Ever since they were “discovered” in early  2012 –  when volunteer guides started to trail Raymond Goh on his missions to help descendents find ancestors in Bukit Brown – they have been a talking point.

The “female” angel (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

The “male” angel (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

Dubbed “Naked Angels” by I believe one among the community, we  speculated on their genesis and gender.  And sometimes wondered about the ancestry behind the double tomb which is also guarded by a pair of sikh guards.

The Sikh Guard and the Naked Angel (photo Konamoto Dominic)

No one had visited in a very long time. To visit the tomb means being subject to being bitten not just by mozzies but also  the most vengeful ants to be found thus far,  for having their territory disturbed.

But just  two weeks ago, a family contacted Raymond Goh whom  he believed were the family who “owned” the angels.  The community was excited. An appointment was  made with Raymond for Saturday May 12 th. The pair of cousins who turned up after lunch time that day  were  perhaps a little taken back by Raymond’s  entourage of five.  If there were, they took it in their stride. At least two of the volunteers were familiar to them as they had attended a guided a tour just the previous week.

Armed with their family tree, Raymond helped  “reconnect” them  their great grandfather  and his 3 wives, and their grandfather  who died during the Japanese war. A grand total of 5 tombs!

This is your great grandfather Teo Chin Chay buried together with his first wife Gan Chwee Sian who was China born and had bound feet (photo Catherine Lim)

The inscriptions on the tomb stone are deeply carved and clear to read the names (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

“Now let’s look for the other two wives. See the  plot number again” with tomb keeper Lim in blue (photo Catherine Lim)

“Yes, this is one of the other of his wives “(photo Catherine Lim)

“As for the last wife…”.(photo Catherine Lim)

“Yes, I see her, she is also here, the last wife….”(photo Catherine Lim)

Finding grandfather was tough. (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

“So you think Grandfather is over there?”(photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

They emerge after some 40 minutes “disappointed” (photo Catherine Lim)

 Raymond had already bounded up the other side of the hill and penetrated deep into the bush (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

“This is your grandfather” says a very satisfied Raymond (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

“It took me quite some time to find it, but I have now familiarized myself with the pauper divisions, so much so that the tombkeepers themselves ask my assistance if they encounter difficult to find tombs in pauper divisions. This one is in Blk 3 Div 11, in the depths of the forest.” Raymond Goh 

So ends another fruitful afternoon for Khoo Ee Hoon, Peter Pak, Chew Keng Kiat with Raymond Goh. But we still don’t know much about how it came to be that a wealthy trader and businessman by the name of Teo Chin Chay came to have a pair of such unusual angels guarding his tomb. Could it be a Western take to Golden Boy and Jade Girl? The mystery continues.

Reported by Catherine Lim who was there but did not go bush bashing up the hill!