Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Oei Bok Sien

Towkay Oei Bok Sien was in the shipping business and owned ships such as the modern steel ship "Bintan" (built in Singapore by United Engineers shipyard in Tanjong Rhu), and steamers such as the "Esmeralda", "Pontianak" that ply the Singapore-Riau (Indonesia) routes. He also purchase many properties expanding his wealth and base in Singapore. 

The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Oie Bok Sien is a firm favorite among many "Brownies" including myself because of the many many layers of stories that could be shared and seen from there. 
This includes stories of :

• The Chinese Diaspora and how interconnected British-controlled Singapore was with its neighbors, Malaya and Dutch controlled Indonesia. Made his wealth in the shipping business and maritime trade 

• The stories from the exquisite carvings of stones from their tomb including of course the rare sikh guards accompaniments 

•  The war story - The headstone of the tomb with a battle scar (a hole on the headstone itself) - reminding us of the intense battle that took place, in and the surrounding areas just before the fall of Singapore. 

The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Oei Bok Sien and their son, Wee Teow Cheng or Oei Tiau Tjing (Kapitan China of Rhio) has been restored, the battle scar hole on Mr. and Mrs. Oei Bok Sien tomb patched and heartening to find out of the the filial piety of the descendants who pay their respects annually. 

Peace surroundings (photo taken from the tomb mound of Mr. and Mrs. Oei Bok Sien

Descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Oei Bok Sien already clean up the tomb

 

Paying respects to Mr. and Mr. Oei Bok Sien before heading uphill to pay respects to OeiTiau Tjing

Baba Robin Wee paying respects 

Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to join them (we were rushing to do more documentation) as the Wee's packed and move uphill to pay respects to Wee Teow Cheng or Oei Tiau Tjing (Kapitan China of Rhio) and as we bid farewell,  i am assured that there will at least for another generation - protectors of Bukit Brown Cemetery - descendants who are fully aware of their roots and celebrate it and who are actively taking care of this space. 

Qing Ming 2025 at the tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Oei Bok Sien

An old photo of tomb of  Mr and Mrs Oei Bok Sien (you can see the battle scar)