Plaque 1
In memory of
1800 Australians of the 8th Division A.I.F. and 750 British troops. They fought
gallantly in the defence of Malaya and Singapore during World War II.
Following the fall of Singapore, they became prisoners of the Japanese
and were transported to Sandakan in British North Borneo, now Sabah,
in 1942 to construct an airfield, where 900 died of ill-treatment.
By the end of 1944, when Allied Forces were within striking distance of Sandakan,
the Japanese Command ordered the removal of prisoners inland to Ranau
165 miles (265 kilometres) west. On 29 January 1945, 470 prisoners guarded by 500
Japanese marched towards Ranau. Those unable to carry on were killed.
The second march comprising 532 prisoners left Sandakan on 29 May 1945,
183 arrived at Ranau on 26 June 1945. Only eight survived from the first march.
Of the 288 prisoners left at Sandakan there were no survivors.
On 1 August 1945, the surviving 22 prisoners at Ranau were massacred.
Six who escaped were rescued by Special Forces.
This memorial honours those men who enlisted from
the Southern Region of New South Wales.
We will remember them
Sandakan Memorial Foundation
Plaque 2
This memorial was dedicated by
Father John Brendan Rogers, O.F.M.
Eighth Division A.I.F. Chaplain, Sandakan and Kuching
This memorial was unveiled by
Hon. Con Sciacca, M.P.
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
28th August, 1994
Councillor P. Brassil
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga
Plaque 3
The sculptured terrain of Sabah illustrates the
route of the death marches, shown by a bronze
ribbon, between Sandakan and Ranau which was
substantially swamp and dense jungle in 1945
Other plaques
[Names, enlistment details]