Tan Kim Cheok Neo (Dolly Tan)
陳金雀娘
This division participated in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore.
They were involved in heavy fighting, including the Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan campaign.
September 14, 1944: Death in Yunnan
According to the Saga City Archives, Katsumi Motomura died on this date while fighting in Yunnan.
Further reading :
民國卅二年四月初五日吉 (1943 May 8)
ドーリータン Dolly Tan
陳金雀娘之墓 Tomb of Tan Kim Cheok Neo
孝女 Daughters
鳳娘 Hong Neo
珠娘 Choo Neo
皇紀二六0三年六月廿八日建 (1943 July 29, see note below)
施主 (Sponsor)
本村克己 Motomura Katsumi
友人 (Friend)
濱野宏行 Hamano Hiroyuki
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MADAME TAN KIM CHEOK NEO
(ALIAS DOLLY TAN)
DIED ON 8TH MAY 1943
AGE 29 YEARS
Burial Entry
Date of Burial
9 May 1943
Date of Death
8 May 1943
Dolly Tan Kim Cheok
Blk 2 F, Plot No P29
9 May 1943
Date of Death
8 May 1943
Dolly Tan Kim Cheok
Blk 2 F, Plot No P29
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes on the calendar
Among the deceased buried during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, there stand a unique mysterious lady tomb inscribed with the Japanese Imperial Year 皇紀二六〇三 (Kōki 2603)
This corresponds to the year 1943 in the Gregorian calendar. The term "Kōki" (皇紀) refers to the Japanese imperial year system, which was used in Japan from 1873 to 1945. This system counted years from the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BCE. To convert a Kōki year to a Gregorian year, simply subtract 660 from the Kōki year. In this case: 2603 - 660 = 1943 So, 皇紀二六〇三 (Kōki 2603) is the year 1943 CE in the Gregorian calendar.
In 1873, during the Meiji period, Japan officially adopted the Gregorian calendar for government and business purposes. However, this was not a complete switch.
Many aspects of daily life, traditional events, and religious observances continued to follow the old lunisolar calendar. This dual system persisted for decades.
It wasn't until after World War II, during the American occupation, that Japan fully transitioned to using the Gregorian calendar for all purposes.
Specifically, on December 25, 1947, a law was passed making the Gregorian calendar the sole official calendar of Japan starting from January 1, 1948.
Her name was Tan Kim Cheok Neo, likely a nonya because her Chinese name bears 4 characters
陳金雀娘. Besides her name is also inscribed Dolly Tan in Katakana.
陳金雀娘. Besides her name is also inscribed Dolly Tan in Katakana.
Also mysterious and strange about this tomb is that it she doesn't carry her husband surname, and her tomb was erected by two Japanese gentlemen as follows:
施主 (Patron Sponsor)
本村克己 Motomura Katsumi
友人 (Friend)
濱野宏行 Hamano Hiroyuki
She died of sickness in hospital at the tender age of 29, leaving behind two young daughters Hong Neo and Choo Neo. It is difficult to determine the surname of the daughters since her husband family name was not inscribed.
Who were these two Japanese gentleman who erected such a nice tomb during war time.
Motomura Katsumi
本村 (Motomura): This is the surname.
本 (moto): meaning "origin" or "base"
村 (mura): meaning "village"
克己 (Katsumi): This is likely the given name.
克 (katsu): meaning "to overcome" or "to win"
己 (mi): meaning "oneself"
The most likely reading and English representation of this name would be:
Motomura Katsumi 本村克己
Some points about this name:
Surname 本村 (Motomura):
This is a name found with some concentration in western Japan, particularly in Kyushu.
Given name 克己 (Katsumi)
This is a relatively common given name in Japan.
The meaning is "self-mastery" or "overcoming oneself."
In summary, "本村克己" (Motomura Katsumi) is not a common name by Japanese standards
A check on Motomura Katsumi yields the same name of a solder (army corporal) from a memorial pillar found in Saga City, Kyushu.
陸軍伍長本村章 Army corporal Motomura Akita
Died : 鹿兒島市 Kagoshima city
Date : Showa 20.1.15 Jan 15 1945
Leaving behind Brother 本村康夫 (Motomura Yasuo)
陸軍伍長本村克己 Army corporal Motomura Katsumi
Died Yunnan Province
Date : Show 19. 9.14 Sep 14, 1944
Leaving behind Brother 本村康夫 (Motomura Yasuo)
Taken from Saga City Archives
This Motomura Katsumi died iwhile fighting in Yunnan on Sep 14, 1944, leaving behind a brother. He has a corporal rank .
Based on the information provided and assuming it is indeed the same Katsumi Motomura, we can trace his likely movements as follows:
1941-1942: Invasion of Malaya and Singapore
The 25th Army under command of General Yamashita consists of the Imperial Guards, 5th Infantry Division and 18th Infantry Division and 3rd Air Division
Motomura Katsumi likely arrived in Singapore as part of the 18th Infantry Division under the IJA 25th Army.
This division participated in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore.
1942-1943: Stationed in Singapore
After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, Motomura probably remained stationed there for some time.
During this period, he may have met Tan Kim Cheok Neo (Dolly Tan).
Dolly Tan passed away on May 8, 1943 in hospital due to sickness
Jun 28, 1943 : Erection of Dolly Tan's tomb
Motomura sponsored the tomb for Tan Kim Cheok Neo, who died on May 8, 1943.
His friend 友人 濱野宏行 Hamano Hiroyuki name was also inscribed in the tomb
Late 1943 - Early 1944: Redeployment to Burma/Yunnan
The 18th Infantry Division was transferred to the IJA 15th Army for the invasion of Burma.
Motomura likely moved with his unit for this operation
1944: Fighting in Yunnan
The article mentions that the 18th Division fought against Allied forces advancing on Mogaung and Myitkyina, and against British Chindits.
They were involved in heavy fighting, including the Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan campaign.
September 14, 1944: Death in Yunnan
According to the Saga City Archives, Katsumi Motomura died on this date while fighting in Yunnan.
It is highly possible that this is the same solder Katsumi Motomura who erected this tomb for Dolly Tan Cheok Neo, came with the 18th infantry division during the invasion, somehow get to know Dolly, took a pity on this lady with two young children who died tragically at a young age of sickness and erected a tomb for her.
Another brother 本村章 also died the following year in Kagoshima City on Jan 15, 1945, which is also in Kyushu.
He would be killed in action the following year in Yunnan, following the date of the 18th infantry division.
It could be a beautiful wartime love story awaiting to be told ...
Brother 本村章 Motomura Akira
Another brother 本村章 also died the following year in Kagoshima City on Jan 15, 1945, which is also in Kyushu.
Before he died, 本村章 (Motomura Akira) wrote 獄中記録より「バンワン刑務所内図」.
獄中記録より (Gokuchū kiroku yori): "From prison records"
バンワン刑務所内図 (Banwan keimusho naizu): "Map of Bawan Prison Interior"
Motomura Akira, like his brother Katsumi, was involved in the war and was probably a soldier working in the Bawan Prison off Bangkok. That is why he is able to create the map. This Bawan prison later was used as prisoner of war (POW) in Bawan Prison off Bangkok where Japanese POWs from their base in Burma were held just after the war was over.
About Bawan Prison where Japanese POW was held
Source : https://wam-peace.org/ianjo/resource/a-4758/
(Memoirs of a soldier)
On September 27th, after the war ended, I took Lieutenant Kojima, a classmate from Ueda City, to Bawan Prison. On the way back, I brought back seven people including Sumaka Hiraoka, who were Japanese military employees. They became the first to be released among the Japanese war crime suspects in Thailand. Some had children with them. They were comfort women, including some from Taiwan. When retreating from Burma, they were mistaken for female spies because military police were with them during the retreat. A woman from Taiwan clung to me crying, saying "I want to go to Japan." However, the British military headquarters did not allow it. These women mediated the feelings of soldiers in the middle of the fierce battlefront. They comforted them. They did so as civilians belonging to the military, not as soldiers. The British military called them Japanese military employees and gave them release certificates.
Friend 濱野宏行 Hamano Hiroyuki
Nothing is known about Hamano Hiroyuki. Described as a friend (usually friend of the sponsor) He may be the one who facilitate the construction of the tomb
The story continues ...
Further reading :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/56th_Division_(Imperial_Japanese_Army)