Mrs. Swee Lee Tiong nee Koh Guey Keow (Bukit Brown)

The moss gathered tomb and broken marble name plate of Mrs. Swee Lee Tiong reveals stories of heroism during the Japanese occupation. If this got you interested already, please read on. Mrs. Swee Lee Tiong nee Koh Guey Keow passed away at the age of 60 on 14th September 1933. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children;
Sons: Swee Lye Teck, Swee Lye Whatt, Swee Bee Ay, Swee Lye Quee and Swee Ah Lye
Daughters: Swee Lye Huey, Swee Lye Hong
Grandsons: Swee Cheng Hoe, Swee Hock Siew

Mrs. Swee Lee Tiong nee Koh 

Children of Mrs. Swee Lee Tiong  

Two Heroes die in poverty post-war

Brothers, Swee Lye Huat and Swee Lye Quee (of 213 Albert Street, Singapore) helped smuggled food and money to the civilian internees during the Japanese occupation. People used to bring food or money for the internees and there would be people to pass it on those in the detention camps via the lorry drivers. It was a dangerous cat and mouse game which eventually led to Swee Lye Huat and Swee Lye Quee being taken away by the Kempetai to their headquarters at Y.M.C.A. When they returned months later, they were weak and ill from the sever tortures they suffered. Their brother, Swee Be Ay who also helped in the smuggling (he shared this story with the Strait Times in 1953), was fortunate as he wasn't at home when his brothers were taken away.

Swee Lye Huat and Swee Lye Quee 

Swee Lye Huat (known as " Lim Ping" or "limping" because he was a congenital cripple) passed away at the age of 53 at his home in May 1953 after being ill for over a year. Swee Lye Quee died at the age of 45 due to tuberculosis at the Tan Tock Seng hospital on 27 April 1953. Post-war, they were remembered for their deeds with a letter written by a Captain Barr, who was the adjutant of the P.O.Ws in the MacPherson Road Camp who thanked them for what they have done. It was many years later before the case of the Swee brothers was brought to the attention of the Straits Times by a letter from an ex-internee, Mr. M. Winberg, a Belgian. He said:

These brothers and two other brothers in Albert Street, one of whom died at the hands of the Kempetai, risk their lives to help the internees without thought of gain. 

The Changi food heroes are no longer forgotten

Swee Lye Quee's destitute widow who has four children to support, finally received help via funds from the former internees. 14 ex-internees came forward and donated $1280 for the widow of a war hero. Nearly all of the sign their letters " An Ex-Changi Internee". The below picture shows Madam Teo Hiang Buay putting her thumbprint to a receipt for a gift of $250 from an ex-internee at the Queen Street Post Office where Strait Times help her opened a Government Savings Bank Account. Swee Bee Ay in 1959 thank all the ex-internees who supported his late brother, Swee Lye Quee's widow with their donations . 

Widow Teo Hiang Buay receiving help

Location of tomb

Madam Koh Guay Kiew nee Mrs. Seow Lee Tiong is buried in Hill 3 Section C, plot 479. Where were her children or husband buried, i don't have the answer yet. 

References

The Changi food heroes are not forgotten. (1953, May 23). The Straits Times, page 7

Ex-internees told: If your conscience hurts..(1953, May 25). The Straits Times

Gifts to the Swees Continue. (1953, May 26). Th Straits Times, page 8

$1,280 for the widow of a war hero. (1953, June 10). The Straits Times, page 8

Generosity appreciated. (1959, June 13). The Straits Times, page 9.