Mrs. Koh Eng Tiong nee Lee Siok Puay (Lao Sua)

Madam Lee Siok Puay's tomb to me is very unique has it carries so many stories that transcends time by the fact that it states on her tomb;

Born: 1884

Married: 1906

Died: 1907

Leaving a son; Koh Choon Hong

This engraving on the tomb sadly informs everyone that Madam Lee Siok Puay passed away at the young age of 23, just a year after she was married and given birth. Her son, Koh Choon Hong must have only been an infant when she passed away. Madam Lee Siok Puay is the beloved wife of Koh Eng Tiong. If she was alive, she would have been so proud of what her infant son grew up to be and do. Do read on !

Born 1884, Married 1906, Died 1907 

 

Mrs. Khoo Eng Tiong nee Madam Lee Siok Puay 

Son: Koh Choon Hong

Koh Choon Hong whose name appears at the tomb (also the grandson of Madam Lee Hong Neo) is a name that has many mentions. Koh Choon Hong studied in Anglo Chinese School, Singapore. He went on to study law in Emanuel College, Cambridge in 1925. Called to Bar in June 1929, Koh Choon Hong was admitted to the Colony Bar in 1932. He went on to be an Assistant Official Assignee. He became the colony first Chinese District Judge and in July 1940, Koh Choon Hong was appointed Deputy Public Prosecutor in 1940, the first Chinese to receive this position (reported in the Straits Settlement Gazette 1940). 

Miss Stella Caroline Fung (of Sandakan and educated in Singapore - third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Fung. John S.Fung is a retired Deputy Asst. District Officer) married Mr. Koh Choon Hong (a senior officer of the Brankruptcy Office, Singapore). The marriage took place on 8 March 1940 before Mr. H.A. Forrer, Senior Registrar of Marriages. 

Koh Choon Hong 

Singapore Free Press November 13, 1925 , p 8. 

Koh Choon Hong was appointed Referee of Titles by the Perak Government during the Dinding retro-cession back to Perak and was the Custodian of Enemy Property during World War II. In 1945, he served as a Major in the Intelligence Section of the British Army, Commissioner in Malayanisation Commission; Secretary-General, Labour Party (1954);  the Vice-President of the Singapore People's Alliance (1956). He stood for elections in the 1959 Singapore Legislative Assembly Elections and won for the Joo Chiat Constituency.

Straits Tmes July 1, 1937

Another interesting note was that Koh Choon Hong stood for the 1957 Legislative Assembly By- Elections as an Independent Candidate. He lost to Lee Kuan Yew of the People's Action Party.

Family

In 25 October 1961, it was reported that 2 Singapore girls studying law at the University of Western Australia in Perth will spend their Christmas holidays in Melbourne because 1 of them won a beauty contest. She was Miss Koh Siok Tian (17). Her sister who is accompanying her is Miss Koh Siok Puay (19). Both are daughters of Mr. Koh Choon Hong, lawyer and Assemblyman for Joo Chiat. After completing their studies, Koh Siok Tian hopes to join her father's law firm while Koh Siok Puay plans to join the diplomatic service. 

Reading this story, made me wonder whether Koh Choon Hong named her first born daughter Siok Puay after her mother's maiden name (Lee Siok Puay). Indeed the possibility of this makes this a wonderful story that transcends time. 

 

Koh Siok Puay and Koh Siok Tian 

Daughter: Koh Siok Puay / Tootsie Koh / Tootsie Ambrose (born 1942 -  

Tootsie Koh was the long term partner of Len Buckeridge, founder of BCD Construction. When Len Buckridge passed away he left behind a $2.5 billion property empire. They have a son by the name of Julian Ambrose (a director at BGC).

Koh Siok Puay / Tootsie Koh (1963) 

Daughter: Koh Siok Tian / Madeline Koh / Indus Koh / Heavenly Koh (born 1944 -
Koh Siok Tan was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia and held a position with the Child Welfare Department as an advocate for children in Children's Court. After moving to London, England in 1968, she worked as a solicitor in the firm of Crawley and de Reya in their entertainment branch in Broadwick Street and was admitted to practice as a solicitor in the United Kingdom. After meeting Scott Wilson, Heavenly Koh moved to Los Angeles, worked for Warner Bros. as an attorney negotiating contracts. Leaving law, Heavenly is now an accomplished artist and writer. (source: eberfest).

Her husband, Scott Wilson (29 March 1942 – 6 October 2018) was an American actor with many film roles which included The Great Gatsby, Dead Man Walking, Pearl Harbor. Many "zombie flick fans" will remember him as Hershel Greene on the AMC television series The Walking Dead. 

Madeline Koh Siok Tian (source: National Archives Australia)

Daughter: Koh Siok Hoe / Koh Seok Ho 

<no information at the moment>

Son: Koh Choon Hong (same as his father's name) / Christopher Koh Choon Hong  (born 1948 
Koh Choon Hong celebrating his second birthday on 14 September 1950 at their home in 6 Anguilla Park. In the picture shows him blowing the candle while his mother and sisters, Tootsie, Indus and Seok Ho and friends look on. It is from this picture, i found out that from the marriage of Stella Fung and Koh Choon Hong, they had 3 daughters and 1 son. 

Christopher Koh Choon Hong celebrating his second birthday
(source: NewspaperSG)

15 year old Christopher Koh Choon Hong from Singapore is the youngest student in 1964 to have enrolled at the University of Western Australia. He follows in the footsteps of two of his older sisters, Koh Siok Puay and Koh Siok Tian, who graduated in law last year and are now articled to different law firms in Perth. His third sister, Koh Siok Hoe, who is older than Christopher, is studying for matriculation in Perth. All four live together in a house near the university - Christopher Koh Choon Hong (left) talks with the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Mr Eric Edwards in front of the university library. I found out that Christopher Koh Choon Hong possibly passed away in his 30s (see under further reading). 

Christopher Koh Choon Hong (15 years old in 1964) source: National Archives Australia

Mother-in-law: Madam Lee Hong Neo 
Madam Lee Hong Neo passed away at the age of 80 on 25 March 1940 and is buried in Block 4 Section C plot 2014. The names of two sons are mentioned in her tomb, Koh Eng Hoe and Koh Eng Tiong. Also visible are names of her grandchildren, Koh Choon Hong and Koh Chew Bock.

With the discovery of Koh Teng Kay tomb (father of Koh Eng Tiong) by Raymond Goh who also documented the tomb of Madam Lee Siok Puay way back in October 2023 i believe that the husband of Madam Lee Hong Neo is Koh Teng Kay. 

Madam Lee Hong Neo 

Madam Lee Hong Neo's tomb being enveloped by a Banyan Tree

[research on-going] - do come back regularly for updates. 

Location of tomb

8RJG+P7W Singapore

Mrs. Khoo Eng Tiong nee Lee Siok Puay in Lao Sua

Further Reading 

Koh Choon Hong and family. (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录, posted on 29 October 2023

The lawyer and his beautiful daughters by Catherine Lim. (website).Bukit Brown.com, posted on 30 October 2023

Clue that link the current whereabouts of Siok Puay (Tootsie), Siok Tian (Heavenly) and Choon Hong by reader Julian  on Bukitbrown.com whom i suspect is Julian Ambrose