Approximately 2,700 Australian and British prisoners of war (POW) were brought in to the Sandakan POW camp by the Japanese during the World War II in 1942-1943. Most of these prisoners of war were captured at the Surrender in Singapore in February 1942 and were slave-driven to build a military airstrip in Sandakan.
By Late 1944, the Allies have advanced in the Pacific and a bombing annihilated the airstrip. In early 1945, the Japanese decided to relocate the POWs 240 kilometers west into the mountains—in the small Ranau settlement—immediately below the majestic Mount Kinabalu. 500 prisoners died during the three forced marches which occurred between January and June 1945. The remaining POW either died in Ranau or at the Sandakan camp.
By the end of August 1945, all, save for six Australian POW were dead. No British survived. Two of the six POW managed to escape into the jungle during the second march in June 1945. Having received help from the villagers, the POW were eventually picked by the alliance units. The remaining fours POW escaped from Ranau in July. Again, with the help of the locals, they were hidden from the Japanese and were given food and drinks.
At the end of World War II, a total of 2,428 Australian and British POW have fallen in Sandakan, Ranau, and throughout the Death Marches.
