Memorial to WW2 prisoners of war

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KOTA KINABALU: Kampung Kenipir, about 8km south of Ranau, may be a sleepy and unassuming village, but it is steeped in history.

The picturesque site on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, was host to the last prisoner of war camp in World War 2 and the last point of the infamous Death March from Sandakan in 1945. About 200 Australian and British soldiers died

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun who unveiled a memorial to the last Prisoner-of-War camp said it was a reminder of the sacrifices and endurance of those who died.

"As we observe what happened here 64 years ago, we are also reminded of the loss and longing of family members for their fathers, brothers and sons.

"I am pleased that this beautiful piece of land was left untouched for more than half a century to enable us to write this shared piece of history between North Borneo, Australia and Britain."

Embedded into the base of the plaque are 1,047 rocks from the head waters of Sungai Liwagu, which ran through the last camp -- one for every prisoner of war who set out from Sandakan in the three Death Marches and did not survive.

"The memorial itself features 183 rocks, one for each prisoner of war who died at this camp while four slabs of rock on the very top represent the four Australians who escaped, with the help of local villagers," said event organiser and historian Lynette Silver.

"Conditions at the camp then were appalling. In the span of a month, there were only 32 prisoners left alive in the compound.

"Six managed to escape and hid in the jungle with the help of local people while the rest died from malnutrition, disease, overwork and inhumane treatment meted out by brutal guards," said Silver

Names of the 183 PoWs are inscribed on the memorial in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese.

"It is fitting that this memorial overlooks the site of what truly became the last camp."

The poignant ceremony also included a poem read by Helen Evans, the daughter of fallen soldier Staff Sergeant Bill McDonald.

Fifteen trees were also planted in the compound as a reminder of the execution of the last 15 PoWs on Aug 27 1945.