Remembering the heroes whose lives we live today

The recent Durian Fest in Kundasang Ranau which coincided with the International Climbathon at Kinabalu Parks attracted a fair crowd. Besides the usual haggling found in any traditional market, people were also looking at the Kundasang War Memorial sited just nearby the shophouses. A tourist attraction, it is a fort-like structures with Gardens situated on a hill overlooking the village of Kundasang.

The broodingly somber fort actually boasts well tended gardens visited by people who pose for photographs among the flowers.

During my brief meanderings around the grounds, I realize that only some sit quietly and ponder on the history behind this memorial or to wonder at this testimony of anguish and pain inflicted by humans on their fellow sapiens.

For it commemorates the Sandakan Death March which was a series of forced marches from Sandakan to Ranau by prisoners of war (PoW). Pushed forward beyond their endurance, the Japanese marched them to their death.

According to history, more than 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 Allied PoW died in the marches. Only six Australians survived and even then it was because they had managed to escape.

The first series of marches occurred between January and March 1945. Four hundred and seventy prisoners were chosen to carry Japanese provisions for the conquering army who were relocating to the west coast. They reached Ranau but only five Australians and one British soldier survived.

The second wave occurred on May 29 1945 where 536 prisoners were marched off under the command of a Japanese captain. The prisoners were grouped by 50’s each, every group accompanied by Japanese guards. Twenty six days later only 183 prisoners reached Ranau and met with the remaining six from the first march.

The third march was held on June 9 1945 where 75 men were herded out and pushed towards the path to Ranau. By then the prisoners were so weak from malnourishment and illness that none of them made it beyond 50 kilometers off Sandakan. Those who did not die outright were shot by the Japanese.

These death marches are considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.

And the gardens in Kundasang stand there to commemorate this atrocity.

The person behind the creation of this memorial is believed to be a New Zealander working with Shell Oil Company named Toby Carter. He initiated the building in 1962 with the launching of Kinabalu Park to remember the PoWs who died during the war and those who risk their lives helping them.

There are four interconnecting gardens sited within the memorial. The first garden is a tribute to Australia. It is a beautiful place that invites silence.

The second garden goes to Britain. This is a formal garden planted with all kinds of roses.

The third garden is for Borneo, planted with orchids and wild flowers of Kinabalu. After that, right at the top is the ‘Contemplation Garden’ with a reflection pool and pergola.

The gardens are well tended; the flowers bloom and the birds twitter and warble as they fly in and out of the enclosures.

Local and foreign visitors come to view the perfect gardens but one wonder if they remember that the almost ethereal beauty of this site is for those who sacrificed their lives for the Freedom of others.

We should touch the memorial for a while and give the heroes a silent salute. For we owe them the life we live today.

Lest we forget.