SANDAKAN MEMORIAL PARK TURRAMURRA NSW

On the left is a photograph of the Sandakan Memorial at Turrumurra NSW. This memorial was erected in 1989 and was the first Sandakan Memorial in Australia.

Location:
Off Du Faur Street North Turramurra NSW 2074

Description:
Broken sandstone column on a sandstone base, to which is affixed a dedicatory plaque. The broken column symbolizes lives cut short, a fitting commentary on the fate of 2,538 young Australian and British POWs who perished at the hands of a cruel foe.

Inscription:

SANDAKAN MEMORIAL PARK

This park was dedicated on 2nd September, 1989 to the memory of the 1800 Australian and 738 British members of the armed forces who died whilst prisoners of the Japanese at Sandakan in British North Borneo during World War Two. Only six survived the infamous Sandakan death March.

This plaque was unveiled by
His Worship the Mayor of Ku-Ring-Gai,
Alderman Richard Lennon,
Accompanied by
Mr Owen Campbell, B.E.M.
One of the six survivors of Sandakan, in the presence of Major-General Sir Ivan Dougherty, CBE, DSO, ED, Bec, LLD.

Stuart J Doyle
Hon. Custodian
Municipal War Memorials

Warren Taylor
Town Clerk

“SERVIENDO GUBERNO”

Dedication:
2 September 1989

On the left are photographs taken in 1989 at the Dedication Service. The first photograph is of Beverley Lyn (who lost her father and uncle at Borneo), Keith Botterill (one of the six who escaped), Maureen Devereaux (who lost her brother in Borneo) and Owen Campbell (one of the six who escaped).

The second photograph is of Mary Wilkins (wife of Tony who is in the next photo), Nelson Short (one of the six who escaped), and Nelson's wife, Colleen Short, at the Dedication Service.

The third photograph is of Tony Wilkins who was with the 2/12 Battalion that was part of the liberation forces at Labuan. Notice that surrounding gardens are somewhat different to that of the more recent photograph at the top.

Photographs courtesy Frank Murray of Sydney.