25/01/2025
80TH ANNIVERSARY BEGINNING SANDAKAN TO RANAU FIRST MARCH (NORTH BORNEO) - 28 JAN 1945
On 28 Jan 1945 at Sandakan POW Camp, North Borneo the Japanese selected 455 ‘heallthy and fit’ POWs to set out in a westward direction 260 km to Ranau. These men with guards became the First March, 50 POWs in nine groups leaving on consecutive days, with the last party departing 6 February 1945. POWs each carried 20 - 25 kg bags of rice, ammunition and often the guard’s personal belongings. The ammunition sack was slung across his front and the rice sack on his back. Their clothes were rags, they had no shoes and some wore their Australian felt hats.
Today, we know starvation has widespread and profound effects on mood and cognitive functioning often increasing depression and anxiety.
POWs set out with loads, their bodies and heads bent, walking slowly and mechanically – as if in slow motion. Towards the end of the march, those alive would have struggled to make decisions and for some they cared not whether they lived or died. Escaping was furthest in their minds.
The Japanese leader of the expedition Yamamoto expected the prisoners to reach Ranau within 12 days. An impossible task for emaciated and ill POWs carrying huge and heavy loads without shoes. They had been enslaved, beaten and subjected to terrible brutality and starved for the previous three years. The last group reached Ranau 30 March 1945. The track, often treacherous included extremely steep, slippery slopes carved through the jungle, river swamps and into the mountains.
Further weakened, and often exhausted and near death POWs, their minds numb with starvation were unable to will their themselves to walk further and simply died on the track or were killed by their guards or the killing squad.
The small number who reached Ranau were crammed into small unsanitary huts with little food and put to work carrying rice and other goods. They faced a dreadful existence and death.
29 May 1945, 536 less fit POWs departed Sandakan for Ranau on the Second March. And 75 barely surviving POWs made up the Third March departing 15 June 1945 – they mostly lasted short distances.
The 288 remaining sick Sandakan POWs are carried by mates who were about to leave on Second March or stagger out from their huts to lay in rows on the ground in a wired paddock open to the elements and without shelter. Now homeless and wearing nothing but rags, a few lucky POWs had a groundsheet. There are no cooks or medics left behind. No medicine and very little food remaining. They are alone. Waiting death or rescue.
The Japanese set fire to the huts – their home for 3 years.
The Japanese Commanding Officer addressed the accompanying soldiers and guards before they left Sandakan.
They were ordered NOT to leave any sick POWs or stragglers behind.
The Japanese planned not to have any POWs alive to assist an Allied invasion. It can also be said they did not want any evidence of the previous three years of brutality and starvation known.
Miraculously six Australians undertook desperate and life-threatening escapes and survived the jungle to be recovered.
THEY TELL THE WORLD AND THE WAR TRIALS OF SANDAKAN, ITS CRUELTY AND ITS HORRORS.
2428 POWs died throughout 1943-1945 (including all 641 British POWs).
The Australian death toll of 1787 equals 99.75%
2/4th MGB’s WX10289 Arthur Stanley THORNS was one of 17 ill POWs beaten to death 1.8.1945, he was amongst the last group massacred at Ranau (2) Jungle Camp and the last living 2/4th soldier. He left Sandakan with the Second March. His POW tag was found at No. 2 Jungle Camp 110 1/4 mile. Please read his story https://2nd4thmgb.com.au/soldier/wx10289/
Please read further about the three Marches and 71 men from 2/4th who perished.
https://2nd4thmgb.com.au/story/b-e-forces-borneo-sandakan/
WE SALUTE THE 71 MEN FROM 2/4TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, AIF 8TH DIVISION WHO PERISHED AND ALL THE POWS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AT SANDAKAN.
