Soh Koon Eng

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Soh Koon Eng 蘇坤英 | A War Casualty, 27 January 1942



Soh Koon Eng 

夏門
民囯辛已年
十二月十一日
蘇坤英
Soh Koon Eng 
Jan 27th 1942 

Burial plot
Soh Koon Eng 
Bukit Brown Blk 5 E plot no 142
19 years old
Date of death 27th Jan 1942
Date of internment 28th Jan 1942 

Overview

Soh Koon Eng (蘇坤英, c.1923–1942) was a 19-year-old Straits-born Hokkien girl who died on 27 January 1942, a war casualty during the Japanese aerial bombing of Singapore — 19 days before the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. She was the daughter of the Soh family of 28 Lorong 20, Geylang, and the elder sister of Soh Chuan Lam (1927–2014). She was buried the following day at Bukit Brown Cemetery, Block 5, Section E, Plot 142.

The Story — As Told by Geraldine Soh (niece)

"When the air-raid siren sounded, Koon Eng was at a friend's house in Lorong 18. She decided to hurry home although her friend told her to wait for the 'all-clear'. Koon Eng rushed to get our infant cousin, Jenny, and had just gotten under the table (altar) together with the rest of the family, including her mother (my grandmother), when a bomb fell and hit the house. She was in an exposed area and a few splinters hit her and she cried out 'ma gua si' (妈我死 — Mama, I'm dying). She was taken by ambulance to Kandang Kerbau Hospital where she passed away at 19 years old, but saved our cousin, Jenny.

— As told by her late father Soh Chuan Lam (younger brother of Soh Koon Eng)

The house at #28 Lorong 20 in Geylang belonged to my grandfather."

Family Details

  • Father: Soh (surname), owner of 28 Lorong 20, Geylang
  • Younger brother: Soh Chuan Lam (1927–2014)
  • Niece (narrator): Geraldine Soh, daughter of Soh Chuan Lam
  • Infant cousin saved: Jenny

Tomb Inscription 墓碑銘文

PositionChineseTranslation
Right column民國辛巳年Republic of China, Xinsi year (1941/42)
Centre蘇坤英Soh Koon Eng
Left column十二月十一日12th lunar month, 11th day
English panelSOH KOON ENG / JAN 27TH 1942 / 19 YEARSName, Western date, age

Report of Death (courtesy of Geraldine Soh

Report of Death Issued by Wee Bros. (Undertakers), 155 Selegie Road, Singapore

FieldDetails
ReligionBuddhist
Age19 years
SexFemale
NationalityHokkien, British Subject, Straits-born
Residence28, Lorong 20, Geylang
Place of deathKandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital
Cause of deathWar Casualty
Date of death27 January 1942
Date of burial28 January 1942, 4:30 PM
PlotNo. 142, Sec. E, Block 5, Bukit Brown Cemetery
UndertakerWee Bros., 155 Selegie Road


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Soh Koon Eng (pic courtesy of Geraldine Soh) 




Soh Koon Eng (aged 18), sister of Soh Chuan Lam (1927-2014), with friend Charles Dias. Miss Soh passed away in January 1942 during Japanese air-attack and was buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery
(Source : NAS archives) 








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