Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Konfrontasi!
The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of forced marches from Sandakan to Ranau which resulted in the
deaths of more than 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 Allied prisoners of war held captive
by the Empire of Japan during the Pacific campaign of World War II at prison camps in North Borneo.
By the end of the war, of all the prisoners who had been incarcerated at Sandakan and Ranau, only 6
Australians survived, all of whom had escaped. It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity
suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.
It is May 1945. Clad only in ragged loin-cloths, over 500 skeletal creatures, barely recognisable as human,
struggle to their feet at the Sandakan POW Compound, on Sabah's north-east coast. Three long years in
captivity, half of them on starvation rations and with little or no medical attention, have taken their toll.
The grimy, wasted bodies of these once fit and strapping Australian and British servicemen are covered
in sores and scabies, their filthy hair and beards matted and lice-infested.
Many are suffering from tropical ulcers, some so large that shin bones are clearly visible. Others,
bloated from beriberi, lumber along on sausage-like legs. They are bound for Ranau, a small village
on the flanks of Mt Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest peak, situated 250 kilometres away to the west,
in the rugged Borneo jungle interior.
All were members of a 2700-strong Allied contingent transferred to Sandakan by the Japanese in 1942-43,
following Singapore's fall. Their task? To construct a military airfield, using not much more than their
bare hands.
For the first twelve months or so, conditions at Sandakan were tolerable. However, in mid
1943 the Japanese discovered that the POWs not only had a radio but were in league with a local
resistance organisation. The kempei-tai, or secret police, swooped. Arrests and transfers followed.
Discipline at Sandakan was tightened considerably and life became much more difficult for the
remaining 2,434 prisoners.
As the war ground on, conditions deteriorated. In late January 1945 the Japanese decided to
move 455 of the fittest prisoners to Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) to act as coolie labourers -
only to halt them at Ranau, owing to Allied air activity on the west coast. At the end of May,
there was a second march from Sandakan and in mid-June a third, comprised of only 75 men.
As both sea and air were under the complete control of the Allies, a track had been cut through
the mountains, linking existing bridle-trails. Unaware that it was to be used by POWs, the local
headmen given the task of creating this track had deliberately routed it away from any habitation,
across the most inhospitable and difficult terrain possible.
There was no medical assistance and little food. Anyone who could not keep up was ‘disposed of'.
Despite this, about half the prisoners completed the march, only to die at Ranau from illness,
malnutrition and ill-treatment by their captors. Two Australians managed to escape in the early
stages of the second march with the help of villagers, and four more successfully escaped from
Ranau into the jungle, where they were cared for by local people.
Back at Sandakan, 200 prisoners unable undertake the second and third marches also died, bringing
the death toll there to about 1400. Of the 1000-odd prisoners who left on the death marches,
about half died in the attempt. The rest died at their destination.
The story of Sandakan and the death marches is one of the most tragic of World War Two.
It is also one of the most heroic. Despite appalling conditions, the prisoners never gave up.
Their heroism, their determination and their indomitable spirit are testimony to the strength
of the human spirit and an inspiration to all. Of the 2434 prisoners incarcerated at Sandakan,
1787 were Australian. The remaining 641 were British. The six Australians who escaped
were the sole survivors.
Acknowledgement is given to Tham Yan Kong for this brief overview of the Sandakan Death marches.
Thanks also to Lynette Silver, author of "Sandakan - A conspiracy of silence".
Newcastle Sub-Branch Sandakan Memorial Service 31st May 2009!
The Newcastle Sub-Branch of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association held its first
Sandakan memorial service on Sunday 31st May 2009, at the Sandakan Memorial located in
Maitland Park adjacent to the Maitland Railway Station.
The service was conducted by our State Chaplain, Eric Bell, with an address by the Maitland Mayor,
Cr Peter Blackmore. Tributes were laid at the Memorial, the 'Last Post' was sounded, and the service
concluded with the Odes of the RSL and NMBVAA being recited, followed with prayers by our Chaplain.
We were joined for the morning by our members from the Central Coast Sub-Branches,
and after the service, we retired to partake of a most wonderful BBQ,
cooked up by Frank and Renata.
We are all looking forward to an even bigger and better service next year.
Newcastle Sub-Branch Sandakan service 30th May 2010!
Lest we forget... 
Vale 
Please note that the August meeting is our AGM - Followed by the State AGM 
.jpg)
Read the 1st NMBVAA Newsletter dated 1995