It started with the tombstone of Dr. Chen Su Lan (13 February 1885 - 5 May 1972 ) at the Bidadari Memorial Park and also encountering the beautiful tomb of Madam Dang Li Ming in the Garden of Remembrance (Choa Chu Kang) that got me reading more about the connection and the personality behind the stones.
Dr. Chen Su Lan was born in Fuzhou, China in 13 Feburary1885, he came down to Singapore in 1905 after graduating at the Anglo-Chine College in Foochow. Dr. Chen was among the 7 graduates from the 1st batch of the King Edwards VII College of Medicine in 1910. He was a founder member of the Alumni Association in 1923 and was its President from 1923-1934 and again in 1939-1946.
Dr Chen received his certificate of naturalisation in 1951 at a ceremony at the Victoria Memorial Hall. His public involvements include being the; Founder President of the Chinese YMCA, Founder of the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home. Central Midwives Board Committee, Tan Tock Seng's Hospital Committee. President of the Anti-Opium Society, British Medical Association, King Edward VII College of Medicine Council Member, Vice-President of the New Rotary.
Dr. Chen Su Lan passed away on 5 May 1972 (age 87). The service was held at his home 300-A Pasir Panjang Road and funeral service held at Wesley Methodist Church. Over 500 people, including members of the Singapore medical professional and the Chinese YMCA attended the funeral of Dr. Chen Su Lan who died on 5 May 1972 after a long illness at Outram Hospital. He was buried in Bidadari Cemetery.
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| Dr. Chen Su Lan |
Anti-Opium Clinic
Since the opening of the clinic in May 1933 at 137 Kampong Java Road, about 2,600 addicts were claimed to be cured. Dr. Chen admits that it was uphill task from a curative perspective, but the preventive phase of it is to educate the younger generation with regards to the evils of opium. It is also paradoxical that the Colonial Government derive substantial revenue from this and the movement means a change and willlingness to forego this and seek other avenues of taxation. The League of Nations Inquiry in 1929 estimated that the number of addicts in Malaya (both licit and illicit) numbers 300,000 and this was a probably a conservative estimate. Dr. Chen gained worldwide recognition for his unceasing campaign against opium addiction.
The Chen Su Lan Trust and the s.s Kuala connection
Dr. Chen Su Lan shared on 13 February 1942, he evacuated with many on the ill-fated s.s Kuala (i have written before about the ship on my
blog post previously). Hit and sunk at Pompong Island on 14 February 1942 , he was floating in the sea and said a pray to God and vowed that if he was saved, he will do something for the glory of God. After being adrift for 8 hours, he was wash ashore on an island off Lingga, Sumatra. A group of Malay fisherman spotted him and he was back in Singapore. The Japanese Kempeitai interrogated him but eventually Dr. Chen was freed. The trust was finally set up in July 1949 with $500,000 put into the Chen Su Lan Trust to help the poor. Among its beneficiaries include the
Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's home.
Family
Mother: Madam Dang Li Ming / Mrs. Chen Hu Mei
Madam Dang Li Ming passed away at the age of 82 on 22 December 1940. Erected by her son, Chen Su Lan. A nurse trained by Methodist missionaries in Fuzhou, China, Madam Dang Li Ming was widowed when Dr. Chen was still a child.
Wife: Madam Kok Kim Fook
Mrs. Chen Su Lan passed away after a long illness at the age of 81 on 2 February 1977. She leaves behind 7 children, sons and daughters-in-law and great grandchildren.
The names of the children are; Chen Chi Ya, Chen Chi Mei, Chen Chi Ngai, Chen Chi Nan, Chen Chi Chin, Chen Chi Chang and Chen Chi Wei.
Son: Dr. Chen Chi Nan (2 October 1922-28 September 2020)
Engagement is announced of Dr. Chen Chi Nan (third son of Dr. and Mrs. Chen Su Lan) and Miss Lim Seok Im (only daughter of Mrs. Lim Keong Lay and the late Mr. Lim Keong Lay of Penang) in July 1952. The got married in Wesley Methodist Church on 19 September 1953 and had the reception at the Sea View Hotel. Graduated from medicine in Singapore in 1951 and was a general practitioner until he moved to Canada in 1975. Dr. Chen Chi Nan passed away on 28 September 2020.
I found out from the
article, that he (at the age 19 then) was in the same doomed s.s. Kuala ship like his father.
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| Dr. Chen Chi Nan and Madam Lim Seok Im |
Son: Dr. Chen Chi Chang
Dr. Chen Chi Chang (fourth son of Dr. and Mrs. Chen Su Lan ) married Lucy Lau Buong Ung (daughter of Mr. Liu Pai Hu also known as Lau Baik Huo).
A student of Anglo Chinese School, in 1939 he was awarded a scholarship by the Methodist Mission to study in the US. He went for a pre-dental course in Morningside College of Iowa.
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| Dr. Chen Chi Chang |
Son: Dr. Chen Chi WeiIn 25 July 1952, a report that 160 men, women and children were evicted from their homes in 136 Prinsep Street. A land bailiff and 20 labourers were responsible for carrying the eviction after a recent High Court judgement was ruled in favour of the landlord, Mr. Chen Chi Wei (a medical student and son of Dr. Chen Su Lan). In all there were 24 families staying the house ! Dr. Lim Yew Hock, the Singapore Legislative Councillor and President of the Labour Party step and and allowed those affected to stay free of rent for 2 months. This period of grace was given to allow them to find alternative accommodations.
In 1971, Dr. Chen Chi Wei was the chairman of the church building extension under a $1.2 million programme that includes making it fully air-conditioned. and a 5 storey block.
Other information on siblings (research still in progress)
Chen Chi Chin and Chen Chi Ngai held 433 shares each of Overseas -Chinese Banking Corporation and made applications for duplicate applications on 12 November 1947.
Chen Chi Mei and sister Chen Chi Ngai were reported to be studying in UK during the war years
[research on-going]
Location of tomb
Chen Su Lan memorial headstone can be found in the Bidadari Memorial Park and his mother, Madam Dang Li Ming headstone is at the Garden of Remembrance, 920 Choa Chu Kang Road.
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| Dr. Chen Su Lan headstone at Bidadari Memorial Park |
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| Madam Dang Li Ming (Garden of Remembrance) |
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| "Lord, I trust only in thee" - Her last words |
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| Dr. Chen Su Lan |
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Niche of Dr. Chen Su Lan and Madam Dang Li Ming
(photo courtesy of LoSongs) |
References
Mrs. Chen dies. (1977, February 3). New Nation, page 2
Dr. Chen Su Lan, a prominent member of the S.C.R.C. and other Chinese clubs. (1932, January 7). Straits Budget, page 17The Anti-Opium Campaign in Malaya. (1935, July 14). Sunday Tribune, page 11
Back from USA. (1950, September 13). Malaya Tribune, page 1
A S'pore Doctor keeps his vow. (1952, February 17). Sunday Standard, page 3
Singapore Wedding. (1953, September 20). The Straits Times, page 5
Chinese YMCA founder Dr. Chen dies. (1972, May 6). The Straits Times, page 13
Death. (1977, 3 February ). The Straits Times, page 21
Chen Sulan. (website)Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity.
B. De Freitas, MDCM, FRCPC. Dr Chi Nan Chen, 1922–2020. BCMJ, Vol. 63, No. 1, January, February, 2021, Page(s) 37 - Obituaries
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