Sandakan Memorial Park

2017 Making History Illustrated essay

10/17/2017

Faiza Hussein
The Sandakan Memorial Park (Fig.1), also known as the Taman Peringatan Sandakan, is a well-

recognized memorial site developed in the

Malaysian state of Sabah at the Sandakan

camp. Today, the site is considered as a

memory of the many prisoners who lost their

lives during the Death Marches as well

March to Rameau. In addition, the site

recognizes the sacrifices and sufferings of

Fig.1 Sandakan Memorial park (Sabah,
Malaysian Borneo, 2017)
the natives in the country.

Being located about 11 km away from the Sandakan, it was the former site used by the

WWII prisonersi. (Fig. 2) To keep as an attractive site, it is well maintained making it

appropriate for solitary soul-searching strolls. In

addition, it has a small museum operating like a small

memorial to those who lost their lives during the WWII

in the hands of Japanese. The rusting remains of a boiler,

generator, and an excavator, which remains in their

original positions, mark the memory of suffering and

massive killingsii. Although other items were removed,

these three were left to serve as a testament of what

happened.

The Sandakan Memorial Park is a historical

Fig.2 1944 Route to Ranau, where
monument that commemorates an atrocity and a tragedy. The thousands of Australian and British
Soldiers died. (Memorial, 2017)
tragedy that was included the deaths in the Pacific war in 1945
where about 2400 British and Australian war prisoners were held in the North Borneo and

Sandakan POW CAMP. The atrocity involved how death wreaked upon them through

starvation, beatings, severe punishments as well as overwork. There was also forcing of more

than a thousand weak and sick POWS to take part in three matches where they were physically

abused. Between the years 1942 and 1943, about 2700 the Japanese brought British and

Australian POWs to Sandakaniii. Most of them were captured during the Singapore surrender

early 1942. They took part as slaves in building a military airstrip.

Later in 1944, Allies moved further to the Pacific where they destroyed the airstrip

through bombs. In 1945, the POWS were further moved 260Km away to a small mountainous

place called Ranau settlementiv. In this settlement, the forced matched were held where more

than 500 prisoners lost their lives. The remaining prisoners died at Sandakan camps and Ranau.

Today, the recovered dead bodies are buried in Labuan Commonwealth War Graves. The

unidentified bodies are commemorated during the Memorials of Missing at Singapore and

Labuan. In bringing the understanding of the memorial site, an agreement was made in 1995 by

the Sabah government, Australian Government, Municipal Council of Sandakan and the

Australian Returned Services Leaguev.

The Park describes in both Bahasa and English the atrocities of the POWS and the three

death marches they were forced to take part. The park holds photographs and maps to bring the

visitors to an understanding of how the dead used a rough terrain during the matches. The

photographs further show how prisoners suffered and how the locals tried to assist the prisoners

through underground resistance movements. In addition, the park displays poems and diary

entries that unveil the happenings of the World War 1.

 History reveals that many allied soldiers arrested and held in several camps along the

Pacific camp. By July 1942, more than 1500 prisoners from Australia were already moved from

Singapore to Sandakan. The move was meant to use these prisoners as in military operation

through building labor. The number of prisoners being used as forced labor went up in 1943 to

more than 2500vi.

To show the importance of the site, Government of Sabah, the Government of Australia,

the Sandakan Municipal Council and the Returned Services League of Australia made an

agreement in 1995 to develop a memorial park. The

outcome was the unveiling of the Sandakan

Commemorative Pavilion and memorial obelisk in

the year 1999. A permanent exhibition was placed in

the pavilion explaining the challenging experiences

endured by POWs as well as the marches. Photographs Fig. 3 Entrance to the Sandakan Memorial
Park (Tripadvisor.com,2017)
and maps explained the rough terrain and dreadful

conditions suffered by the incarcerated peoplevii. These maps and photos also show the

determined efforts of the local people to assist prisoners through the underground resistance

movements.

An old excavator that remains on the site is clear

indication that there was a lot of construction doing on

during that period (Fig.4). The excavator was used during

the airfield construction where the Australian prisoners

Fig.4 Photo showing rotting excavator
viii
who tried to work slower later abandoned it . The site has (Tripadvisor.com,2017)

an interpretation panel that offers a well-detailed description

of testimonies, descriptions as well as archival documents. The panels encourage and offer

beneficial information to visitors. It enables them to gain the better understanding of the site as

well as dangerous experiences of those died in the region.

The slab and concrete tank were used as the Quartermasters adjacent kitchen and store.

Japanese staff kept and cooked their food in this place. Although some POWs were attempting to

pick food from the store, those who were caught were killed immediately. Other places where

food was kept included under the camp commandant Captain Hoshijimas house. Rice was kept

in this place but it was only given to Japanese staff and not prisoners.

A big tree was the major landmark of the

camp (Fig 5). The tree represented varying things to

those who were in the camp. Some people detested

the tree while other considered it as a sign of hope

and strengthix. The tree had buttressed and large

roots where patients sat and talked at night. POWs

benefited from the tree since used to hide their

valuables in its trunk. Unfortunately, the tree was

destroyed after the war though it remains as an

important commemorative area.

Fig.5 The big tree, a great landmark in

the park. (Tripadvisor.com,2017)

As an indication of the significance of the site

and a memorial of those who perished in the hands of the Japanese, August 15th was set as the

Sandakan Memorial Day and April 25th as the ANZAC day. A commemorative service is usually

conducted on these days as a remembrance of the local people killed in both Ranau and
Sandakan, and Allied POWs. In addition, similar services are conducted at the All Angles

Church and St Michaels. Here, the 2428 men who were killed are honored. A stained glass

window is usually used to portray scenes of hope and peace.

In both the death marches to Ranau and Sandakan, just six POWs survived indicating that

it was a deadly scene. Among those six, four escaped at Ranau in July while the remaining two

found their way out on the 2nd death march that took place in June 1945x. Those who managed

to escape in the month of July were none other but lance Bombardier William Bill Moxham,

2/15th Australian Field Regiment, Warrant Officer William hector Bill Sticpewich, Australian

Army Service Corps, Private Nelson Short, 2/18th

Battalion, and Private Keith Botterill, 2/19th

Battalionxi. The two who had managed their way

out earlier were Bombardier Richard Dick

Braithwaite, 2/15th Australian Field Regiment and

Fig.6 Shows a few of the survivors.
Gunner Owen Campbell, 2/10th Australian Field (Anzacportal.dva.gov.au, 2017)

Regiment. (Fig.6)

The small number of survivors is an indication that escaping from the camp was very

difficult. The first factors that frustrated their attempt to escape were lack of enough. Evidently,

prisoners suffered malnutrition and were thus prone to many ailments making their bodies weak.

Most of them suffered from ailments such as malaria, dysentery, and beriberixii. In addition, there

were high chances of them being returned back and eventually killed since Japanese offered a

huge reward to anyone who returns escaped POWs. Therefore, it is clear that those who survived

death were very lucky.

 The Sandakan Memorial park has a great significance in Malaysia. The commemorate

prisoners who died at the hands of Japanese in the camp, the memorial site was built in the

former Sandakan camp in Sabah, Malaysia. The park also recognizes the sacrifice and the

suffering of the native populace especially the soldiers from 1942 to 1945xiii. The Sandakan story

is usually revealed at different interpretive and memorial stations in the park. The Memorial

Parks showcase different types of machinery used by the Japanese in building the airfield. They

include the excavator, alternator, and boiler as well as concrete water tanks.

The Memorial Park provides visitors with information on the atrocities of the three death

Matches. Many visitors from Australia, Malaysia as well as other countries travel to the park to

learn the historical happenings behind the park. The park takes the visitors to a walk of the fallen

heroes. (Fig.7) The Park represents

one of the Australian historical sites

that pay a great tribute to the soldiers

and the underlying atrocitiesxiv.

Since not many Australians who

were alive during this period exist to

tell the tale, the memorial park plays

a significant role to the present and

future generations in understanding

Fig.7 Tourist learning the history of
Sandakan Park. (Tripadvisor.com,2017)
the Australian history.

The memorial park also plays a significant

role to the families of the deceased. Each year, they gather at this site to remember their loved

ones and by doing so, they feel as they have given them a funeral service and a decent burial xv.
One of the survivors, Owen Campbell when he visited the site proclaims of the feelings he has

that there are spirits that still wait to be released from this site. From his feelings, it is evident

that the memorial site carries memories of many people who witnessed it all or their families. If

it were not for this park, many Australians could not have known what happened during World

War 11.Again, the families of the deceased could not comprehend of the incidents that took their

loved ones awayxvi.

The Sandakan Day is held on 15th August at the memorial park. As reiterated by Warren

Snowdon, Minister for Veteran Affairs, the park offers a great opportunity in reflecting the great

suffering of the inflicted servicemen. He further says that the park recognizes risky efforts of the

locals in saving the prisonersxvii. The park signifies the end of the deadly matches as well as the

honoring site of the spirits.

The site will remain relevant and important even in the generations to come because it

explains our history. It explains the history and explains how people lost their lives in the past.

Therefore, it will encourage future generations to remain united and avoid similar situations in

the future. The site tells the world the importance of peace, love, unity and the importance of

living ethically. It encourages people to appreciate others and avoid engaging in activities that

bring trouble and cohesiveness of the societyxviii. Although the war took place many years ago, it

is still being remembered today because the life of people is precious and it should be protected

regardless of the involved cost. Sandakan Memorial Park is important that should be protected to

preserve the evidence and sign of the deadly war.

Correspondingly, the world should come together and establish better policies and

regulations to prevent a similar bloodshed. Beneficial tips that help prevent similar scenarios in

the future include educating the community on the importance of peace and love, eliminating
religious differences particularly between Muslims and Christians, raise money for the third

world, reject racial profiling, and create visible public eventsxix. It is also important to reclaim

patriotism and work closely with the media. Helping countries whose high level of poverty

creates room for the development of terror ideas can help reduce war in the future. It evident that

a more economically world with the even distribution of resources can be more stable and

secure. On the issue of racial profiling, it is necessary to improve police behaviors and offer

justice to everyone regardless of his or her origin. Victimized people through racial profiling are

likely to become violent and thus cause harm to othersxx. The outcome can excavate to a great

war that would later affect the whole country. Setting up community forums meant to educate the

public and encourage everyone to make his or her opinions can help understand problems and

thus solve them before they affect many people. In case some issues cannot be solved at certain

levels, then it would become appropriate to seek guidance and assistance from a higher authority.
Endnotes

i Polus, Reni Cacillia, Christy Bidder, and Thomas Edward Jones, "Understanding

Tourists Motives and Sought Experiences at Sandakan Memorial Park Borneo," Asian

Journal of Tourism Research 1.1 (2016), 161.

ii Blackburn, Kevin, "Heritage site, war memorial, and tourist stop: the Japanese

Cemetery of Singapore, 1891-2005," Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal

Asiatic Society (2007), 30.

iii Ibid., 23.

iv Polus, Reni Cacillia, Christy Bidder, and Thomas Edward Jones, "Understanding

Tourists Motives and Sought Experiences at Sandakan Memorial Park Borneo," Asian

Journal of Tourism Research 1.1 (2016), 163.

v Li, Peter, ed. Japanese war crimes (Routledge, 2017), 83.

vi Ibid., 41.

vii Blackburn, Kevin, "Heritage site, war memorial, and tourist stop: the Japanese

Cemetery of Singapore, 1891-2005," Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal

Asiatic Society (2007), 21.

viii Cunningham, Michele. Hell on Earth: Sandakan-Australia's greatest war tragedy

(Hachette UK, 2013), 39.

ix Ibid., 39.

x Masanti, Meltina, "Understanding Dark Tourism Acceptance in Southeast Asia:

The Case of WWII SandakanRanau Death March, Sabah, Malaysia," Development of

Tourism and the Hospitality Industry in Southeast Asia (Springer Singapore, 2016), 120.
xi Cunningham, Michele. Hell on Earth: Sandakan-Australia's greatest war tragedy

(Hachette UK, 2013), 24.

xii Grant, Lachlan, "What makes a NationalWar Memorial? The Case of the

Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial," Public History Review 12 (2006), 40.

xiii Masanti, Meltina, "Understanding Dark Tourism Acceptance in Southeast Asia:

The Case of WWII SandakanRanau Death March, Sabah, Malaysia," Development of

Tourism and the Hospitality Industry in Southeast Asia (Springer Singapore, 2016), 120.

xiv Cunningham, Michele. Hell on Earth: Sandakan-Australia's greatest war tragedy

(Hachette UK, 2013), 69.

xv Grant, Lachlan, "What makes a NationalWar Memorial? The Case of the

Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial," Public History Review 12 (2006), 40.

xvi Masanti, Meltina, "Understanding Dark Tourism Acceptance in Southeast Asia:

The Case of WWII SandakanRanau Death March, Sabah, Malaysia," Development of

Tourism and the Hospitality Industry in Southeast Asia (Springer Singapore, 2016), 120.

xvii Cunningham, Michele. Hell on Earth: Sandakan-Australia's greatest war tragedy

(Hachette UK, 2013), 39.

xviii Polus, Reni Cacillia, Christy Bidder, and Thomas Edward Jones, "Understanding

Tourists Motives and Sought Experiences at Sandakan Memorial Park Borneo," Asian

Journal of Tourism Research 1.1 (2016), 162.

xix Blackburn, Kevin, "Heritage site, war memorial, and tourist stop: the Japanese

Cemetery of Singapore, 1891-2005," Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal

Asiatic Society (2007), 20.

xx Grant, Lachlan, "What makes a NationalWar Memorial? The Case of the

Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial," Public History Review 12 (2006), 4

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