KUNDASUNG WAR MEMORIAL

SABAH MALAYSIA

Entrance to the Kundasung War Memorial

At the foothills to Mount Kinabalu stands a memorial park dedicated to those Australian and British servicemen who died as POWs in Sandakan and on the Ranau Death Marches during World War Two (then known as British North Borneo). The memorial also pays tribute to the local population who risked their lives to assist the POWs. This is a magnificent tribute that was built in 1962. A New Zealander, Major G.S. (Toby) Carter, D.S.O. who enlisted in the Royal Australian Engineers and organised native resistance in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak initiated, and was the driving force behind, the establishment of the Memorial and the Park.

In recent years the memorial gardens have been restored to their original beauty through the effort and dedication of the guardian of the Kundasang War Memorial, Sevee Charuruks.

It has four separate gardens on different levels. An Australian Garden, a formal English Garden of roses, a Borneo Garden with wild flowers of Kinabalu and at the top level is the ' Comtemplation Garden' with a refection pool and pergola.

Plaque in the Australian Gardens

Jean and I visited Kundasang War Memorial when we travelled to Borneo on our pilgrimage a few years back. We were so impressed by the whole concept and layout of the walled gardens and the various levels culminating in the spectacular outlook over the surrounding countryside. Numerous impressive plaques dedicated to the servicemen and the citizens of Sabah are erected throughout the various levels. This complements the well designed gardens and the beautiful plants and flowers. A credit to all those involved in continuing this living tribute to those who died in Borneo.