Wee Kiong Chiang of the Chinese Labour Corps (Kranji War Memorial)

The below picture is the military grave marker for Wee Kiong Chiang, who served in the Chinese Labour Corps and died during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore on 9 April 1945. His service number was CL/48. He is the husband of Madam Sim Kiew End of Bedok, Singapore. 

The Chinese characters (when read together from right to left (traditional Chinese reading direction) on the tombstone are 鞠躬盡瘁 which translates literally as "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH". Another eloquent translation: Be loyal and devoted to the end. The full phrase is 鞠躬尽瘁 死而后已 which can be traced from the 3 kingdom stories which describes the devotion of Zhuge Liang to the Shu Han cause at the death bed of Liu Bei. 

To me what is most interesting is the Chinese Labour Corps. I didn't know there was there even one. Who were they and what did they do during the war. Read on for my basic research and what i discovered so far. (Do note there is also ample research for the Chinese Labour Corps but that version is for the Chinese Labour Corps in the Great War / World War I which in itself a fantastic read). Will update this article if i find out more as well so come back once in a while. 

Wee Kiong Chiang of the Chinese Labour Corps 

Chinese Labour Corps / Chinese Labour Company of Malaya

Sometime in the month of September 1941, when the Malaya Command was recruiting locally for "fortress Singapore", a unit known as the Chinese Labour Company was born. From a handful of men headed by Capt. J.W. Prescott, it gained strength under the able hands of Sgt-Major Wee Bah Cheng who was drafted from the S.V.C. They were provided with army uniforms, rations, etc and entitled to same privileges.  In 11 November 1941, there was a call from the army for more recruits. Among them was vacancies for 600 men in the Chinese Labour Corps. It was reported that there are less than 100 in the corps and many hundreds more are required for the recently created non-combatant Chinese Labour Company of the Malaya Command. The newspaper article dated 13 November 1941 went on to get examples of several people who signed on. 

One was a former bantamweight boxer by the name of "Clever Chan". He went on to be Corporal Chang Cheng Hoe in the Chinese Labour Corps drawing 65 cents a day and all the privilege that a uniform affords to its wearer. The other was Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Ong Kim Beng drawing $1.05 cents a day (He was a former travelling salesman who later a lawyer's clerk). The last example was a person who use to manage his father's firm. He is now Company Sergeant Major Wee Bah Cheng (the top Chinese in the Corps) drawing $1.35 a day and all privileges. 

Post war, In the papers of 22 November 1945, The British Military Authority (BMA) called for former members of the Chinese Labour Company that was raised in September 1941 to report to Mr. Wee Bah Cheng at 74 Cross Street. He started collecting records and data for the purpose of claiming recognition for those who served and gave their life in service to the British. 

From one account, 160 Chinese eventually signed up. 

The forgotten Men

Post war - 3 appeals appeared in Singapore newspapers, with 2 familiar names, giving me insight that Corporal Chang Cheng Hoe and Sgt. Major Wee Bah Cheng survived the Japanese occupation. The third person that wrote an appeal was a Mr. Chee Teck Guan. 

Corporal Chang Cheng Hoe article gave insight what happened to some of them during the war whereby the 750th Chinese Labour Company was sent to Kuala Lumpur and later returned to Singapore. Their duties included loading and unloading of ammunition. He went on to describe that during the Japanese occupation, some of the enlisted "disappeared" when called by the Japanese Military Police. 

The Chinese Labour company was unable to draw a single penny from the benefit of the Rehabilitation Grant, Victory Bonus, Arrears of Pay and Advances against Backpay. Sgt. Major Wee Bah Cheng wrote and pleaded with the Malaya Armed Local Forces,  later HQ ALFSEA and later the War Department that this unit still exist as a company of Forgotten Men - Chinese Labour Company - 74 Cross Street. 

Where they ever paid ? I am not sure for now. Another Chinese Labour Corps personnel i found was on the wall (plot 44) representing those who perished in captivity in February 1942 - Private Chew Guan Seng (grandson of Tjah Peow Neo). 

Only 5 names were eventually recorded from the Chinese Labour Corps in the Commonwealth Graves Commission. Wee Kiong Chiang is located at 36. G. 5. 

References

Advertisement. (1941, October 6). Morning Tribune, page 6 

Nucleus of Chinese Labour Corps Being Formed. (1941, November 13). The Straits Times, page 10

Untitled. (1945, November 22). Malaya Tribune, page 2 

Chinese Labour Company. (1946, April 1). The Straits Times, page 2 

750th Chinese Company. (1946, July 22). The Straits Times, page 7 

A story of the British Army ends in Chinatown. (1946, December 30). The Straits Times, page 13

Assistance from Fabian Tee and Eric Lee in translation.