Background
Yew was born in Fuzhou, China in 1898, and emigrated to North Borneo (present-day Sabah) in 1923.
Yew was born in Fuzhou, China in 1898, and emigrated to North Borneo (present-day Sabah) in 1923.
Yew was appointed an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 for services to Yew was a Scout leader in Fuzhou from 1919-1923. In 1923 he received his warrant (formal appointment) and after moving to North Borneo he joined the 1st Sandakan Scout Troop as a Scout leader under Reverend Thomas Cecil Alexander, who had founded in North Borneo in 1913. In 1930 Yew formed the first Wolf Cub Pack in 1930 at Saint Michael"s Church, Sandakan.
North Borneo"s first official camping ground for Scouts was opened at Lok Kawi Scout Camping Ground in 1935, and the next year Yew brought 30 Sandakan Scouts there - a significant journey at the time - to camp.
After the disruption to caused by the Japanese invasion of Borneo during the Second World War, Yew revitalised the Troop at All Saint"s Church, Jesselton. He was appointed as West Coast District Commissioner in 1950 and travelled extensively visiting troops across this large and predominantly jungle district.
He published a district magazine in Picture and introduced the Job Week, similar to the British Scouts" "Bob-a-job Week". In recognition of his services to in North Borneo, he was awarded a Silver Acorn in 1953 by the then-Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire, Lord Rowallan, and two years later he was appointed a Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.
He was also appointed Datuk, a title roughly equivalent to a knighthood, after the independence of Sabah.
Yew retired from in 1959, but continued to serve on the Local Association, West Coast Council as a Lay member, and was made Honorary Commissioner.