Western Road Cemetery

Tanah Perkuburan Kristian Jalan Utama

Western Road Cemetery is the biggest Christian cemetery in Penang. It is the final resting place for both Catholics and Protestants. The cemetery has been in use since the late 19th century, when the Protestant Cemetery at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah was closed to further burials.

Among those who were buried here were eighty-four Russian soldiers who perished when the Zemschug sunk off Penang harbour in the early hours of 28 October, 1914, when it was torpedoed by the German cruiser SMS Emden. Also buried at the Western Road Cemetery are British soldiers who died fighting communists during the Emergency Campaign of 1948-1960. A memorial is erected to them near the gate into the cemetery. There are also graves to soldiers from the Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF.

There are many interesting gravestones at the Western Road cemetery. Among the Catholics, in particular, are sculptures and statuettes of angels and cherubs. One of the most fascinating sculpture at the cemetery is that of a dog resting on the gravestone. Legend has it that the dog visits the grave of is master after the latter had passed on, and continued to stay at the grave. After the dog had died, symphatisers erected a statue of the dog and placed it on the grave.

Getting there

The best way to get to the Western Road Cemetery is by car or taxi.

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Western Road Cemetery (2 January 2005)
© Timothy Tye using this photo