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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Showing posts with the label WWII

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Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles WWII Youtube Shorts

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Prisoners Executed at Outram Road Prison and buried in Bukit Brown

October 10, 2022

Bukit Brown Communal Trench war WWII

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Tay Ee Ai (Bukit Brown)

February 20, 2022

Block 3 Div D Hill 3 video WW2-Tours WWII

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"Forgotten" Japanese War Memorial found at 159 Mount Pleasant

November 03, 2021

japanese tomb Mount Pleasant WW2-Tours WWII

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Cheok Huan Cheong (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division E Bukit Brown Hill 1 war WWII

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Tok Hong Kian and family (Bukit Brown)

November 23, 2020

Block 3 Div D WWII

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Newspaper mentions(2025)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions (2017)

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

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Mrs. Ong Chin Beng nee Madam Mabel Tan (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Ong Chin Beng nee Mabel Tan passed away at the General Hospital after a long spell of typhoid illness. She was 28 and is survived by her husband and 3 children. The cortege left from No B Lorong 37, Geylang for Bukit Brown. Her tomb was overgrown and after some clean up, we can see the following from her tomb; In Loving Memory Mrs. C.B. Ong nee Mabel Tan who died on 19/12/1935 at the age of 28 Chiloren:- Alice Ong, Charlie Ong and Cwennie Ong. What is of course obvious other than the marble headstone is all in English, is the cross on her tomb. Christian tombs in Bukit Brown are rare as although Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery is a cemetery for chinese of various dialect groups but it is not known to be a cemetery of the Christian faith. Christians are usually buried in Bidadari Cemetery. That being said, i have a few tombs with cross on the tomb in Bukit Brown. Another thing you can spot is the headstone is at the back of the rectangle tomb and there is an obvious spell...

Ong Yew Inn (Bukit Brown)

Ong Yew Inn passed away at the age 68 on 9th January 1935. Listed on his tomb is his son, Ong Chin Beng. I can't find much information about Ong Yew Inn but fortunately there was an article which links Ong Yew Inn to Ong Chin Beng when Ong Chin Beng got engagement to Miss Mabel Tan in 1927. It is from this article i got to find out that Ong Yew Inn probably came from Semarang and settled down in Singapore. Ong Yew Inn Son: Ong Chin Beng Ong Chin Beng was a retired undefeated flyweight champion of Malaya who was said to have defended the Championship 4 times in succession becoming a champion after winning a T.KO against his opponent, Sng Chwee Seng. His ring career was comparatively short. When he vacated his spot, another legendary boxer by the name of Vivian "Boy" Walley went on the become the champion in April 1925 at the age of 18 years old. After Ong Chin Beng retired from boxing, he became a boxing promoter. Ong Chin Beng managed the New World Arena (whose Proprie...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown . Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Paha...

Miss Chua Ee Boi and the huge Pulai Tree (Bukit Brown)

Miss Chua Ee Boi passed away at the age of 2 on 16 January 1940 and is buried in Bukit Brown on 17 January 1940. Her simple tomb was uncovered as i was admiring a beautiful Pulai Tree (aka Common Puali or Alstonia angustiloba ) with a huge trunk. It is a native tree of Singapore and reinforces again how important the flora and fauna of Bukit Brown is. Back to the tomb of Baby Chua Ee Boi -i initially got a glimpse of the headstone sticking out and with help of digging and chalking and help in identification, we can put a name to the simple tomb. I imagine how if Baby Chua was alive today she would have been 84 years old and that the Pulai tree must have grew after Bukit Brown Cemetery was closed in 1973 and since then grew to such a size that provides shelter over Miss Chua Ee Boi. Today at least we remember her death anniversary. Miss Chua Ee Boi - she died at the age of 2 in 16 January 1940 Miss Chua Ee Boi burial entry The Pulai Tree with the top part of the headstone sti...

Miss Tan Poey Joo (Bukit Brown)

The marble tomb reads; In Loving Memory of Miss Tan Poey Joo Born 22nd Sept 1913 Died 26th May 1954 Aged 42 Years Miss Tan Poey Joo is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Chong Khee and granddaughter of Mr. Tan Kheam Hock . The only record i could find about her is from a 8 February 1926 article, where passengers on board s.s. Klang from Singapore arrived to Penang. Among the passengers were Mr. and Mrs. Tan Chong Chew , Mr. and Mrs. Tan Chong Kee, Mr. Tan Chong Teck, Miss Tan Poey Chin, Miss Tan Poey Kin, Miss Tan Poey Joo, Master Tan Huck Boon and Master Tan Huck Seng. In 1926, Tan Poey Joo would have only been 13 years old. Father: Tan Chong Khee (died July 17, 1958), age 73 years old Tan Chong Khee passed away at the age of 75 on 17 July 1958 at 5 pm in 10 Tiverton Lane. He leaves behind 4 sons; Tan Huck Thoe, Tan Huck Boon, Tan Huck Seng, Tan Huck Swee, 1 daughter, Tan Poey Kin, 2 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. Lis...

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife (Wee Pek Hay) and two of his son's ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang ) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown, Block 4 Division A. Mr. Lim Nee Soon is not buried there but in Nanking, China. It is however difficult to write a story about Lim Nee Soon family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first introducing Mr. Lim Nee Soon first. Pineapple King and Patriot Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when Lim Nee Soon was only 8 years old and was left in the care of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father). Lim Nee Soon received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School and therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. A Teochew, he started from scratch, working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18 and from there he climbed the rungs by next working for timber merchant Tan Tye a...

Chan Yen Pai and family (Bukit Brown)

Chan Yen Pai is better known as the son of Chan Kim Boon, a famous Baba Malay Translator and prolific publisher of many translated Chinese classics to Baba Malay. Chan Yen Pai, himself continued his father’s work and helped republish Sam Kok [The Romance of the Three Kingdom] in 1932 (volumes one to five) with Fang Heng Printing Press, and possibly Song Kang in 1934 with D. T. Lim, and Kou Chey Thian (1933) (volume one only). Chan Yen Pai (Chan Yen P'ai) passed away at the age of 87 on 18th June 1961 at 2:15pm at 166 Neil Road. In the obituary notice, he is survived by his wife, 1 daughter; Chan Gaik Thay 2 sons; Chan Kee Kok and Chan Kee Hee, daughter-in-law; Sim Bee, 7 Grand-children and 6 Great Grandchildren. Mrs. Chan Yen Pai nee Madam Lim Chuan Keat passed away at the age of 61 on 12th November 1937 and is buried beside him. Chan Yen Pai and Madam Lim Chuan Keat Chan Yen Pai, presumably continued his father’s work and helped republish ...

Skip Tank in Bukit Brown - It's impact

“Imagine strolling through a quiet park or visiting a cemetery to pay respects, only to be confronted by a large industrial skip tank. Its sharp edges, exposed waste, and sheer bulk jar against the calm and dignity of the space. While skip tanks serve a purpose in construction sites, their presence in public sanctuaries raises questions about safety, respect, and cultural sensitivity." Skip Tank at Bukit Brown Cemetery It is not about nostalgia but also there are practical reasons why many people, me included are against the Skip Tank that you see in Bukit Brown Cemetery is ill-suitable for this space. My post explores why skip tanks are unsuitable for parks and cemeteries — and what better alternatives exist. When Skip Tanks Are Suitable Construction sites, renovation projects, or industrial zones where large debris must be collected quickly. Skip Tank is used intensively to store environment waste. e.g. leaves, lalang and branches from regular maintenance of Bukit Brown an...

Wee Huck Boon (Bukit Brown)

Wee Huck Boon passed away at the age of 27 on 5 September 1928. From the newspaper archives, Wee Huck Boon, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wee Kay Hin, age 26 passed away at 3:45 am at 28 Mohamed Sultan Road. The tomb is interesting has the words; "May He Rest In Peace" in English but also this words written in Chinese. 愿他安息 something we rarely see in Bukit Brown. Wee Huck Boon Wee Huck Boon - May He Rest In Peace Family Father: Wee Kay Hin Wee Kay Hin passed away at the age of 65 on 10 March 1939 at his residence, No. 28 Mohamed Sultan Road. He leaves behind his widow, 2 sons; Wee Huck Lay and Wee Huck Su (Wee Huck Soo) 2 daughters; Mrs. Tan Beng Chiang and Miss Wee Jin Chay 2 daughters-in-law and a son in law. Mother: Mrs. Wee Kay Hin nee Tan Hong Neo Mrs. Wee Kay Hin nee Tan Hong Neo, mother of Wee Huck Lay and Wee Huck Su passed away at the age of 71 at her residence, No. 22 Highland Road at 10:50 pm, 13 August 1947. Brother: ...

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