SANDAKAN: The bravery and sacrifice of more than 2,000 Australian and British soldiers as well as civilians who died in the Second World War will never be forgotten, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“I am humbled that every year, many of you (family members of the fallen) make your way to this solemn ceremony to honour and remember the more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians who perished,” he said on the occasion of 79th Sandakan Memorial Day at the Prisoner of War camp site, Thursday.
“As we remember the Prisoners of War, we also remember the local civilians who took the risk and lost their lives in helping the allied soldiers. Let us honour them and the rest of the individuals as heroes,” he said.
“This memorial day is an opportune time for us to reflect on their sacrifices. Our desire for peace must be stronger and that war should not prevail,” he said, adding Sabah would always be their place of remembrance. “Sabah and specifically Sandakan will always welcome you and your families.”
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Hajiji commended the Sandakan Municipal Council, Sabah Tourism Board, and the Organising Committee for their continued dedication to honouring the fallen and keeping their stories alive.
“Special thanks to the Office of Australian War Graves and the Australian and British High Commissions Malaysia for your continuous support in ensuring this part of history is remembered and commemorated.
“May we continue to remember this shared history of our nations here in Sandakan,” he said, in his speech delivered by State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Among present were Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke, Acting Deputy British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Tom Shepherd, Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong, Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong, Sandakan Municipal Council Deputy President Wilson Terence @ Thomas, Sabah Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Boyup Brook Shire Council (Western Australia) President, Richard Walker, Honorary Consul of Australia in Sabah Datuk Andrew Sim, friends and families of the fallen.
For the first time, a song titled “Sandakan the Last March” was sung by Garry Rose from Melbourne, Australia. It was composed by him.
Tom said it was his first visit to the memorial park and that Sandakan is not a name or a place that is widely known about back in the United Kingdom.
“What happened here in the final stages of the second world war was both brutal and tragic. The cruel and senseless death of almost 2,000 Australian and British servicemen.
“Many were in their late teens and early twenties, but also deprived thousands of families. Sadly, this was not an isolated incident.
“Of the 300,000 or so allied prisoners of war in the Far East, almost one in three died in captivity. That’s more than the entire strength of the British army today.”
He added that this dark chapter of our shared history served as a clear reminder of the perils of war. “It also underlines the historic links that exist between our countries and why today Britain and Australia remain two of Malaysia’s closest friends.” He said.
Tom said remembering the shared history and educating the next generation of the sacrifices that our parents and grandparents generation made for our freedom today is important.
The presence of local youth organisations, war veterans, representatives of the Australian and British military, as well as the descendants of those whose lives were lost as a result of the death marches made the event all the more poignant.
One of them was his uncle Tommy Shepard, who he was named after. He was killed aged 18 when Japanese planes sank HMS Prince of Wales off the coast of Kuantan.
“I recently visited the memorial there and it was incredibly moving for me and my family to see that his sacrifice had been remembered.” He said.
“So I know how much it means to people in the UK and in Australia that the people and government of Sabah and the Council of Sandakan put so much effort into maintaining their memories.
On behalf of the British Government, he thanked Sandakan Municipal Council, Sabah Tourism Board and Australian friends for not only again bringing them together to remember all those who suffered and died here and for maintaining this wonderful memorial park.
Danielle, in her speech said, it was a great honour to be in Sandakan. “Almost one million Australians served in small nations in world war II, contributing what we could to those who needed it most, including here in Sabah,” she said.
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