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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. There are many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the people buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and Birdwatching in some of my articles.

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Kheam Hock Road Temple (Images from the Past)

October 16, 2024

Elliot Collection Images from the Past kheam hock road village temple

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Teow Keong Hee (Bukit Brown)

October 13, 2024

Block 5 Division B Hill 5

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Tan Piah Eng (former Bidadari Christian Cemetery)

October 10, 2024

Family - Tan Piah Eng former bidadari cemetery

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Amy Illovsky nee Amy Wong (former Bidadari Cemetery)

October 09, 2024

former bidadari cemetery

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Ee Boon Koon and Ang Liew Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 08, 2024

Block 5 Division B Hill 5

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Madam Tay Tit Neo (Lao Sua)

October 08, 2024

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Lau Kim Tuan (Bukit Brown)

October 08, 2024

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Miss Teo Geok Neo (Lao Sua)

October 06, 2024

Died Young exhumed Family - Tan Piah Eng Lao Sua

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Wee Bros. Undertakers, Monumental Masons and Marble Merchants

October 05, 2024

St. Joseph Church Cemetery tomb mason

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Labels

Bukit Brown957
Hill 3307
Hill 1181
Hill 4157
decorative tiles133
Died Young131
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A109
Hill 296
birdwatching83

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Rojak Librarian: Nature has a lot to teach us, if only we stop to pay attention.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

Tan Piah Eng (former Bidadari Christian Cemetery)

Mr. Tan Piah Eng (1878 - 1955) was the Assistant Manager and later Manager of the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate and a member of the Singapore Voluntary Infantry. He was a rifle sharp shooter that together with fellow volunteers such as Tan Soo Bin , Sir Song Ong Siang and Tan Chow Kim won the Warren Shield. During the outbreak of War, he served a 4 year term dividing his time between his work in the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate and his duties at the Drill Hall as the Quartermaster. Mr Tian Pah Eng who was by 1922, a Company Quartermaster Sergeant was awarded the Long Service Medal on the occasion of King George V birthday parade on 3 June 1922. Tan Piah Eng / Peter Tan Piah Eng passed away at the age of 77 on 27 February 1955. The cortege left from 614-3 Bedok Road for Bidadari Christian Cemetery. Photo of Mr. Tan Piah Eng at the age of 75 Words mentions: With My Best Compliments, Piah Eng, 27 July 1952 (Photo courtesy of Melvin Yap) Chinese Co. S.V.I wins the Warren Shield In the compe

Kheam Hock Road Temple (Images from the Past)

The description of the photo reads - Chinese temple in Kheam Hock Road, Singapor e. This is from the Elliot Collection which is accessible online from the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology website . To me this is fascinating. I have seen and identified photos of the Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple but this is my first time seeing this temple photo that was described to be on Kheam Hock Road itself (assuming the description of the photo is correct). The photo was taken in 1950 -1951 and what i can see is that the roof is still a thatched roof one, with the temple built on wood and on slightly elevated ground. Behind the temple is another larger structure - a building built with concrete or bricks and is double story. From the typography of the pictures when combined together, it is unlikely to be the Seh Ong Temple / Ong Clan Temple in the main central area of Kheam Hock Road and Jalan Berahi (although the photos i have of the area around Kheam Hock Road is from the early 1992) and

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th

The end of former St. John's Church Cemetery at the Old Jurong Road

We had the opportunity to visit the former St. John's Church Cemetery at the Old Jurong Road on 4 February 2023 and to no surprises the hoarding marking the start of the development phase and the destruction of the jungle area and the cemetery. We were curious to see whether the tombs there have been exhumed but found that the area has been undisturbed. There were no markers nor anything stating that the effected tombs will be exhumed as of yet. The signs were cleared when we saw they were already starting to destroy the tar road of the former Old Jurong Road. Next were the green hoardings to prevent eventual entry of humans to the work area. Hoarding up marking the next phase of demolishing the forest The tar road of the Old Jurong Road being destroyed I took some videos to document both the undisturbed tombs there as well as some exhumed ones. Hopefully, proper respect will be given to those still intact and the tombs properly documented before they are exhumed and cleared.

Kwa Siew Tee and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Kwa Siew Tee, a Semarang born Chinese was a Municipal Commissioner (an appointment he held till 1949). He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour in 1951. Kwa Siew Tee passed away at the age of 89 on 20 March 1977. Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: National Archives of Singapore) Family Kwa Siew Tee and family (source: National Archives of Singapore) Wife: Madam Wee Yew Neo Madam Wee Yew Neo is the daughter of Wee Theam Seng . She passed away on 14 May1980. She is survived by; 3 sons: Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee 4 daughters: Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng. Son: Kwa Soon Hock Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a staff of the Overseas Chinese Ba

St. John's Church - The "almost" forgotten Church at Old Jurong Road

One of the first villages with a significant Ann Kway population was Hong Kah Village. The name of the village comes from the Hokkien and Teochew term for "bestowing a religion" which was also the colloquial name for Chinese Christians. In 1876, a Chinese Christian convert, Tay Hong Seng contributed 3 acres of land for a church at the 11th milestone. St. John's Church was completed in 1884 and consecrated and dedicated under the name of St. John on 4 February 1884. It held services in Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka. According to oral account , the village was established when parishioners approach the Church pastor who applied to the colonial land bureau and was granted 60 acres of land and 10 families established what was known as "Hong Kah Choon" (Christian Village in Teochew and Hokkien dialect). An 1890 article mentions the mission in Jurong is stable and growing owning to the Christian population that cultivates the soil in that area. source: Jurong Heritage

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown. Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pah

Teow Keong Hee (Bukit Brown)

Teow Keong Hee was born in 1872 and was educated at Raffles Institution. He entered the service of Messrs. Behr & Co in 1889 and rose the ranks to be the chief storekeeper there. Teow Keong Hee was one of the original members of the Chinese Co SVI, and rose to the ranks eventually becoming Sergeant-Major in 1916. In August 1917 (after the resignation of Lieut. Seah Cheng Joo) was granted his commission as 2nd Lieutenant. During the mutiny on 15 February 1915, Indian soldiers of the 5th Madras Light Infantry (Indian Army or sepoys) revolted, killing more than 40 British officers, residents and locals. The mutiny came to be known as the "Singapore Mutiny". An estimated 800 mutineers were involved, killing more than 40 British officers, residents and locals. Sergeant Teow Keong Hee was in charge of the Chinese Guard at Government House and was detailed together with Sergeant Chan Ngo Choo for special duty in a house-to-house search in certain districts for the mutineers. Mr

Miss Teo Geok Neo (Lao Sua)

We came across the tomb of Miss Teo Geok Neo during our hike in Lao Sua in June / July 2024. There was a sign next to it. Usually from experience, we guessed that this is a sign that the descendants have reconnected with her and wish for her to "move house" (exhumed) and placed together with her fellow love ones. Miss Teo Geok Neo / Annie Teo Geok Neo passed away at the age of 28 on 3 November 1952. She unfortunately passed away due to either pneumonia or tuberculosis. Miss Teo Geok Neo (photo courtesy of Tan Engsoon) A young Miss Teo Geok Neo with her mother, Mrs. Tan Piah Eng nee Madam Chan Ah Siew (source: Tan Engsoon) Miss Teo Geok Neo tomb in Lao Sua before she "moved house" Fast forward to September 2024, i manage to see pictures of her tomb posted by a nephew of Miss Teo Geok Neo under the moniker of Our Bedok Kampong House - Singapore on Bukit Brown facebook group ! What amazing coincidence and the black and white documentation of photos was of her tomb

Wee Bros. Undertakers, Monumental Masons and Marble Merchants

The first time i saw the Wee Bros. calling card was in the simple marble name plate of Mr. Chew Ah Kak in Bukit Brown some years back. The second time i noticed it was recently this year at St. Joseph Church Cemetery at Bukit Timah. I am sure the Bidadari Christian Cemetery would have more of their calling cards but unfortunately i do not have evidence of any at the moment from Bidadari since that cemetery is gone and documentation photos hardly take note of who the tomb masons were. Wee Bros. (seen from a tomb at St. Joseph's Church at Bukit Timah) Marble name slab from Wee Bros (seen in Bukit Brown) What happened to Wee Bros. company? I found an article mentioning Wee Bros. up to May 1991. The papers in 1981, 1977 mentioned the location of Wee Bros. to be at 17 Opal Crescent which if you google today is the premises of Peace Casket. From the website of Peace Casket, i got insight that the Peace Casket was formerly known as Wee Bros. Established in 1923 and known then as W

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