It was a tomb we often passed by as it is just next to road that goes round Hill 3. The tomb of Neo Pee Chiang and Peck Swee Geok was a tomb i sometimes stop to chat with the tombkeepers who shelter under the tree there but for some reason, didn't research on to find out more.
Neo Pee Chiang passed away away on 23th December 1969 at the age of 78. Peck Swee Geok (Jannie) passed away on 28th May 1933 at the age of 38. Listed are the name of their children:
Son: Neo Poh Choo
Daughter: Neo Gek Choo
Son: Neo Poh Choo
Daughter: Neo Gek Choo
Daughter: Neo Gek Lin
Grandsons: Neo Hock Leong, Neo Hock Tai, Adrian Tan
K.P.M. (Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij)
Neo Pee Chiang was a clerk for the K.P.M or Dutch for Royal Packet Navigation Company. It was a Dutch shipping company (1888–1966) that operated in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
Neo Pee Chiang was the union vice-president of the Singapore Branch of the "Paketvaartbond" (the Union of the K.P.M Asiatic Staff ) for the years 1940, 1946, 1948. In 1949, 4 member of the K.P.M. Singapore staff appeared in Queen Juliana's birthday honours list. Recipients of the Silver Star were 2 Chinese, Messrs. Neo Pee Chiang and Tan Boon Poh and an Ambonese, Mr. Patiselano. It is from this article we get to find out that Neo Pee Chiang has been a K.P.M clerk for more than 30 years.
The Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (KPM) was already well-established by time World War II arrived to this region and had 140 ships in service. During the war the KPM lost a total of 98 ships. To find out what happen to K.P.M Line which faced operational pressure during post Indonesia Independence and had to move office from Jakarta to Singapore, (an interesting read as well) you can read the wikipedia article about it.
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| Long service staff and retirement celebration for K.P.M staffs including Neo Pee Chiang |
Family
Wife: Peck Swee Geok / Jannie
No information about her except she passed away early on 28th May 1933 at the age of 38. The double tomb was prepared hence for Neo Pee Chiang also even before he passed away.
Wife: Tan Kim Neo
Tan Kim No passed away at the age of 90 on 17 December 2002. She is survived by her children
Son: Harry Neo
Daughter-in-law: Ivy Lau Kah Lee
Daughters: Dolly Neo, Esther Neo
Son-in-law: Albert Tan (deceased)
Grandchildren: Victor Neo (deceased), Schubert Neo, Adrian Tan
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| Madam Tan Kim Neo |
Son: Neo Poh Choo / Harry Neo
Harry Neo (only son of Mr. and Mrs. Neo Pee Chiang) married Ivy Lau (eldest daughter of Mr. S.P. Lau) in 11th November 1956.
Daughter: Neo Gek Choo / Dolly Neo Gek Choo
The engagement was announced in 17 May 1950 between Mr. Albert Tan (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Eng Chiang) and Miss Dolly Neo Gek Choo (only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neo Pee Chiang).
Location of tomb
Neo Pee Chiang and Peck Swee Geok tomb is located at Hill 3 Section D, plot 470 & 448. From the burial registrar, Neo Pee Chiang date of birth is listed as 7th August 1895. The tomb of Neo Pee Chiang and Peck Swee Geok is located nearby to Chew Geok Leong's tomb.
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| Tomb of Neo Pee Chiang and Peck Swee Geok |
References
Union of K.P.M. Asiatic Staff. (1948, January 6). Malaya Tribune, page 8
Dutch Queen Honours Four S'pore Men. (1949, May 2). The Straits Times, page 3
Firm Fetes Long Service Staff. (1958, October 14). Singapore Standard, page 9
Obituaries. (2002, December 19). The Straits Times, page 19
Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij.(website). Wikipedia
Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij. (website). The Ships List
Victor Neo's death is covered in https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12675457.air-crash-survivor-tells-of-planes-last-few-seconds/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KLM_Cityhopper_Flight_433. Victor Neo is my cousin and friend. Albert Tan has a sister Lily Gabriel (nee Tan). Lily Gabriel is my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great work of keeping their grave and their memories alive.