RANAU, SABAH , Malaysia

MEMORIAL MARKING THE SITE OF A PRISON CAMP OF SURVIVORS
OF THE FIRST DEATH MARCH FROM SANDAKAN TO RANAU

THIS MEMORIAL MARKS THE SITE OF A PRISON CAMP OF SURVIVORS OF THE FIRST DEATH MARCH FROM SANDAKAN TO RANAU FROM JANUARY TO APRIL 1945. OF THE 2,000 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS OF THE 2ND A.I.F. AND 750 BRITISH SOLDIERS OF THE BRITISH ARMY WHO LEFT SANDAKAN ONLY 6 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS SURVIVED. ON THIS ACTUAL SPOT VX52128 GUNNER ALBERT NEIL CLEARY 2/15TH FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY WAS CHAINED TO A STAKE AND BEATEN AND STARVED FOR 11 DAYS UNTIL HE FINALLY DIED ON 20 MARCH 1945. AGED 22 YEARS. THIS MEMORIAL ALSO COMMEMORATES THE COURAGE AND BRAVERY OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF SABAH, WHO SO GALLANTLY ASSISTED THE PRISONERS-OF-WAR AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS. LEST WE FORGET OFFICIALLY UNVEILED BY DATUK JOSEPH PAIRIN KITINGAN, CHIEF MINISTER OF SABAH, ON 31 JULY 1985 IN THE PRESENCE OF:
KEITH BOTTERILL	SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
OWEN CAMPBELL	SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
NELSON SHORT	SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
BRUCE C. RUXTON OBE	STATE PRESIDENT RSL, VICTORIA
JUNE M. HEALY	DEPUTY NATIONAL SECRETARY, RSL

14 April 2005

War Memorials Trust