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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 war

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Ulu Pandan War Cemetery

kranji war memorial +0 war

kranji war memorial war

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Battle for Singapore Heritage Tours 2025 - Bukit Brown Cemetery

Bukit Brown +0 war

Bukit Brown war

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Ruth Li and Patsy Li reunites (S.S. Kuala survivors)

September 21, 2023

+0 war

war

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Prisoners Executed at Outram Road Prison and buried in Bukit Brown

October 10, 2022

Communal Trench +0 war

Communal Trench war

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Cheok Huan Cheong (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division E Bukit Brown Hill 1 war + WWII

Block 1 Division E Bukit Brown Hill 1 war WWII

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The "forgotten" Japanese War Memorial at Mount Pleasant

August 26, 2020

kopi sua war WW2-Tours +0 WWII

kopi sua war WW2-Tours WWII

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Sam Kai Faye (former Peck San Teng Cemetery)

peck san teng cemetery +0 war

peck san teng cemetery war

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Chinese Volunteers Perished in Captivity (Chinese Memorial at Kranji War Memorial)

kranji war memorial +0 war

kranji war memorial war

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Hill 3322
Hill 1185
Hill 4168
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Hill 298
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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

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

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

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

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Popular Post

Chua Tian Poh (Lao Sua)

Chua Tian Poh passed away at the age of 62 on 11 November 1954. From his tomb, the name of his children; Sons: Chua Ah Gong, Chua Ah Lai, Chua Soh Lai Daughters: Chua Bee Neo, Chua Cheot Tee, Chua Bong Chee, Chua Puteh, Chua Peck Choo, Chua Ah Pong, Chua Peck Heok, Grandsons: Chua Goo Kiah, Chua Tee Kiah Granddaughters: Chua Gek Neo, Chua Choo Neo Chua Tian Poh married Madam Teo Kim Neo (daughter of Mr. Teo Hong and Madam Ang Cheok Neo ). I also heard from his descendants that Mr. Chua Tian Poh was an employee in one of Mr. Teo Hong's company. Chua Tian Poh command of chinese was poor, so he communicated with his wife Teo Kim Neo and children in a mixture of Malay and English. I also found out that Mr. Teo Hong wasn’t happy when he knew his employee, Chua Tian Poh was courting his daughter. Teo Kim Neo fell out with his father but remained in good terms with her mother, Madam Ang Cheok Neo. When Madam Teo Kim Neo passed away, she left behind four apartment units along Eng Hoon Roa...

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 Pah...

Qing Ming at the tomb of Lee Peng Seng (2025)

I left Bukit Brown today knowing a bit more about Mr. Lee Peng Seng thanks to his grandchildren present today during their Qing Ming visit to Bukit Brown. What i can see for sure is a man and the legacy he left behind. It was a legacy of love and filial piety that have lasted almost a hundred years and hopefully. His grandchildren and 1 great grandchild was present today and i am grateful in their generosity in sharing what they know about him and especially the rare photos of him and his family. Lee Peng Seng was a merchant who came to seek for fortune like many others before him. The grandchildren present do not have much details about the name of his chop nor who Lee Peng Seng parents are but they do have with them, a wealth of photos which some was shared with me. This included pictures of 2 of his wives. From the number of photos shared, i guess the Lee Peng Seng was well to do with the ability to manage his company as well as growing family. The family photo that was passed ...

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...

Ulu Pandan War Cemetery

On 12 July 1955, a cemetery for British servicemen was opened by Major-General D. D. C. Tulloch at a site along Ulu Pandan Road near Clementi Road. He received the keys to the cemetery gates from Mr. W. E. Warr, the Garrison Engineer. The 2.5 hectare cemetery had different burial plots for Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Protestants and Roman Catholics. The cemetery commemorates many of those who gave their lives in the defense of Malaysia and Singapore during: The Malayan emergency 1948-1960 The Indonesian Confrontation, 1964-1966 In 1975, arrangements were made for the cemetery’s 1,587 graves to be relocated to make way for urban redevelopment. Some of the exhumed remains were later reburied at the Kranji War Memorial. From one article, it was said that a total of 748 were reburied at Kranji War Memorial, 838 were cremated and 1 was privately buried. Ulu Pandan War Cemetery (source: National Archives Australia) Layout of the Ulu Pandan Military Cemetery Gates of Ulu Pandan British W...

Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Madam Toh Pow (Bukit Brown)

We helped in locating the tomb of Madam Toh Pow after a request for help came from Angelique Goh and her cousins way back in 19 March 2023. Today we got to meet them again as they go about their Qing Ming visit to pay respects to their grandmother, Madam Toh Pow again. Their family story is an example of the strength and perseverance of the women folk of their family spanning a few generations ! Paying respects to Madam Toh Pow (Qing Ming 2025) Madam Toh Pow was adopted into the Lim family and eventually married a Lim son. Madam Toh Pow was industrious and worked as a amah/baby sister for an English family and subsequently at a biscuit factory. It was during this time, the family grew as well, with first an adopted daughter and subsequently more biological children of her own. Madam Toh Pow life was cut short when she passed away while in labor. Her baby boy survived but Madam Toh Pow passed away on 11 April 1940 at the age of 28 due to child birth complications. In the coffi...

Qing Ming - Five-colored paper

During Qing Ming, even if you are passive observer, you will noticed visited tombs with colored papers placed on tomb mount an/ or the headstone. Some are just strewn randomly behind while others follow a pattern of 5 color papers being grouped together. Whatever the individual descendant family practice, from what i read from online sources and asked through oral accounts from descendants is the act of placing the colored papers (called ya zhi (压纸) ) on top of the headstone is symbolic of the fact that this tomb is well taken care of by the filial descendants. The paper typically have 5 colors, representing the 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Gold, Wood and Water) and / or the 5 cardinal directions (North, South, East. West and Centre). 5 colored paper with stones to hold them down Five colored paper on the grave as well on top of the headstone 5 colored paper on headstone Note: None of the perspectives expressed here represent singular truths given the syncretic nature of Chinese...

Anne Culas (St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery)

Anne (wife of J.M. Morais) was born on 26 July 1905 and passed away on 1 May 1945. Fortunately, with the name of Anne's husband name there i was able to find her full name and also link this tomb to the tomb of John Angelus Morais (her brother-in-law ). J.M. Morais of the Anderson School, Ipoh got engage in India in 1926 to Miss Anne Culas (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Culas of Port Trivandrum. The marriage will take place on 10 February 1926 at St. Anthony's Church, Port Trivandrum. J.M. Morais was the President of the Perak Teachers' Association. Anne Culas / Mrs. J. M. Morais John Emile Morais (14.9.1927 - 30.5. 2006 ) Tomb Mason S.S.M.W 16 Belfield Street, Ipoh References Social and Personal. (1926, January 30). Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, page 6

Low Peng Soy (Bukit Brown)

Low Peng Soy (1886-1938) was a merchant, rubber plantation owner and eventually a property tycoon. His company, Low Peng Soy and Co was located at 57 Boat Quay. The company he shared with Poey Keng Seng was totally dissolved in 1918. A rubber factory (The Sungei Batoe Rubber Factory) that they jointly owned was sold back to his former partner. He leased out unfurnished bungalows at 494, 522 Pasir Panjang Road and bought land and houses. He was reported to have sold of his rubber estate for $300,000 in 1925. Low Peng Soy was the Auditor and shareholder of Sze Hai Tong Bank. (during the time where Leow Chia Heng was managing director). He was also the proprietor of Roxy Theatre, Katong and the Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. He was appointed member of Chinese Advisory Board in 1934 (after Lee Kim Soo died) and a pioneer of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. Roxy Theatre (source: a2o) Contributions Our day fund (1916), China Famine Relief (1920), Provided free u...

Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo (Lao Sua)

Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo passed away at the age of 78 on 26 November 1967 leaving behind 4 sons, 2 daughters, adopted daughter (Madam Lim Sim Kee), son-in-law (Cheong Chee Hock), 2 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. The cortege left from 507 Havelock Road. Sons: Koh Sian Poh, Koh Sian Cheng, Koh Sian Swee, Koh Sian Hoe Daughters: Koh Gek Choo, Koh Gek Eng Grandson: Koh Kim Seng Granddaughters: Koh Kim Choo, Koh Kim Suan, Koh Kim Lian, Koh Kim Guat Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo Family Husband: Koh Chin Joo Mr. Koh Chin Joo of 507 Havelock Road was a clerk employed by Messrs. Fraser and Neave Ltd. Mr. Koh Chin Joo passed away at his residence, 507 Havelock Road at the age of 64 on 13 March 1951. He leaves behind his widow, 4 sons (Koh Sian Poh, Koh Sian Cheng, Koh Sian Swee and Koh Sian Hoe, 2 daughters (Mrs. Cheong Chee Hock and Miss Koh Gek Eng, Rosie) and 1 adopted daughter (Mrs. Koon Kim Leng), 5 grandchildren, 2 sons-...

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