Cheong Chee Koon (Kranji War Memorial)

Cheong Chee Koon is the eldest son of Mr. Cheong Choon Kim. Cheong Chee Koon studied in Raffles Institution and among his schoolmates were Lim Kim Seng and Chia Keng Tye. He enrolled as a volunteer for the Chinese Co SVI and during his mobilisation held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was struck down with apoplexy and died on 18 May 1917. He was accorded a military funeral and his widow given receipt of a $25 monthly allowance from the local Prince of Wales Relief Fund.  He was buried at the Alexandra Road Chinese Cemetery.

In Kranji War Memorial, what remains is the "memorial tomb or proxy tomb which states his original tomb was lost. Was it lost in the redevelopment of Alexandra area or did his descendants manage to exhumed his remains and kept it a niche somewhere. It remains a mystery for now. 

Lance Corporal Cheong Chee Koon (Kranji War Memorial)

To The Memory Of 

167 Lance Cpl.

Cheong Chee Koon 

Singapore Volunteer Infantry 

Buried at the time

in Singapore (Alexandra Road)

Chinese Cemetery

But whose grave is now lost.

"Their Glory Shall Not 

Be Blotted Out"

Father: Cheong Choon Kim

Cheong Choon Kim in 1893 established the firm of Yap Whatt & Co in d'Almeida Street, which was the first Straits-born Chinese firm engaged in commission, import and export trade in the Colony. With the help of his younger brother, Cheong Choon Beng, the firm became well known as an intermediary in business between the Chinese and Europeans business community. In 1902, Cheong Choon Kim went to China to open a branch in Shanghai. When he passed away in 1905, his business was carried on by his younger brother Cheong Choon Beng. 

Uncle: Cheong Choon Beng 

Cheong Choon Beng was one of the original members of the Chinese Co SVI and in 1902 was part of the Straits Coronation Contingent that went to England. He died on 25 March 1913 (suffering a similar fate like his elder brother --from an apoplectic stroke). The business was then handed over to Cheong Chee Koon until his early death after with the firm, Yap Whatt & Co was closed.