Leong Family (c1924)
I recently found this photo in my parents’ collection of old family photos. It is particularly significant to me as it is the only one I have of my paternal grandmother (Shee Hoy Leong) with all four of her children (i.e my three aunts and my father).
My grandmother is seated and my aunts are standing, from the left are my 3rd Aunt (Leong Puy Jin), Ist Aunt (Leong Kam) and 2nd Aunt (Leong Yen Duck [Grace]). The little boy at the front is my father John Leong.
The photo was taken in China about 1924. The family lived in a village called Doong Hing in Kaiping County, Guangdong Province. The photo was probably taken in a studio at the closest town which was most likely “Ngitsun” (or “Yitsun”) (my phonetic spelling ).
I note that my father’s head seems to have been pasted onto the photo. I suspect he must have moved and the photographer decided to insert a clearer image of him from another photo. I am certain it is my father as I have another photo of him taken at the same time and same studio. An early form of Artificial Intelligence. I think the purpose of the photo was for it to be sent to my grandfather in Melbourne to show him his family whom he probably hardly knew!
My grandfather Ernest Leong Gie left China in 1899 and arrived in Melbourne when he was about 16 years old. According to the CEDT records, he returned to China three times but left for good in 1922. Each of these visits coincided with my grandmother becoming pregnant!
Also from the CEDT records it seems clear that the whole family were never all together, which I think is quite sad.
My grandmother and my father left the village in 1928 to join my grandfather in Melbourne. I wonder how my grandmother must have felt leaving her three relatively young daughters behind in China, not knowing if she would ever see them again. This must have been very upsetting for her even though no doubt she believed and accepted that her prime duty was to her husband (in accordance with the culture of the time).
My grandmother never returned to China, but fortunately she did see two of her daughters again as my 1st and 2nd Aunts eventually emigrated to Melbourne. My 3rd Aunt remained in China all her life.
One last comment, my grandmother looks quite apprehensive in this photo which was not her true personality. She actually was a very happy and very caring person.
Derek Leong
Image source: Derek Leong
Creator: Unknown
Date of creation: c.1924
Place: China
People: Leong family