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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 tomb mason

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許成溪 - Koh Cheng Khee (Lao Sua)

October 04, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Lao Sua tomb mason Youtube Shorts

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Tan Hoo Chwee - founder of Kian Seng Huat (Kopi Sua)

October 04, 2025

kheam hock road village kopi sua Plus Codes Reconnecting tomb mason Youtube Shorts

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Wee Toh Nee (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div C tomb mason

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Madam Cheang Koh Peck (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2025

Pauper Section 3 Division 7 tomb mason

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Corporal Henry Wee Hong Heng (Kranji War Memorial)

December 10, 2024

kranji war memorial tomb mason

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Wee Bros. Undertakers, Monumental Masons and Marble Merchants

October 05, 2024

St. Joseph Church Cemetery tomb mason

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Tay Eng Aik (Bukit Brown)

February 04, 2024

Block 4 Div C Hill 4 tomb mason

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Phay Ee Sam and Lim Geok Huay (Bukit Brown)

January 12, 2023

Block 4 Div C tomb mason

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Lions of Wong Ah Fook - Raoul Bigazzi

November 21, 2022

exhumed peck san teng cemetery tomb mason

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Bukit Brown887
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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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黃狗屎 (Lao Sua)

I was surprised when i was told about the translation for this simple tomb in Loa Sua as i couldn't read chinese. Name of deceased: 黃狗屎 In Hokkien, 黃狗屎 is pronounced and romanized as Ng Káo Sái (often written locally as Ng Cow Sai). Yes, dog feces is the name of the male person with the surname Wee buried here whose ancestry place is from 石庭 (Shiting, in Hanjiang District, Putian, Fujian, China). There is no date of death stated. 黃狗屎 - Ng Kao Sai Here is the exact character-by-character breakdown: 黃 (Huang): Pronounced Wee (or Ooi / Ng depending on the specific regional subdialect). For this particular family line, it was registered as Wee. 狗 (Gou): Pronounced Káo (which sounds exactly like the English word "Cow"). It is the everyday colloquial Hokkien word for dog. 屎 (Shi): Pronounced Sái. It is the Hokkien word for feces/poop. When put together in spoken Hokkien, it sounds like "Ng Cow Sai." Note: Surname was amended from Wee to Ng based on community feedb...

許成溪 - Koh Cheng Khee (Lao Sua)

This unique headstone was found in Lao Sua. Let's go through the inscription first and then the theory behind its design that makes it a unique find. 許成溪墓/ Tomb of Mr. Koh Cheng Khee Using Gemini AI assistance. Ancestral Origin 金門 (Kinmen / Quemoy) 後浦 (Houpu) Meaning: This identifies the ancestral hometown of the deceased as Houpu, Kinmen (an island group off the coast of Fujian, China, which was a very common place of origin for early Chinese immigrants to Southeast Asia). Main Inscription 許成溪墓 Tomb of Mr. Koh Cheng Khee (or Xu Chengxi in Mandarin pinyin). 許 (Koh / Xu): The family surname. In the Hokkien dialect, it is commonly spelled as Koh or Khoo. 成溪 (Cheng Khee / Chengxi): The given name. 墓 (Tomb / Grave): Indicates that this is the resting place of the individual. This specific stone's highly elongated, slender neck and rounded crown have similar characteristics of a Southeast Asian flat-style batu nisan seen in Malay Muslim cemeteries. Because the characters explicit...

Tan Boo Liat (Bukit Brown)

Tan Boo Liat (陈武烈 1875-1934) was born into a well known and established family in Singapore. He is the son of Tan Soon Toh (1853-1892), the grandson of Tan Kim Ching , (陈金钟, 1829-1892) and great grandson of Tan Tock Seng (陈笃生, 1798-1850). Tan Boo Liat was one of the pioneer members of the Straits Chinese British Association when it was first formed in 1900. The President of the Association was Tan Jiak Kim and Vice President, Seah Liang Seah. He was the owner of the mansion called Golden Bell Mansion (named after his grandfather, Tan Kim Ching ) in Mount. Faber. On December 15, 1911, Chinese revolutionary leader Dr. Sun Yat Sen, stayed the night here, immediately after his arrival from Europe. Tan Boo Liat was instrumental in the formation of the Singapore Chinese Girl School (Sing Po Chung Kwo Hsio Tang) located at Hill Street in 1899. The President then was Lew Yuk Lin (Chinese Consul) and Vice Presidents; Khoo Seok Wan and Tan Hap Seng , Treasurer;...

Tan Soo Wha (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam passed away at the age of 60 on 21 July 1939. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam / 陳炳炎 Estate of Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam From the newspaper article, i gotten insight that Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam passed away at No. 24 Pearl's Hill Road Singapore on 21 July 1939. The executor of the deceased estate was Yeo Yeow Ching. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam estate Tan Soo Wha is long associated with the Amateur Sporting Association where some meetings were even held at his residence in 1921. Gemini AI Translated Central Columns (The Deceased) 祖 (Zǔ): Ancestor 考炳炎陳公 (Kǎo Bǐngxìn Chén Gōng): 公/Gong is a respectful title for a male elder). Chinese characters: 陳炳炎 / Chen BingYán Teochew Romanization: Tan Peng Yam 妣耀清楊氏楊耀清 / Yang Yaoqing Teochew Romanization: Yeo Yew Cheng 墓 (Mù): Tomb / Grave. Right Side Wing (Hometown & Date) 潮安菴埠 (Cháo'ān Ānbù): Chao'an, Anbu. This indicates their ancestral origin...

Tan Sri Koo Chong Kong - Lest We Forget

Koo Chong Kong (1925-14 November 1975) was born in China. Due to civil war there, he left with some of his family members and settled first at Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. From there, he moved to Ipoh where he studied in Anglo Chinese School in Ipoh. During the Japanese occupation, he joined the resistance movement, becoming a liaison officer with the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army and his comrades in arms included top communist such as Chen Tien. Post Japanese occupation, he refused to joined the Communist when emergency was declared in 1948. The communist decided to eliminate him as he knew too much and several attempts were indeed made. Koo Chong Kong moved to Sarawak in 1950 for refugee. He joined the Sarawak Constabulary in 1952 before being sent to Hendon Police College in Britain in 1955 where he won the "Baton of Honour". In 1963 he was honoured with the Colonial Police Medal. He was made a Datuk by the Governor of Sarawak, Tuanku Haji Bujang. Promoted to Ass...

Peck Cheng Bong (Bukit Brown)

Peck Cheng Bong passed away on 17 April 1928. On the burial registrar his name was listed as Pek Cheng Bong and passed away on 18 April 1928 at the age of 41. Peck Cheng Bong / 白清夢 Using Gemini AI for Assistance Ancestral Origin 安溪 (Anxi) Main Center Inscription 顯考清夢白公墓顯考 (Xiǎn Kǎo): A respectful honorific title used for a deceased father. 清夢 (Qing Meng / Hokkien: Cheng Bong): The given name of the deceased. 白公 (Bái Gōng / Hokkien: Peck Gong): 白 (Peck) is the family surname, and 公 (Gong) is a respectful title for a male elder or grandfather. 墓 (Mù): Grave / Tomb. Translation: The tomb of the late respected father, Mr. Peck Cheng Bong. Left Column (Descendants) 孝男錫朋立孝男 (Xiào Nán): Filial son(s). 錫朋 (Xi Péng / Hokkien: Sek Bong): The name of the son. 立 (Lì): Erected by. Translation: Erected by his filial son, Xi Peng. Location of tomb Block 2 Division H, plot 261

Quek Guan Kiat (Bukit Brown)

While exploring Hill 4, Section C, in an area heavily pegged (i.e. affected by the 8 lane highway), i came across this marble tomb belonging to Mr. Quek Guan Kiat. On his tomb, it reads; In Loving Memory of Quek Guan Kiat 8th June 1938 Age 22 Years Specially erected by The Golden Bell Minstrels In appreciation of his services to the party Quek Guan Kiat In 1935, a variety entertainment organised by the Straits Chinese Reading Club, a branch of the Chinese Christian Association in honor of its President Rev. William Murray, O.B.E, M.A (on his forthcoming departure from Malaya on his retirement ) was held at Y.M.C.A Hall Orchard Road. Quek Guan Kiat was one of the performer that danced the Hula-hula in "Twilight in Honolulu". Quek Guan Kiat must have been so well loved by the Golden Bell Minstrels group that they came together to erect this tomb for him when he passed away at the young age of 22. The below is a picture of him taken in 1937, a year before ...

Madam Wee Tuah Nya (Bukit Brown)

Madam Wee Tuah Nya passed away at the age of 36 on 9 May 1933. On the burial registrar his name is spelt as Wee Tuah Nioh. Wee Tuah Nya tomb in Bukit Brown Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot 551

Chua Hood Kye (Bukit Brown)

The marble tomb needed clean up as it was covered with moss. After some cleaning the tomb, it was all etched in English and it reads; In Loving Memory of Chua Hood Kye Beloved Son of Mr & Mrs Chua Teck Kim Who Passed Away 13-12-34 Age 4 Years. Chua Hood Kye was only 4 years when he passed away on 13 December 1934. In the burial registrar, the entry for his name is written as Chua Hock Kye Chua Hood Kye Possible Connection I really cannot be sure who Chua Teck Kim parents are, but within that timeline, this is a possible connection of his parents. If i follow this version, the possible story is this: Father: Chua Teck Kim Chua Teck Kim of No. 57 Killiney Road, Singapore , Clerk - a bankruptcy notice for him appeared on June 1937. Bankruptcy Ordinance Notice for Chua Teck Kim A bankrupt, Chua Teck Kim, attributed his insolvency to standing surety for his for mother for $26,00. This liabilities eventually snowballed to $33,000 when he eventually beca...

Mr. Red (紅) ? - Ang Peng Siong (Bukit Brown)

The tombstone was in bad condition and marble headstone missing. Searching the grounds in front of the tombstone, fortunately we managed to locate the marble headstone which was broken in several pieces and piece it back like a mini jigsaw puzzle. After cleaning the tomb, we place it on top of the altar table. Another puzzle. the marble headstone mentions his surname as Red (紅), hence, i nicknamed this tomb as belonging to Mr. Red which is of course strange. After going through the burial registrar, we found that his name was Ang Peng Siong (紅平祥). He passed away on 18 December 1927. From the burial registrar, i can't really tell his age but it looks like 43 years old. Ang Peng Siong (紅平祥) Using Gemini AI for assistance The center column reads "顕考平祥江公墓" 顕考 (Xian Kao): A respectful term meaning "Deceased Honored Father." 平祥 (Ping Xiang): The person's given name. 紅 (Hong): The family surname . 公 (Gong): A respectful honorific title applied to male ancestors...

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