Tan Hoon Phian Neo (Bukit Brown)

Tan Hoon Phian Neo (1906-1924) was the wife of Mr Yap Gim Teck. Tan Hoon Phian Neo, who is the daughter of Mr. Tan Piah Eng and Madam Sim Khuan Neo, unfortunately died at the age of 18 at on 27 July 1924. It was mentioned in a Straits Times article dated 29 July 1924, that Tan Hoon Phian Neo, dearest beloved wife of Mr.Yap Gim Teck and daughter of Mr. and Mrs Tan Piah Eng passed away at at Bukit Timah Rubber Estate. 

Tan Hood Phian (died at age 18)

Madam Tan Hoon Phian Neo nee Mrs. Yap Gim Teck
(photo courtesy of Melvin Yap)

Tomb of Madam Tan Hoon Phian Neo, passed away at the age of 18

Parents: Tan Piah Eng and Sim Khuan Neo

Her father, Mr Tan Piah Eng is the Assistant 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 Tan Piah 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

 

Husband: Yap Gim Teck

Her husband, Mr Yap Gim Teck remarried. An article in The Straits Times went on to mentioned an engagement between Miss Yeo Chuan Neo (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yeo Tiong Chin, of the Batik Prinsep Street, Singapore) and Mr. Yap Gim Teck of Singapore. The marriage will take place on 5 November 1925.  I found a record of that mentions his son, Mr Yap Tiong Seng marrying to the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Ooi Thean Seok from Penang.

(source: NewspaperSG)

[New Information from the descendants of Mr. Yap Gim Teck -25 March 2023] 

• Madam Tan Hoon Phian  Neo is not the only person buried here. She lies peaceful together with her son who died young after childbirth. 
• Mr. Yap Gim Teck whose name appears in several articles being a Committee member of the The Overseas Telegraph Chinese Staff Association (Overseas T.C.S.A) was an important staff that worked for the Telegraph company. In fact because of this, he was not harassed during the Japanese occupation.  

Location of tomb 

Tan Hoon Phian Neo is buried in Block 1 Section E, plot 151.

Reference

Song, O.S. (1984). One hundred years history of the Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press
Deaths. (1924, July 29). The Straits Times, page 8
The Long Service Medal. (1922, May 19). The Singapore Free Press, page 7
The King's Birthday. (1922, June 5). The Singapore Free Press, page 6
Untitled. (1947, October 9). The Singapore Free Press, page 5