Lim Chin Hin (Lao Sua)

Lim Chin Hin was one of the oldest members of the Chinese Company, S.V.I. (Singapore Volunteer Infantry). Quarter Master Sergeant Lim Chin Hin, passed away at his residence, No 40, Queen Street on 7 February 1911 at the age of 51. He was described to be popular because of his kindly and obliging disposition. Those that attended the weekend camps will not forget how hard he worked to make them comfortable and to provide them with good meals. He was a sportsman in his younger days and was good in target shooting and always found a place in the S.V.I. Team rifle matches, until recenrly when his eye-sight began to be weak. 3 years before his death, Lim Chin Hin met with a carriage accident that permanently injured his left leg, but he continued to be a volunteer with the S.V.I until his death. For his good and patriotic example set, Lim Chin Hin was accorded a military funeral that will leave his house at No 40 Queen Street for interment at the Burial Ground in Bukit Timah Road (3rd milestone).

Lim Chin Hin

Tiger Hunt - Who shot the tiger ?

It started with a tiger roaming around on Waterloo Street in January 1904. It was then seen at Queen Street before been hunted, shot and mortally wounded according to the newspaper article by the brothers Arianna, of the S.V.I and a Malay gentleman by the name of Akber firing the finishing blow. The tiger is said to measure 8 feet from tip to tail and when it was found dead.The Pahang tiger was later found to be an escapee that belong to a Chinese gentleman by the name of Ong Ah Poh who unwittingly let it it escape from his house at Jalan Besar). Akber later wrote in to clarify that Lim Chin Hin was the actual person that fired the rifle that mortally wounded the tiger. 

Chinese Company S.V.I

The below picture shows the Chinese Company S.V.I winning the Warren Shield in 1907. This will be the type of uniform and gun that Lim Chin Hin would have probably worn during that time. In fact Lim Chin Hin participated in the rifle shooting for the Warren Shield and there were reports of his score in a 1909 article (he was 49 years of age then). 

There were many prominent Chinese luminaries of that time they were in the S.V.I during the same time frame as Lim Chin Hin. They included Lieut. Song OngSiang and Tan Chow Kim (1883-1953), whoe also was one of the original members of the Singapore Voluntary Infantry (S.V.I) , a company within the Singapore Volunteer Corps. and coined in Sir Song Ong Siang's book to be one of the "best specimens" of a Chinese Volunteer. Tan Chow Kim, the first Chinaman to shoot at Bisley in 1910, and a member of the Singapore team, who traveled many a thousand miles to take part in a contest for the Empire Cup".

Lim Chin Hin & Co

Lim Chin Hin was a contractor that also managed a granite trading and mason business under the style of Lim Chin & Co as well as a Saw Mill business at No 41 Kallang Road under the style of Eng Chin and Company. All this were important materials as Lim Chin Hin & Co often bid for government tenders. In 1906 there was mentioned  of the company successfully tendering for the repair of the Bungalow at the Impounding Reservoir for $1,100. 1909 there was mention of Lim Chin Hin & Co successfully tendered for the construction of drains by the Municipal Board.  

Family 

The sole executrix of Lim Chin Hin estate was Madam Tan Hay Neo. Tan Hay Neo was sister of Tan Cheng Poey. She was married to Lim Chin Hin. Their children was Lim Ang Watt and Lim Ang Chow. 

This connection was made from the obituary notice of Madam Tay Suat Neo. Tay Suat Neo (widow of the late Tan Hock Seng) passed away at the age of 77 on 14th March 1921 at her residence No 39 Queen Street. She is the mother of Tan Cheng Poey and Tan Hay Neo and grandmother of Tan Kim Leong and Tan Kim Teong, Lim Ang Watt and the late Lim Ang Chow and grandmother-in-law of Messrs. Koh Koon San and Soh Biaw Kim. (No 39 Queen Street is also nearby Lim Chin Hin's former home of 40 Queens Street). 

Tomb location and uniqueness 

Lim Chin Hin's tomb is unique to me as it shows his rank as Quarter Master Sergeant when he was in the S.V.I. Another tomb that comes to mind that shows the rank of the deceased was Private Ho Siong Tong who was 22 years of age when he passed away on 12th June 1915. The tomb at Wayang Satu Cemetery was erected by the Officers, N.C.O's and fellowmen of the Singapore Volunteer Infantry, Chinese Company.  Lim Chin Hin is decorated with beautiful transfer printed tiles from U.K and is close by to Yap Geok Seong's tomb.

Lim Chin Hin's unique tomb 

Beautiful transfer printed tiles of Lim Chin Hin's tomb

References

A Tiger Hunt in Waterloo. (1904, January 28). The Singapore Free Press, page 4

Correspondence. (1904, February 4). The Singapore Free Press

Lim Chin Hin, S.V.I. Late Q.M.S. (1911, June 9)/The Singapore Free Press, page 5

Advertisement. (1911, October 12). The Straits Times, page 12

Social and Personal. (1921, March 18). The Straits Times, page 8  

Ho Siong Tong -a grave once lost is found again (Wayang Satu). (website) Rojak Librarian 

Lim Chin Hin (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录