Sng Puah Neo and its battle-scarred tomb (Bukit Brown)

Madam Sng Puah Neo passed away at the age of 80 on 8th March 1925. She is survived by two sons, Koh Cho Beng and Koh Cho Heng. Madam Sng Puah Neo is buried in Hill 1 F, plot 305. From the little information i have, his son Koh Cheng Beng worked for the Mercantile Bank Ltd.

Madam Sng Puah Neo

Malayan Tribune 5 May 1828 (source: NewspaperSG)

Battle scarred tombs

Madam Sng Puah Neo's tomb is adorned with beautiful decorative tiles but part of her marble headstone was partially destroyed (for reasons unknown yet) and on the side of her tomb, there are clear signs of possible small artillery shell impact. The neighbouring tomb (tomb of Chia Hock Watt)  to her also shows possible signs of small caliber bullet shell impact on the tomb shoulder. The battle scarred tombs of Bukit Brown as a result of the fierce battle that took place here between the retreating British and its Allied forces and the invading Japanese soldiers on the final days before the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942 were not well documented, but thanks to visible signs and oral account of descendants, we are fortunate to be able to mark out some of this tombs.

Madam Sng Puah Neo battle scarred tomb 

tomb shoulder of Chia Hock Watt with small calibre shell impact

Another tomb that came to mind was Mr Oei Bok Sien's tomb at Hill 3 Division A used to have a gashing hole in the middle of the tomb. From oral accounts, it was hit by shrapnel of a mortar shell. However evidence of that is no longer visible as descendants have since renovated it.

Oei Bok Sien's tomb with a hole in the headstone.