Capitan China Wee Chim Yean (Bukit Brown)

Wee Chim Yean (1885-1926) is the Capitan China or Kapitan China of Bengkalis. Bengkalis is a place is the Riau archipelago off east coast Sumatra Islands.  He is the youngest son of Wee Leong Tan alias Wee Tan (1833- May 1913), who was once also the Capitan China of Bengkalis and brother of Ann Kee (died 1914) and Kim Cheng of chop Kim Hock Hoe which later become a limited liability company of the same name (Kim Hock Hoe Ltd).

There are not many stories about Chim Yean but more stories about his father and there's where i will start with first and add on later if i discover more.

Wee Leong Tan and chop Kim Hock Hoe.
His father came down from Amoy region at a young age and became an opium farmer under his company called chop Kim Hock Hoe. In his 29 years of service to the Dutch government, he was given the title Capitan and later Major China. In 1900 he received an Imperial Order and Gold medal from Queen Wihelmina.

His business expanded to shipping and also being commissioning agents. He handed over his company officially to his sons to manage on 27th January 1911. His sons, Kim Cheng and Ann Kee made it a limited company and the shipping business was acquired and incorporated in 1908 under the name of Wee Brothers Steamship Co. Ltd.

He was buried at the family vault in Bengkalis when he died in 1913 at the age of 78 (His wife died in 1909). The steamship of Wee Brothers provided free transport for mourners and free loaders from Singapore to Bengkalis to attend the funeral. In the evening after the elaborate and grand burial ceremonies, the fleet provided firework displays and then set sail back to Singapore with "Will o the Wisp" taking lead.

The "Majoor" Wee Boon Teng connection
Another thing i discovered during my research was that Wee Leong Tan and Wee Leong Hee are brothers. Leong Hee had a son by the name of Wee Boon Teng (Majoor Wee) born in 1865, who later joined his uncle in Sumatra. He went on to be a "Liutnant" of a place in east coast Sumatra called Selat Panjang. Subsequent promotions made him Kapitan China and silver and gold medals. Majoor Wee died in 1939 and was also buried in Bukit Brown.

The Capitan China's of Malaya
Capitan China or Kapitan Cina are titles bestowed upon by native rulers (Sultan) with agreement of the Colonial ruler and usually given to a person of high standing in the local chinese community. Helping to keep the peace among the local and collect poll taxes on behalf of the colonial government, they usually were allowed to prosper by taking a cut of this and maintain their own "police" force (i.e. their mini army).

The first of the Capitan's was said to be Tin Kap of Malacca/Melaka. His grave is located in Bukit Cina and said to be 400 years old providing links of early Chinese settlers to Malaya. In Malaya, the ones that one can think of immediately are Yap Ah Loy (1864-1884), Yap Kwan Seng (of Selangor) and for Perak (Towkay Chung Keng Quee and his son, Chung Thye Phin(1879-1935) ). This title is sometimes passed down from father to son, but not always.The last of the Capitans for Malaya is said to be Tan Kim Seng. Born in Melaka, he gained his wealth in Singapore through his business Kim Seng and Co.

For Indonesia, the Netherland Indies government continued this tradition until 1945. It was said there are three grades of Capitan's -Lieutanant/Luitenant, Capitan/Kapitan and Major/Majoor China, each with their respective duties and roles.


Death

Wee Chim Yean died in the residences of his sister in law (Mrs Wee Ann Kee). He was reported to have died from typhoid fever and pneumonia. He died on 13 Aug 1926, age 41 and was buried in Bukit Brown, Blk 2, Division D. On his grave are the inscriptions 甲政 = (Captain) and 和国 = Holland 

Wee Chim Yean 

References
Song, O. S. (1984). One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
The Last Capitan China of Selangor. (1950, December 13). The Straits Times.
Capitan China. (1953, October 25). The Straits Times.
The Capitan China's of Malaya. (1936,February 12). The Straits Times.
The Linggi Timber Trade. (1912, September 23). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser.
Death.(1926, August 16). The Straits Times.
Social and Personal. (1926, August 14). The Straits Times.
Benkalis Note. (1909, August 2). The Straits Times.
"Majoor" Wee Boon Teng. (1939, May 2 ). The Straits Times.
Kapitan Cina from Wikipedia website

Dr. Lee Choo Neo (Bukit Brown)

Dr Lee Choo Neo (1895-1947) is the daughter of Lee Hoon Leong. (Lee Hoon Leong is Mr Lee Kuan Yew's grandfather). Born in 1895, Dr. Lee Choo Neo received her education in Singapore Chinese Girls' School and later, 3 years in Raffles Girls School.


First Female Chinese Doctor and a Progressive Woman 

She was the first Straits Settlement woman to obtain the Senior Cambridge certificate in 1911. She joined the King Edward VII Medical School despite criticism and discouragement from outside her family circle and in 1919 became the first chinese woman to graduate in Medicine and was appointed Lady Assistant Surgeon at the General Hospital.

She was a progressive woman and was one of the founders of the Chinese Ladies Association of Malaya, promoting physical and social education of Chinese woman including outdoor sports such as lawn tennis and badminton. She was involved and volunteers in the Child Welfare Society as well.

Dr Lee Choo Neo
(this photo was the same one used for her tomb)

She married Teo Koon Lim (son of Teo Chye Hong) at 114 Emerald Hill on 21st September, 1922 and had 1 son (Cheng Ann) and 2 daughters (Cheng Sim and Cheng Kim).After several years in the government service, she resigned and followed her husband  to Kuala Lumpur who had business there.  She returned to open her own clinic at 74-3 Bras Basah Road.










Robbery and Funeral

Dr Lee Choo Neo died on 7 September 1947, after a short illness. During a pre-funeral rites at her home in Bras Basah road on the 11th, a gang of seven dashed in at 4 am in the morning and robbed the 20 people present. One brandished a gun while the rest of the thugs took cash and jewellery amounting to $250.  She was buried on the day itself in Block 1 Division D, Bukit Brown. Her father is also buried in Bukit Brown but in a different hill.

References
Dr Lee Choo Neo. (1935,November 24). The Straits Times.
Death. (1947, September 9). The Straits Times
Song, O. S. (1984). One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
Gun man rob mourners. (1947,September 11). The Straits Times.

Tan Huck Wan (Bukit Brown)

A sad story

This is a sad and tragic story that was shared to me about Mr. Tan Huck Wan via the Bukit Brown facebook and inspired me to write further. Mr.Tan Huck Wan (1916-1944) is the the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Tan Chong Chew. Mr Tan Chong Chew is the main labour contractor for the Singapore Harbour Board. Tan Huck Wan studied in Anglo Chinese School and was gifted in sports. He played cricket,hockey and football for the SCRC and YMCA during 1935-1941

$100,000 worth of Jewels 

Tan Huck Wan married Lim Chin Choo (daughter of Mrs Lim Mah Seang from Penang) in 17 Sept 1939 in a very traditional but grand affair. During the wedding procession, they were escorted by police guards as the bride was wearing $100,000 worth of jewellery with the bridal clothing specially imported from Penang. The band of the 2nd Battalion, Loyal Regiment accompanied the procession and a ronggeng party capped the celebration at "Penang Cot", 317 River Valley Road.

Two hundred people attended the tea party while four hundred people attended the dinner which followed later. Mr H.K. Rodgers, Chairman of the Singapore Harbour Board toasted to the health of the couple which was attended by the Who's Who of Singapore which include Dr.Lim Boon Keng, Tungku Mahkota of Johor, Mrs Lim Han Hoe, Mr and Mrs Lim Chong Pang, Sultan of Pahang, Lee Hoon Leong (grandfather of Lee Kuan Yew) among others. A film maker, a Mr Joe Fisher was even present to shoot the wedding procession using a cinema camera.

Wedding of Tan Huck Wan and Lim Chin Choo

War and Double Tragedy 

Tan Huck Wan was a Corporal with the service number 38243 of the Singapore Voluntary Field Ambulance, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force. No details of how he died, but it is pretty certain he died much later, possibly as a prisoner of war on 31st May 1944.

On his tomb, it is listed in English that he was born on 4th April 1916 and that he died on 31st May 1944 at the age of 28. He leaves behind his young widow, two sons Allan Tan Cheng Eng, Duke Tan Cheng Yew and a baby girl, Ruby Tan Suan Bee. Ruby Tan died on the 26th Oct 1944 and is buried beside her father. She was only 6 months old.

Tan Huck Wan and daughter 

His wife later remarried in 1952 to a Mr. Khoo Ewe Thuan.

It's future in Bukit Brown 

Both Tan Huck Wan and Ruby are buried at Block 1 Div A close by the roundabout. His marker is 1061A, which means both are affected by the road and are likely to be exhumed.


Reference
Police Escort for Bride.(1939,September 18). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser.
Singapore Memorial. Unmaintainable Graves
A story of one tomb and a grand wedding. Bukit Brown Cemetery

Tan Chor Lam (Bukit Brown)

Tan Lian Chye alias Tan Chor Lam  (1884-1971) is another important personality buried in Bukit Brown.  Born a son of a prominent Hokkien chinese merchant, Tan Tye (died 1898) that  owned a timber-yard called Messrs Tan Tye and Co or  Hup Choon  located at 327 Beach Road. They also businesses in rubber plantations as well as property acquired through business dealings. The alias Chor Lam was said to be acquired has he wanted to go incognito initially when working with the Tung Meng Hui.

Tan Chor Nam's advertisement and tongkang for sale 

Chor Lam, Eng Hock and Nee Soon Connection

Although all were of different ages, Chor Lam (then 18) and Eng Hock (then 30) were neighbors in Beach Road and were also proprietors of the Thoe Lam Jit Poh, a Chinese newspaper in Singapore in 1904 (The newspaper ceased to exist in 1905). Nee Soon's (then 20) uncle is Eng Hock and Nee Soon's first job is with Messrs Tan Tye and Co. It all fell together nicely right !

Whispers of Revolution 

Teo Eng Hock loaned his home, (the Bin Chan House) for the holding of the Revolutionary meetings. The Tung Meng Hui first three local members were Tan Chor Lam, Teo Eng Hock and Li Chu Ch'ih. The following day Lim Nee Soon (nephew of Teo Eng Hock) and eleven other's joined. Tan Chor Lam was elected the President of Tung Meng Hui, Singapore.

Tung Meng Hui members at Bin Chan House.(Tan Chor Lam is seated third from the left). 

It was from here that Dr Sun and his members managed to get ex-royalist and/or reformist from Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, etc to join the movement. It can be said that Singapore was the base for the spread of this revolutionary movement, but that been said it also experience various degrees of success in gathering funds from the Overseas Chinese here and at one stage, Penang overtook to be the key center where Dr. Sun planned some of the more important uprisings.

With the success of Dr Sun's movement and birth of the Republic of China, a political party was also born out of this movement - the Kuomintang. Formed in China in Aug 1912, its principal aim was the political and racial unity of the 5 races of China. It has to also into building up China's economy through industrialisation and modernisation.

Two individuals, Lu Chin I alias Lu Tien Nin and Chiu Chi Hsien were sent to Malaya for the purpose of forming a branch in Malaya. The Singapore's branch of the Kuomintang was registered under the Societies Ordinance on 18th Dec 1912. Formally, it was called the "Singapore Communication Lodge of the Kuomintang of Peking". The key officials were Tan Chay Yan, Teo Eng Hock, Lim Boon Keng, Wu Chin Sheng, Yin Hsueh Chun, Tan Boon Liat, Lim Nee Soon and finally Tan Chor Lam.

Although some of the members (such as Lim Boon Keng) have dual loyalities to both the Colonial government and China, the British government viewed this party with distrust and treated it as a subversive organisation whose aim is to colonise Malaya or to rid it of its Western occupiers. Suspicions increased due to the outlawing of the Kuomintang by President Yuan Shih Kai in 1913 and the infiltration of the Communist doctrines within the Kuomintang leftist members that were blamed for a series of labor strikes and riots that occurred.

The attempts of the Kuomintang in creating a China centric nationalism soon came to conflict with the Colonial Government's attempt to create a harmonious multiracial subjects loyal to the British. Despite being banned twice, it survived into the post war years until it was banned for the third time in 1949.However this is not the focus of this story  and i guess something you might want to read further if you are keen.

Suits and Bankruptcy woes

Going through the digital paper archives, we see him facing financial difficulties over the years. What happen i am not very sure myself but it could be because of his constant contributions and attention to the revolutionary causes that lead to this or the economic depression or both. What is pretty certain is that he overcame all this and still survived with a house and grandchildren to boast.

485 acres of land in Johor Bahru 

Strait Times 1933

Pictures over the years 

Tan Chor Lam over the years.  

The photo on the left shows Chor Lam as young revolutionist still sporting the Manchu queue hairstyle when he became a member of the Tung Meng Hui. It was said that he wore it out of respect to his late father's /mother's wishes and it was only much later that he cut it off. (I suspect after the fall of the Qing Dynasty). The photo on the top right shows him in the twilight years. That photo was used for his gravestone in Bukit Brown. The pictures above are taken from the exhibition at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Museum.

What happen to him in his later life is a blur to me at the moment. Hopefully with more research i am able to find out more. I really have new found respect for historians or budding historians who seem to be able to dig up endless stories. If you have time, do visit the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall too..There, you will find out a bit more about the Tung Meng Hui members.

Bukit Brown Connection 

Tan Lian Chye alias Tan Chor Lam, died 1971 and is buried in Bukit Brown Block 3, Division A. His grave his very close to the road and easy to visit.

References

The Kuomintang in Malaya, 1912-1941 ,Png Poh Seng
Journal of Southeast Asian History , Vol. 2, No. 1, The Chinese in Malaya (Mar., 1961), pp. 1-32
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of Department of History, National University of Singapore.
Yong, C.F.(1990) The Kuomintang Movement in British Malaya, 1912-1949, Singapore: Singapore University Press.
The Men who stood Surety. (1933,October 7). The Straits Times.

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife and children ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown Block 4 Division B, while Mr Lim Nee Soon was not buried there. It is difficult to write a story about the Lim family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first talking about Mr. Lim Nee Soon first.

Pineapple King and Patriot

Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan  and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when he was 8 and Nee Soon was left in the care of his maternal grandfather -Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father).

He received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. From a humble beginning working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18, he climbed the rungs by next working, for timber merchant Tan Thye and his son Tan Chor Nam. By 28 he was Manager of United Singapore Rubber Estates and later Sembawang Estates(a company formed by Dr. Lim Boon Keng and Lee Choon Guan).  Sembawang. With enough savings and experience he strike it on his to form Thong Aik Shop and eventually became a rubber baron and a "pineapple king" with over 6000 acres in Singapore and 20,000 acres in Malaya. He was also a landbroker, rubber factory owner, merchant and propertier of Lim Nee Soon and Co.  He together with other prominent Chinese pioneers had a hand in the founding of the following banks: Eastern United Assurance Co., Chinese Commercial Bank, Oversea-Chinese Bank and Oversea Assurance Co.






Mr Lim Nee Soon together with Mr Teo Eng Hock and Mr Tan Chor Lam were the founders of Tung Meng Hui (Chinese Revolutionary League) , Singapore branch, a society created to fund the revolt against the Qing Dynasty and create a free Republic of China with democratic ideals. T'ung Meng Hui is also the precursor to the Kuomintang branch or Movement of Malaya.

Sun Yat-Sen with the members of Tung Meng Hui. A young Nee Soon is seated on the right.
Teo Eng Hock is seated 2nd from the left. Tan Chor Nam is 3rd from the left. 

His business declined with the Great Depressions of the 30's with rubber prices hitting rock bottom. However some of his wealth did manage to be passed on this his sons. He passed away at the age of 57 in Shanghai in 1936. He was recognised for his efforts and support for the Republic of China revolution causes. A memorial in Nanking was also erected for him close to where one of Sun Yat-Sen's memorial is.

State funeral of Mr Lim Nee Soon in Nanking, China.
picture shows Mr Lim Nee Soon's silver casket and inscriptions on the side that highlights his
contribution to China. 

Special Committee formed in China to arrange for the State funeral.
Lim Chong Kuo, the eldest son is in the centre (with bow tie)

His Family and the Bukit Brown Connection

He left behind his wife and three sons (Chong Kuo, Chong Pang, Chong Min) and 6 daughters(Chit Geck, Kheng Geck, Soo Geck, Mui Geck, Leok Geck, Seck Geck). However during my research of the tomb, a fourth was listed. The son listed on Mrs Lim tomb but not mentioned in the papers was Lim Chong Hsien. I wonder why? Further checks on Singapore Infopedia and Wikipedia does not even list his name there too. Did i uncover something new here ?

Further research uncovered that Chong Hsien is the son from Nee Soon's second wife.

Mrs Lim Nee Soon nee Wi Pek Hay (Wee Pek Hay)

Mrs Lim Nee Soon nee Wi Pek Hay's (Wee Pek Hay) tomb is at Bukit Brown, but if you look careful, no date of death was inscribed there indicating she was not buried there. Where was she buried?

Lim Chong Kuo married Tan Lay Ho (second daughter of Mr and Mrs Tan Kah Kee). He passed away two years after his father on 23rd Feb 1938, age 36, He is buried beside his mother in Bukit Brown.He left behind a son and a daughter.

Lim Chong Kuo's wedding with Tan Lai Ho in Garden Club, 1923 

Lim Chung Kuo (beside his mother's grave) 

Lim Chong Pang was also a prominent leader among the Chinese (Teochew) community and a well known horse owner. His horses won him over 100 races over the years. He also owned 3 cinemas - Garrick(formerly called Apollo), Sultan and Seletar and enjoys the game of tennis.

He was appointed a Justice of Peace at the age of 35 in 1939, one of the youngest to be appointed so for Malaya and played important roles in various boards and committees (Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Rural Board, St Andrew's Old Boy's, Cinema Exhibitors' Association,etc ). He established the Southeast Asian Film Co in 1945. During his service for the Rural Board, a village in Sembawang was even named after him.

Mr Lim Chong Pang died at the age of 52 on 21st July 1956 and his wife Lee Poh Neo died 8th Aug 1968. Both are buried in Bukit Brown close by to each other.

Wedding of Lim Chong Pang and Lee Poh Neo 

Graves of Lim Chong Pang and  Lee Poh Neo 

Standing: Chong Min (right) Chong Pang (centre) Hu Mulan (Hu Han Min's daughter)
seating: Lim Nee Soon (left) Wu Hanming /Hu Han Min (right) a staff of former newspaper,
Zhong Xing  Ri Bao or Chung Shing Jit Pao
-picture taken in Hu Han Min's cabin in shipliner "Victoria" 

I don't have much information on Chong Min and Chong Hsien, but when i do, i will update this article accordingly.  The Lim family cluster is not affected by the 8-lane highway proposed, but i thought of writing about them because of the rich amount of material available online that has already been uncovered and some, waiting to be uncovered further ! It also goes to show the wealth of history in this place called Bukit Brown.


War Stories and heroes

On Feb 13,1942, while at sea in is fishing boat, fisherman Mr Tay Ah Soey and his two brothers, braving bombs, pulled out 62 people from the sea. This were the survivors from boats sunked by Japanese planes of people trying to escape Singapore. Among the people he saved was Lim Chong Pang and his brother. Declared a war hero and awarded the King George V medal in 1952, Mr Tay passed away  in Aug 2011 at the age of 97.




References
Death,  (1932, Dec 24)The Straits Times. (Death notice of Mrs Teo Lee nee Tan Poh Neo)
Memorial at Nanking to Lim Nee Soon.(1936, April 19) The Straits Times.
Mr Lim Nee Soon.(1936, March 23).The Singapore Free Press and Merchantile Advertiser.
Mr Lim Nee Soon.(1935, August 25).The Straits Times,
Man behind the old Nee Soon Village.(1987,November 24). The Straits Times,
Turf Man dies-his horses won 100 races. (1956, July 22 ).The Straits Times.
World War II hero Tay Ah Soey dies at age 97.(2011, August 10). The Straits Times.

Tok Cheng Tuan (Bukit Brown)

Tok Cheng Tuan's tomb (Block 2 Division B) is interesting and eye catching for its large size, benches and an A4 size picture of him and his wife. His tomb consists of sculptures flanking its right and left- eagles and jade maidens, tombstone and decorative shoulders. You can also make out the additional tombstone with their A4 pictures. What is out of this picture is two stone benches. The two pegs (no. 1947 and 1948) indicate that this graves are likely affected by the road.

Tomb of Tok Cheng Tuan 

Tok Cheng Tuan was a storekeeper at the Anglo French Trading Co. On 11 Feb 1926, while walking to work, he was shot by a bullet by an assailant by the name of Tan Kim Swee. By twist of faith, Mr Tok survived as he was wearing a leather belt and somehow the bullet was deflected away from his vital organs but was still embedded near his spine, without causing real harm (unfortunately he died a year later though, but whether it because of this wounds is unknown to me). Mr Tan was sentenced to 7 years of hard labour and given 12 strokes of the whip.

As said, slightly more than a year later, on May 6, 1927, Mr Tok died at his house in 61 Club Street. He was only 38 years old, leaving behind his beloved wife Oon Tuan Cheng, 2 sons and 4 daughters.

Mrs Tok on the tombstone was said to have died on 28 Sept 1951 at age 61.

ST 9 May 1927

Picture of Mr and Mrs Tok 

Their tomb is now being cleared for ID by LTA contractors as they are in the buffer zone for the proposed 8 lane highway cutting through the cemetery to alleviate road congestion along Lornie Road.

Ubin Island - one of the World's most secret island

Nice headline from an online article featuring the world's top 10 most secret islands. That article was targeted towards US readers/travelers though, but i guess rather than secret, to me it's a magical island and when stepping on it, you are timed machine back in time to Singapore in the 60's-70's. It doesn't even fully like a part of urbanised, metropolitan Singapore but a rustic, laid back kampong lifestyle.

Making a trip on weekend means dealing with crowds as Ubin is definitely becoming a popular getaway, as i see increasingly a number of tourist wanting to see a part of Singapore so serene and yet so easily accessible. The bumboat ride itself adds to this "experience". I shudder at any suggestion to build a bridge to connect and provide ease of access. That will really destroy the experience.

What has somewhat disappeared from Ubin is the declining local population, now mostly moved to the main Singapore Island as practical conveniences such as school, healthcare are not available on this Island and the ban on local poultry (chickens, ducks, etc) makes self substance living more difficult. You will immediately notice it when passing by kampong house's you would not likely hear any longer the loud cracking sounds of chickens, etc.

Puaka Hill where you can see both Singapore and Malaysia. 

I made a trip on 30 Dec to check out Puaka Hill and was rewarded with this view. I thought of sharing this. So, what are you waiting for ? Do make a trip to this "secret island" if you have not.