As a prison camp, the Memorial Park saw the death of 2400 Australians and Britons imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII. Remains of concrete water tank.

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Australian prisoners were sent to Sandakan in 1942 to build an airstrip. At first they were treated reasonably well. Gradually, however, rations were reduced and bashings late 1944, with Allied forces advancing toward Borneo, the Japanese decided to send about 2,000 Australian and British prisoners westward to Ranau, in Borneo’s rugged interior. Weak and sick prisoners staggered for about 260 kilometres along jungle tracks. Many died on the way, their bodies never recovered. Only six – all Australians – out of about 1000 sent to Ranau survived the war. The Sandakan “death march” remains the greatest single atrocity committed against Australians in war. (Source: AWM)

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Size: 5300px × 3520px
Photo credit: © Philip Game / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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