We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.
(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)
Dr John A Legge
The above letter is the response from the Commonwealth Relations Office London to Mr Pat LaBrooy’s enquiry. Pat Labrooy who was the son of H W Labrooy asked on behalf of his mother, Ruby Labrooy daughter of Dr J A Legge, to see if they had any trace of his mother’s documents relating to her birth. They replied with details of Ruby’s father, grandfather and grandmother but regretted they had no trace of the requested documents. However they were able to provide copies of the marriage certificate of her grandfather and the birth certificate of her father. It also includes an outline history of her father, Dr John A Legge which is summarized below together with additional details from The Straits Times from May 4th 1929.
Dr John A Legge held the post of a medical officer, Malay States Guides, in Taiping. The “Times of Malaya” published the following details of Legge’s very interesting career in Malaya. He had a large family in Malaya. Amongst them being Mr R H Legge, a well known Kuala Lumpur lawyer. Mrs. C H LaBrooy and Mrs H LaBrooy married to the LaBrooy brothers. Mrs Towers widow of Mr Guy Towers. Mrs Tomlinson wife of Mr W J Tomlinson. Mr Lockhart Legge, a miner. Mr Jos Legge who was in charge of the Reservoir at Singapore. Mr K Legge the late Perak State hockey player. Dr Tom Legge on the staff of the London Country Council Board.
Dr John A Legge saw service in the Perak War of 1875 and also in the Pahang Rebellion and was awarded the Medal of Clasp. He was transferred to Malaya in the stirring times of 1871, when Penang was the Senior Settlement, from the Madras Medical Service where he had served for eight years. He first worked in Penang under Dr John T Veitch, M D, F R C S (Eng) who was senior medical officer at Penang. Apart from serving eight years under the Government of Madras and eight years in the Straits Settlements, he served 26 years in Perak and he took part in the British Expedition to Perak in 1875 and later in the Pahang Rebellion. He then helped extensively in General Colbourne’s Expedition in which Captain Innes, one European soldier and two Sikhs were killed and other 10 Europeans and 7 Sikh soldiers were severely wounded. He was present again on the following week and until the arrival of Blanja at Pasir Salak. During this march he was nearly killed by a Durian falling from a tree. He was carried into camp insensible and bleeding from the ears and nose. However he recovered in a few days sufficiently to serve again at Blanja, from which he was sent back to Penang in medical charge of the sick and wounded. He was also connected with the introduction of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance into Penang in 1871 when, after much house to house visiting, a Lock Hospital was established.
In later years Dr Legge rendered signal service to the medical profession of this country. He has performed many duties in the relief of the numerous patients in the four hospitals under his charge.