and used to host annual parties to celebrate their birthdays.

Above was one example whereby the two children host the celebration with Cantonese wayang, ronggeng and other entertainment and whereby they invited about 500 persons !

Their house at 112 Pasir Panjang Road “Riviera” must be a big grand house, and I have no doubt that Chan Kim Hong Neo

would be a matriarch of the house as well.

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Recently I was given a task to find a grand old lady. I was given a picture by her descendant to aid in the search and the BBC burial plot no as follows:

CHIA GIN TEE

Died on 7 February 1937;

Buried at Bukit Brown on 13 February 1937

Burial Plot No.741

Block 4 Section A

I went to Blk 4 Section A to search. I could not find tomb 741, although tomb numbers 730 series were close by and the dates of death match.

Where would tomb 741 be? Somehow the grand old lady intrigue me, and deep inside my mind, she seem familiar, I have seen her somewhere.

I decided to go down to the archives to take a look again at the entry.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the BBC entry, It was in Blk 3, she was not buried in Blk 4 as originally planned with other similar death dates, but because there was a family plot,

she was buried in Hill 3. I noted that her tomb no was closeby to Cheang Jim Chuan and Chan Kim Hong Neo!

Furthermore the descendant has informed me that Chia Gin Tee was the mother of Chan Kim Hong Neo.

It couldn’t be ?! I rushed to Bukit Brown Cemetery as quickly as possible.

Yes, it is still like a jungle there, and worse, a tree has fallen across the tomb and blocked the access.

I crawled under this time, and remembered the old lady who have looked at me before last time I saw her but don’t recognise her.

This time I fully knew who she was, for I have found the matriarch of the Chan family.

It is indeed Mrs Chan, nee Chia Gin Tee.

The photo I have been given has matched her tomb picture.

I have found the matriarch, mother in law of Jim Chuan after so many years. She had died sometime in Feb 1937, the family has bought a family plot for 3 graves then.

And coincidentally, another matriarch, that of Jim Chuan mother, Yeo Bee Neo was reburied just 50 metres below them, when Hong Lim burial ground was cleared for redevelopment.

A horse and a house named Bin Chan

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:34:00 -0500

There is a famous house in Tai Gin Road which is now known as Wang Qing Yuan – Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.

In the olden days, the name Bin Chan House, could be seen on the pillar. What is Bin Chan?

Let us look into history for an answer:

Background – The Boey Family

Singapore Free Press Dec 29, 1913

The local Chinese community has lost one of its oldest residents in the person of Mr Boey Ah Sam who died

at the age of 85 at the residence of his son, Mr Boey Chuan Poh of Eng Ho House,

The funeral will take place later awaiting the arrivals of other sons from Batu Pahat where they have been planting.

The deceased leaves behind a widow, 9 children and a large no of grandchildren. He was born in Canton and

arrived in the colony 1842 when he was only 14 yrs old. He started business through the assistance of the late Mr James Guthrie of Messrs Guthrie and Company at Telok Ayer St from where the business was removed to No 21, Market St under the style of Boey Ah Soo and Company chop Swee Hoe in partnership with his late elder brother Mr Boey Ah Soo. This business was discontinued in 1890. Since then he had been planting gambier and pepper at Batu Pahat where he owned where he owned considerable property. A few months ago, he became ill and returned to the colony where he passed away peacefully. The funeral will be in the reform style

—-

Boey Chuan Poh and his brother Boey Siew Chong were directors of the Union Times, a daily set up to uphold the British Government

and to create the best possible feeling between the large mercantile communities of English and Chinese in Singapore. The Union Times was started in 1897, and was regarded as one of the earliest Chinese daily newspapers. It was also a reformist newspapers, and was critical of Sun Yat Sen revolutionary ideology.

For example on 22 Feb 1910 was the second anniversary birthday of the Chinese Emperor Hsun Tong, and there was no issue of Union Times, but a special dinner was given at Eng Ho House and the health of the King and the Emperor was duly drunk

Boey was born in 1873, and has a few residences, Devonshire Road and Damar Road. In early 1902, he decided to build another house, named as Bin Chan, which in Chinese Bin = Bright and Clear,

and Chan = Treasure/Pearl that is Bright Treasure.

But he sold the house as soon as he built it, only using once in Feb 1902 to host a farewell dinner for Dr Chan, a friend of Dr Lim Boon Keng. In March 1902, he advertised to let the house.

As Boey loved horses, he even has built Bin Chan House with stables. He has a horse named Bin Chan running in horse races such as the First Griffin Handicap on 4 May 1907.

He also has a horse exhibiting in the Horse and Dog Show on Sep 1903.

During one instance, there was a forum letter to ST about Stylish Cruelty to Horses

The date was 10 Jun 1904

Mr Boey replied on 13 Jun 1904

In 1905, Teo Eng Hock bought the house for his mother Mrs Teo Lee (nee Tan Poh Neo) and the rest, they say is history.

Mrs Teo died on Dec 24, 1932 and was buried in Balestier Road Burial Ground (opp Ah Hood Road)
(pic taken at Wan Qing Yuan)

Epilogue

On Aug 19, 1926, at 4.45 pm Boey Chuan Poh, the sole proprietor of Union Times died at his house at Devonshire Road.

He left behind a widow and 2 daughters and was buried on Aug 22, at 10 am at Bukit Brown Cemetery.

His grave was simple, no dragons, no horses, no wife nor mistress nor daughters name.

Perhaps like what his father funeral was, his grave was also in the reform style.

The newspapers which he owned - The Union Times, published an obituary notice on Aug 20, 1926

Boey Chuan Poh was a honorary gentleman who contributed much to society, He has been in the newspapers industry for more than 20 over years, and always seek for the welfare and benefits of humanity and the world, irregardless of political ideologies. His comments and opinion were accurate and has been appreciated by locals and foreigners. His death due to sickness was sudden and everyone was sadden by his early demise.

T.R.I.P - Truly Rest In Peace

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:57:00 -0500

It was a dream marriage.

The bridegroom was handsome, the bride pretty. On that day, 15 Dec 1940

Ong Lian Neo (Nellie Ong) was married to Mr E Tean Cheng of Ford Motors.

The bride and bridegroom

Dr Ho Siu Kan officiated. The ceremony was party in old Chinese style

The bride wore a dress of ivory crepe satin trimmed with silver braid and a long train. Her veil was of tulle and silver and the coronet of orange blossoms. She carried a sheath of arum lilies and white carnations.

Before her marriage, Nellie Ong had been active in YWCA, and joined YWCA on 8 Aug 1936 when she was introduced during one of the “recognition meetings”. She would perform pianoforte recitals sometimes for YWCA activities.

On 19 Nov 1936 she played a Chopin waltz on the piano for a welcoming party for the new Chinese consul general Mr Kao Ling Pai and his wife at Raffles Quay.

As with every happy married couple, they looked forward to their first born. They don’t have to wait long. Nellie was pregnant soon after.

But during that time, medical care was not so advanced as now. There were still people dying from TB, from beri beri, and even maternity deaths was high during those days.

On 25 Oct 1941, Nellie has complications with childbirth. Both mother and baby did not survive. Nellie died on Saturday, 25 Oct 1941, General Hospital at 0.15 am and was buried in Bukit Brown on 27 Oct 1941

Time passed. E Thean Cheng would soon remarried and have another family.

Because Bukit Brown cemetery is large, soon, nobody would remember where she was buried, tried hard as they can be, and Nellie laid alone, for a long long time.

But with the help of the Bukit Brown Burial records, and the research into the various Blocks, Divisions of Bukit Brown to correctly narrow down the location, we were able to now finally locate her grave !

It must have been 70 years now. Thick vegetation has covered up Nellie’s grave.

But an 80 year old man was still determined to come and say hello to his sister that day we found the grave. He must have been just 10 years old when

his sister got married in a grand wedding at York House, Scotts Road.

How times flies…… He had not known where she was buried at Bukit Brown. But with the help of relatives and volunteers in Bukit Brown, finally he got to say hello …

How lonely she must have been lying there for 70 years ! But now she has been found !

Her two brothers, now more than 80 years old, decided that she would no longer need

to be lonely any more. Furthermore, they are getting on in age, and soon, they might not have strength to come to visit her. And then, there is the unknown factor of the proposed new road.

Unclaimed remains will be scattered over the sea in 3 years once the area is exhumed….

The old men remembered that they have bought two niches in a columbarium before, one for her aunt, and one was empty. Nellie can be placed besides her aunt.

Furthermore, there is the proposed road. She was in Blk 5, near the gate, the area most vulnerable to the new proposed road.

So they decided to exhume the grave on Monday 21 Nov. It would be on the afternoon, and as they are Christians, the timing of the exhumation doesn’t really matter.

On Sunday, they asked the tombkeeper to give her the necessary offerings just before the exhumation ritual. The tombkeeper also cut off the tree growing inside her grave

so that the grave diggers can do the task easier the next day.

Offerings for Nellie before her exhumation

Monday 21 Nov, just a few more days before Nellie 70th year death anniversary. The sky was downcast, and it started to rain heavily at noon.

Undaunted by the weather, two grave diggers started to work. After all, they have to completed the exhumation by 3 pm and then bring the remains to the columbarium

to be cremated.

2 hours later, they struck at the coffin. It was made of good wood.

Exhumation in progess

They started to collect the remains respectfully. They also found 2 personal effects, one a make up powder case, and another a silver necklace.

They consulted with the family, and these will be cremated with the remains as well.

It was all over by 3 pm. Soon a van will come to bring the remains to the columbarium for cremation.

And the next day, Nellie would be re-interred, side by side with her aunt in the columbarium

This time, she would not be lonely anymore, and she can T.R.I.P – truly rest in peace, and don’t have to worry about any pending road project anymore.

Nellie story is but one of the many many stories of Bukit Brown. We have to reconnect as much as possible the living with the dead.

Bukit Brown is not just a cemetery, it is the burial ground of Singapore pioneers, of our forefathers, of our war heroes, of ordinary man and woman.

It is the only significant burial ground left, that have so much cultural, historical, heritage, natural value, and collective memory and roots of our young nation.

The cause for preservation for Bukit Brown as a heritage park goes stronger each day as more and more Bukit Brown stories unfold, even as the work started for the identification of the graves take place.

Let the light continue to shine in Bukit Brown

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:09:00 -0500

It was an overgrown sector of Blk 1. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise when I came across a triad of tombs, one with a cross, a Hokkien style tomb and a memorial plaque

Nearby a lamp was lit. I have seen the lamp lit before the last time I was there.

I walked around and saw an old man cutting grass nearby some tombs. I talked to him and asked if he was tendering to his ancestors’ grave.

No, I was looking after my ancestors’ neighbors. I was surprised. He led me to some nearby tombs of this triad, and point one by one each of these tombs.

“I always come to say hello to this little boy. And this gentleman here” The old man pointed to several neighboring graves. “They are all my grandfather neighbors.”

I was curious about the cross, the lamp, the memorial plaque and the tomb.

He was in talking mode that day, perhaps he was surprised that I knew about this tomb with the light also.

This is his story….

My grandfather Lo Kim Hak used to be a letter writer for the Sinkehs (immigrants) in the past during the 1910 – 20s, just after the Chinese Republic was formed.

He was a very helpful person, and was well liked by the Sinkehs

A letter writer (pic from PICAS)

Lo was well respected by the people, but he earned a honest living, he was very poor when he died young at the age of 37 in 1925, but the sinkehs and

neighbors put together $300 for him to have a nice marble tombstone

My grandfather then had married Gan Kwee Geok, who lived till a ripe old age. Before she died, she became a Catholic.

Margaret Gan Kwee Geok

I used to light a lamp for her whenever I came here. Although I am a Taoist, I know she would be comforted by the light of the lamp. The lamp can burn for 4 days. Sometimes I read besides the tomb and the light, and enjoy the bliss and serenity of the quietness of the cemetery and the sweet nature sounds.

Lo and Margaret has 2 daughters, one of them was Mary Low.

Mary Low was married to K H Tann, better known as Tann Kim Hock, he was a cinema pioneer of the early days of Singapore, and worked for Universal Pictures

Tann is an unusual surname, but Kim Hock preferred to add an additional N as he thinks the correct pronunciation of Tan should be Tann.

K H Tann, 2 Jun 1932

K H Tann was a well know cinema pioneer and film distributor, managing the Operation of Universal Pictures in Singapore.

On 9 Jul 1925, he even went to Bangkok, taking with him the picture “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” which he was arranging to screen before the Siamese Royal Household

Kim Hock was the son of Tan Pong Guan, who was at one time secretary to the Consul General of China based in Singapore.

The old man continued his story ..

I was an adopted son of Tan Kim Hock and Mary Low and not their actual son.

But since they have adopted me and taken care of me, it is time I take care of them back.

This is a memorial plaque for my mother Mary Low, her ash is in a columbarium, but I thought I would like to put the memorial plaque next to her father.

I don’t understand why the Government is going to redevelop this place. There is so much history and shared memories of our forefathers here.

Anyway, I will always come and light up the lamp, and let the light continue to shine in Bukit Brown